Module 4 Flashcards
Hippocrates
knew mind was in the brain, not the heart like Aristotle
phrenology
Gall; studying bumps on the skull; thought at the time to reveal a person’s mental or personal traits
biological psychologists
use advanced technologies to study the links between bioprocesses (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes
discoveries by biological psychology
adaptive brain proves it’s wired by experience; humans are composed of biopsychosocial systems (subsystems of subsystems, etc.)
plasticity
brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or building new pathways based on experience
examples of plasticity
echolocation and larger brain areas found where traits of practiced skills are stored in people
dendrites
receive and inegrate info (input)
axon
send messages via terminal branches (output)
path of info through neuron
dendrite -> soma -> axon -> terminal branches
when does myeline sheath stop being added
until 25 y/o (neural efficiency, judgement, and self-control grow until then)
multiple sclerosis
when the myelin sheath erodes and communication to muscle slows, causing loss of muscle control, potential vision loss and bowel/bladder dysfunction; CNS disorder; triggered by stresses (infection, pregnancy, emotional trauma, etc)
glial cells (glia)
support, nourish, and protect neurons (worker bees);(learning, thinking, memory)
proportion of glial cells to neurons
higher in people with more complex brains or animals with more complex brains (smart humans)
action potential
neural impulse; climax; brief electrical charge that travels down the axon; not instantaneous; domino effect
action potential relating to size of animal
bigger animals = slower reactions/reflexes
axon chemical environment
at rest, outside the axon membrane = mostly + from Na+ and inside the axon membrane = mostly - from large - protein ions and small + K+
depolarization
when a neuron fires, + Na+ ions enter axon via channels and switch polarity to + inside; causes domino effect and action potential
excitatory vs. inhibitory signals
impulses that initiate vs stop neural impulses
threshold
minimal intensity for a neural impulse to fire (excitatory signals that must exceed inhibitory signals at this levels)
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers released when action potential reaches end of terminal; bind to receptor sites on receiving neuron branches (lock and key); electrically charged atoms from transmitters go into receiving neuron and and excites/inhibits it (creates action potential) - synaptic transmission
reuptake
excess neurotransmitters are either broken down by enzymes or reabsorbed by sending neurons
agonists
increase neurotransmitter’s action by possibly increasing production/release rate
antagonists
decrease transmitter action by blocking production or release of the transmitter by occupying receptor
examples of antagonists
Botulin (canned food) and Curare (darts) block ACh receptors, causing paralysis
nervous system
fast communication network consisting of all nerve cells of peripheral and CNS (external -> internal -> reaction)
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
gathers info and transmits CNS decisions to body
somatic nervous system
enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles
intraneurons
process info btw sensory and motor neurons
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
controls glands and internal organ muscles (self-regulating functions)
spinal cord
2-way info highway connecting brain and PNS; injuries result in paralysis (only involuntary movements would occur)
pain-reflexes
runs through spinal cord and back out to muscle before brain can process pain (delayed feeling)
ascending nerve fiber
send sensory info up to brain
descending nerve fiber
send motor info down to muscles
nerves
electrical cables formed from axon bundles which link CNS with sensory neurons, muscles, and glands
endoctrine system
body’s slow chemical communication system; set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream
hormone
chemical messengers that travel through bloodstream and affect other tissues; influence interest in sex, food, and aggression; some are chemically identical to neurotransmitters
endoctrine hangover
lingering emotion-related hormones as a result of endoctrine messages outlasting neural messages (ex: feeling angry for a while)
adrenal glands
ontop of kidney; secrete norepinephrine and epinephrine (via ANS) in presence of stress; initiates fight or flight (increases heart rate, blood pressure and sugar
pituitary gland
most influential; controlled by hypothalamus; regulates growth and controls other glands (sex glands, adrenal glands); releases oxytocin which enables birth contractions, orgasms, milk flow, pair bonding, group cohesion, and social trust
flow of info in endoctrine system
brain -> pituitary -> other glands -> hormones -> body and brain
acetylcholine (ACh) function
enables muscle action, learning, memory
acetylcholine (ACh) malfunction
ACh-producting neurons deteriorate during Alzheimer’s; muscles can’t contract, leading to paralysis (like the state which is induced during anesthesia)
dopamine function
influences movement, learning, attention, emotion
dopamine malfunction
oversupply can lead to schizophrenia; undersupply can lead to tremors and decreased mobility with Parkinson’s
serotonin function
mood, hunger, sleep, arousal
serotonin malfunction
undersupply leads to depression
norepinephrine function
helps control alertness and arousal
norepinephrine malfunction
undersupply leads to depressed mood
GABA function
major inhibitor
GABA malfunction
undersupply can lead to seizures, tremors, insomnia
glutamate function
major excitator; memory
glutamate malfunction
oversupply can lead to overstimulation of brain, producing migraines and seizures; this is why people avoid food w/ MSG
endorphins function
natural opiods; influence perception of pain and pleasure; can improve mood; explains “runner’s high,” painkilling effects of acupuncture, and indifference to pain during extreme injuries
endorphins malfunction
oversupply due to opiods can lead to suppression of body’s natural supply, stop of production, can cause withdrawal
synaptic vesicles
carry neurotransmitters to presynaptic membrane
Parkinson’s Disease
degenerative neurotransmitter disorder affecting parts of the brain responsible for control and regulation of movement; caused by depletion of dopamine in basal ganglia of midbrain where dopamine is produced and stored; causes dysfunction of movement and maintaining of balance, and paralysis
prevalance of Parkinson’s
1% of pop over 50 y/o; 2% of pop over 80 y/o; more common in men (1.5x)
Nodes of Ranvier
spaces between myelin that cause impulse to jump and increase speed
thyroid gland
controls body metabolism (weight gain/loss)
parathyroid gland
controls calcium levels in blood
thymus gland
makes white blood cells (active in childhood)
pineal gland
produces melatonin (sleep-wake cycle)
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
autoimmune disorder w/ accute attack of peripheral nerve myeline (peripheral nervous system disorder); symptoms include respiratory failure, paralysis/impaired reflexes; usually follows a viral infection (flu)
prevelance of MS
onset of about 20-24 y/o; affects women 2:1; more common in whites and people from N climates (North America and northern Europe)
prevelance of Guillan-Barre Syndrome
affects all ages and genders equally
Uhthoff’s Sign
temporary heigtening of MS symptoms as a result of increase in temp (via bath, shower, etc)
sympathetic nervous system
expands energy (fight or flight response (stress)); ejaculation
parasympathetic nervous system
conserves energy, calms; sexual arousal (calming)
