Module 9 - Biological Psychology and Neurotransmission Flashcards
What German physician proposed phrenology could reveal mental abilities/character traits?
Franz Gall
What is phrenology?
Studying bumps on the skull
Multiple sclerosis is a result of degeneration in the…
Myelin sheath
When there is a negative charge inside an axon and a positive charge outside it, the neuron is _
Resting potential
Neurotransmitters cross the _ to carry
information to the next neuron.
Synaptic gap
What does phrenology focus on?
Brain function localization
What is brain function localization?
Specific brain systems serve specific functions
Biological psychology
scientific study of links between biological (genetic, hormonal & psychological processes
Neuron
Nerve cell; basic building block of nervous system
Dendrites
Neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages & conduct impulses toward the cell body
Receive info & conduct it toward the cell body
short
Axon
neuron extension that passes messages through branches to other neurons or muscles/glands
long
Myelin sheath
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
Action potential
neural impulse; a brief electoral charge that travels down an axon
ions
electrically charged atoms
What is the range of the speed of travel of neurons?
2-180mph
Resting potential
pos. outside, neg. inside state
Selectively permeable
(axon) selective about what it allows in gates
refractory period
period of inactivity after the neuron has fired
Threshold
level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
all-or-none response
neuron’s reaction of firing (with full strength) or not firing at all
synapse
the junction between the axon tip of sending neuron & dendrite/cell body of receiving neuron; gap @ junction: synaptic gap
When action potential reaches knob-like terminals at the axon’s end, what happens?
It triggers the release of neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers; influences whether that neuron will generate neural impulse
Reuptake
The process where the sending neuron reabsorbs the excess neurotransmitter molecules in the synaptic gap
Acetylcholine (ACH)
Enables muscle action, learning & memory
ex: Alzheimer’s disease: ACH-producing neurons deteriorate
Dopamine
Influences movement, learning, attention & emotion
ex: oversupply -> Schizophrenia
undersupply -> tremors & decreased mobility in Parkinson’s disease
Serotonin
Affects mood, hunger, sleep & arousal
ex: undersupply -> depression
Some antidepressants ^^ serotonin levels
Norepinephrine
Helps control alertness & arousal
ex: undersupply -> depress mood
GABA
major inhibitory neurotransmitter
ex: undersupply -> seizures, tremors, insomnia
Glutamate
Major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory
ex: oversupply -> overstimulate brain producing migraines & seizures
Morphine
an opiate drug that elevates mood, eases pain, and bound to receptors in areas linked to mood & pain sensations
Endorphins
Natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control & pleasure
Agonist
a molecule that stimulates response by binding to a receptor site
Antagonist
binds to receptors & blocks neurotransmitter functioning
Similar to neurotransmitters to occupy receptors cite
What is the system for neurons?
(Axon, dendrites, synaptic gap, cell body, next neuron, terminal knobs)
Dendrites, cell body, axon, terminal knobs, synaptic gap, next neuron
Nervous system
body’s communication network, consisting of all nerve cells of the peripheral/central nervous systems
Central Nervous system (CNS)
brain & spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
sensory & motor neurons that connect CNS to body
Nerves
bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting CNS -> muscles, glands, sense organs
Sensory (afferent) neurons
neurons that carry incoming info from sensory receptors -> brain/spinal cord
Motor (efferent) neurons
neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain/spinal cord -> muscles & glands
interneurons
neurons within brain/spinal cord that communicate internally & intervene between sensory inputs/motor outputs
Somatic nervous system
enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles
Autonomic nervous system
controls glands & muscles of internal organs, influencing glandular, heartbeat & digestion
Sympathetic NS
accelerates heartbeat in emergencies
Parasympathetic NS
decreases heartbeat and calms the body down
parasympathetic/sympathetic NS work together to keep body at a steady state
Neural Networks
cluster of neurons
Spinal cord
2-way info highway connecting peripheral NS & brain
Reflex
automatic responses to stimuli
Endocrine system
Interconnected w/ nervous system; slow chemical communication systems; set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream
Hormones
Chemical messengers manufactured by endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues
What is included in the Endocrine system
Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, pancreas, parathyroids, ovary, adrenal gland
Some hormones are chemically identical to _
neurotransmitter
adrenal glands
Pair of endocrine glands that sit above kidneys & secrete hormones (epinephrine/norepinephrine)
pituitary glands
endocrine systems master gland (own master is hypothalamus)
located in the core of the brain
releases hormones
What is the feedback system? (hormones, brain, other glands, pituitary glands, body & brain)
brain, pituitary, other glands, hormones, body & brain
Damage to one side of the brain will lead to?
paralysis of the opposite side
Lesion
tissue destruction
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
amplified readout of waves of electrical activity on the brain’s surface
CT (computed tomography) scan
examines the brain by taking x-ray photos that can reveal brain damage
PET (position emission tomography) scan
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
Prefrontal cortex
the forward part of the FL
enables judgment, planning, and processing of new memories
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan
a technique that uses magnetic fields & radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue; shows brain anatomy
ventrides
fluid-filled brain areas that keep the brain buoyant and cushioned
fMRI (functional MRI)
technique for revealing blood flow & brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; can show brain function & structure
Brainstem
Oldest/innermost region of the brain; beginning where the spinal cord SWELLS as entering the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla
controls breathing and heart rate; slight swelling of spinal cord; base of brainstem
Pons
sits above the medulla; helps coordinate movement
Thalamus
receives sensory info for all senses except smell
Reticular formation
a bundle of nerve fibers that help regulate consciousness and to filter out incoming stimuli
Cerebellum
“little brain”; enables nonverbal learning & memory ; coordinates w/ voluntary muscle movements w/ help from pons); helps judge time, modulate emotion, & discriminate sound/texture
Limbic system
neural system located below cerebral hemispheres; associated w/ emotions & drive
What does the limbic system contain?
Hippocampus; amygdala, hypothalamus
Hippocampus
processes conscious memories
Amygdala
linked to emotions (aggression & fear)
Hypothalamus
below thalamus; directs several maintenance activities/drives (eating, drinking, body temp., sex)
Brain influences _, which influences _.
endocrine system; brain
Hypothalamus tunes into __ and any incoming orders from other _ parts.
blood chemistry; brain
cerebrum
the hemisphere that contributes to 85% of brain weight
neural networks within it form specialized work teams that enable our perceiving, thinking, and speaking
cerebral cortex
covers hemispheres, a thin surface layer of interconnected neural cells
includes motor cortex, Broca’s area, & prefrontal cortex
Cerebral hemispheres come as a _.
pair
L & R hemispheres of brain are filled with mainly _ connecting cortex –> brain’s other regions`
axons
Glial cells
cells in NS that support, nourish, & protect neurons; may also play role in learning & thinking
Neurons = Queen Bees; cant feed themselves
Glial cells = worker bees; provide nutrients & insulating myelin, guide neural connections and mop up ions & neurotransmitters
………
Frontal lobe
behind forehead; involved in speaking, muscle movements, making plans, and judgement
parietal lobe
@ top & to the rear; receives sensory input for touch & body position
occipital lobe
@ back of head; involved in vision
temporal lobes
a portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.
motor cortex
@ rear of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movement
somatosensory cortex
area @ frontal lobe that registers & processes body, touch, & movement sensation
association areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in motor or sensory functions; involved in higher mental functions (learning, thinking, remembering, speaking)
plasticity
ability to modify itself after being damaged
neurogenesis
formation of new neurons
corpus callosum
2 hemispheres of the brain communicate through a bundle of nerve fibers connecting each half
sensory cortex
responsible for receiving info for touch, pain & temperature
olfactory bulb
Receives sensory info for smell
aphasia
language impairment
auditory cortex
responsible for our sense of hearing
What does the right side of the brain control?
creativity - spatial reasoning, art, music, imagination
What does the left side of the brain control?
academics - math, language, science, logic
habituation
an organism’s decreasing response to a stimulus
with repeated exposure to it.
Who is Clive Wearing?
Had his hippocampus destroyed by viral infection and cant make new long term memories
Homonculus
“little person” uses as a map to show the areas of cortical space dedicated to certain motor and somatosensation functions
Who is Phineas Gage?
Had his prefrontal cortex destroyed by a railroad spike that accidentally exploded through his skill and his behavior changed drastically
Broca’s area
responsible for speech articulation
Wernicke’s area
enables us to comprehend language and speak in comprehensive sentences
excitatory
promotes the generation of an electrical signal called an action potential in the receiving neuron
inhibitory
prevents the generation of an electrical signal
