Module 9 - Biological Psychology and Neurotransmission Flashcards

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1
Q

What German physician proposed phrenology could reveal mental abilities/character traits?

A

Franz Gall

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2
Q

What is phrenology?

A

Studying bumps on the skull

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3
Q

Multiple sclerosis is a result of degeneration in the…

A

Myelin sheath

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4
Q

When there is a negative charge inside an axon and a positive charge outside it, the neuron is _

A

Resting potential

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5
Q

Neurotransmitters cross the _ to carry
information to the next neuron.

A

Synaptic gap

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6
Q

What does phrenology focus on?

A

Brain function localization

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7
Q

What is brain function localization?

A

Specific brain systems serve specific functions

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8
Q

Biological psychology

A

scientific study of links between biological (genetic, hormonal & psychological processes

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9
Q

Neuron

A

Nerve cell; basic building block of nervous system

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10
Q

Dendrites

A

Neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages & conduct impulses toward the cell body

Receive info & conduct it toward the cell body

short

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11
Q

Axon

A

neuron extension that passes messages through branches to other neurons or muscles/glands

long

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12
Q

Myelin sheath

A

Fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage-like node to the next

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13
Q

Action potential

A

neural impulse; a brief electoral charge that travels down an axon

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14
Q

ions

A

electrically charged atoms

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15
Q

What is the range of the speed of travel of neurons?

A

2-180mph

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16
Q

Resting potential

A

pos. outside, neg. inside state

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17
Q

Selectively permeable

A

(axon) selective about what it allows in gates

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18
Q

refractory period

A

period of inactivity after the neuron has fired

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19
Q

Threshold

A

level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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20
Q

all-or-none response

A

neuron’s reaction of firing (with full strength) or not firing at all

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21
Q

synapse

A

the junction between the axon tip of sending neuron & dendrite/cell body of receiving neuron; gap @ junction: synaptic gap

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22
Q

When action potential reaches knob-like terminals at the axon’s end, what happens?

A

It triggers the release of neurotransmitters

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23
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers; influences whether that neuron will generate neural impulse

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24
Q

Reuptake

A

The process where the sending neuron reabsorbs the excess neurotransmitter molecules in the synaptic gap

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25
Q

Acetylcholine (ACH)

A

Enables muscle action, learning & memory

ex: Alzheimer’s disease: ACH-producing neurons deteriorate

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26
Q

Dopamine

A

Influences movement, learning, attention & emotion

ex: oversupply -> Schizophrenia
undersupply -> tremors & decreased mobility in Parkinson’s disease

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27
Q

Serotonin

A

Affects mood, hunger, sleep & arousal

ex: undersupply -> depression
Some antidepressants ^^ serotonin levels

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28
Q

Norepinephrine

A

Helps control alertness & arousal

ex: undersupply -> depress mood

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29
Q

GABA

A

major inhibitory neurotransmitter

ex: undersupply -> seizures, tremors, insomnia

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30
Q

Glutamate

A

Major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

ex: oversupply -> overstimulate brain producing migraines & seizures

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31
Q

Morphine

A

an opiate drug that elevates mood, eases pain, and bound to receptors in areas linked to mood & pain sensations

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32
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control & pleasure

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33
Q

Agonist

A

a molecule that stimulates response by binding to a receptor site

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34
Q

Antagonist

A

binds to receptors & blocks neurotransmitter functioning

Similar to neurotransmitters to occupy receptors cite

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35
Q

What is the system for neurons?
(Axon, dendrites, synaptic gap, cell body, next neuron, terminal knobs)

A

Dendrites, cell body, axon, terminal knobs, synaptic gap, next neuron

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36
Q

Nervous system

A

body’s communication network, consisting of all nerve cells of the peripheral/central nervous systems

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37
Q

Central Nervous system (CNS)

A

brain & spinal cord

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38
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

sensory & motor neurons that connect CNS to body

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39
Q

Nerves

A

bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting CNS -> muscles, glands, sense organs

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40
Q

Sensory (afferent) neurons

A

neurons that carry incoming info from sensory receptors -> brain/spinal cord

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41
Q

Motor (efferent) neurons

A

neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain/spinal cord -> muscles & glands

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42
Q

interneurons

A

neurons within brain/spinal cord that communicate internally & intervene between sensory inputs/motor outputs

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43
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles

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44
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

controls glands & muscles of internal organs, influencing glandular, heartbeat & digestion

45
Q

Sympathetic NS

A

accelerates heartbeat in emergencies

46
Q

Parasympathetic NS

A

decreases heartbeat and calms the body down

parasympathetic/sympathetic NS work together to keep body at a steady state

47
Q

Neural Networks

A

cluster of neurons

48
Q

Spinal cord

A

2-way info highway connecting peripheral NS & brain

49
Q

Reflex

A

automatic responses to stimuli

50
Q

Endocrine system

A

Interconnected w/ nervous system; slow chemical communication systems; set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream

51
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers manufactured by endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues

52
Q

What is included in the Endocrine system

A

Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, pancreas, parathyroids, ovary, adrenal gland

53
Q

Some hormones are chemically identical to _

A

neurotransmitter

54
Q

adrenal glands

A

Pair of endocrine glands that sit above kidneys & secrete hormones (epinephrine/norepinephrine)

55
Q

pituitary glands

A

endocrine systems master gland (own master is hypothalamus)
located in the core of the brain
releases hormones

56
Q

What is the feedback system? (hormones, brain, other glands, pituitary glands, body & brain)

A

brain, pituitary, other glands, hormones, body & brain

57
Q

Damage to one side of the brain will lead to?

A

paralysis of the opposite side

58
Q

Lesion

A

tissue destruction

59
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

amplified readout of waves of electrical activity on the brain’s surface

60
Q

CT (computed tomography) scan

A

examines the brain by taking x-ray photos that can reveal brain damage

61
Q

PET (position emission tomography) scan

A

depicts brain activity by showing each brain area’s consumption of sugar glucose
can track gamma rays released by “food for thought” as a person performs a given task after someone receives temporarily radioactive glucose

62
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

the forward part of the FL
enables judgment, planning, and processing of new memories

63
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan

A

a technique that uses magnetic fields & radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue; shows brain anatomy

64
Q

ventrides

A

fluid-filled brain areas that keep the brain buoyant and cushioned

65
Q

fMRI (functional MRI)

A

technique for revealing blood flow & brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; can show brain function & structure

66
Q

Brainstem

A

Oldest/innermost region of the brain; beginning where the spinal cord SWELLS as entering the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions

67
Q

Medulla

A

controls breathing and heart rate; slight swelling of spinal cord; base of brainstem

68
Q

Pons

A

sits above the medulla; helps coordinate movement

69
Q

Thalamus

A

receives sensory info for all senses except smell

70
Q

Reticular formation

A

a bundle of nerve fibers that help regulate consciousness and to filter out incoming stimuli

71
Q

Cerebellum

A

“little brain”; enables nonverbal learning & memory ; coordinates w/ voluntary muscle movements w/ help from pons); helps judge time, modulate emotion, & discriminate sound/texture

72
Q

Limbic system

A

neural system located below cerebral hemispheres; associated w/ emotions & drive

73
Q

What does the limbic system contain?

A

Hippocampus; amygdala, hypothalamus

74
Q

Hippocampus

A

processes conscious memories

75
Q

Amygdala

A

linked to emotions (aggression & fear)

76
Q

Hypothalamus

A

below thalamus; directs several maintenance activities/drives (eating, drinking, body temp., sex)

77
Q

Brain influences _, which influences _.

A

endocrine system; brain

78
Q

Hypothalamus tunes into __ and any incoming orders from other _ parts.

A

blood chemistry; brain

79
Q

cerebrum

A

the hemisphere that contributes to 85% of brain weight
neural networks within it form specialized work teams that enable our perceiving, thinking, and speaking

80
Q

cerebral cortex

A

covers hemispheres, a thin surface layer of interconnected neural cells
includes motor cortex, Broca’s area, & prefrontal cortex

81
Q

Cerebral hemispheres come as a _.

A

pair

82
Q

L & R hemispheres of brain are filled with mainly _ connecting cortex –> brain’s other regions`

A

axons

83
Q

Glial cells

A

cells in NS that support, nourish, & protect neurons; may also play role in learning & thinking

84
Q

Neurons = Queen Bees; cant feed themselves
Glial cells = worker bees; provide nutrients & insulating myelin, guide neural connections and mop up ions & neurotransmitters

A

………

85
Q

Frontal lobe

A

behind forehead; involved in speaking, muscle movements, making plans, and judgement

86
Q

parietal lobe

A

@ top & to the rear; receives sensory input for touch & body position

87
Q

occipital lobe

A

@ back of head; involved in vision

88
Q

temporal lobes

A

a portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.

89
Q

motor cortex

A

@ rear of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movement

90
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

area @ frontal lobe that registers & processes body, touch, & movement sensation

91
Q

association areas

A

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in motor or sensory functions; involved in higher mental functions (learning, thinking, remembering, speaking)

92
Q

plasticity

A

ability to modify itself after being damaged

93
Q

neurogenesis

A

formation of new neurons

94
Q

corpus callosum

A

2 hemispheres of the brain communicate through a bundle of nerve fibers connecting each half

95
Q

sensory cortex

A

responsible for receiving info for touch, pain & temperature

96
Q

olfactory bulb

A

Receives sensory info for smell

97
Q

aphasia

A

language impairment

98
Q

auditory cortex

A

responsible for our sense of hearing

99
Q

What does the right side of the brain control?

A

creativity - spatial reasoning, art, music, imagination

100
Q

What does the left side of the brain control?

A

academics - math, language, science, logic

101
Q

habituation

A

an organism’s decreasing response to a stimulus
with repeated exposure to it.

102
Q

Who is Clive Wearing?

A

Had his hippocampus destroyed by viral infection and cant make new long term memories

103
Q

Homonculus

A

“little person” uses as a map to show the areas of cortical space dedicated to certain motor and somatosensation functions

104
Q

Who is Phineas Gage?

A

Had his prefrontal cortex destroyed by a railroad spike that accidentally exploded through his skill and his behavior changed drastically

105
Q

Broca’s area

A

responsible for speech articulation

106
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

enables us to comprehend language and speak in comprehensive sentences

107
Q

excitatory

A

promotes the generation of an electrical signal called an action potential in the receiving neuron

108
Q

inhibitory

A

prevents the generation of an electrical signal