Neuroscience and Behavior Review Flashcards
What is the function of neurons?
neurons process info received from stimul, communicate with each other, and send messages to the body’s muscles / organs
What are the 3 major parts of a neuron?
- cell body soma
- dendrites
*receives sensory signals from other neurons and transmits info to the cell body - axons: carry signals from cell body to other neurons / muscles / organs
What is the role of glial cells in neurons?
glial cells provide support for neurons, usually in the form of the myelin sheath, which coats the axons to facilitate the transmission of information
what are the 3 major types of neurons?
- sensory
- motor
- interneurons
What causes a neuron’s resting potential?
the neuron’s resting potential is due to differences in concentrations of ions inside / outside the cell membrane
What happens when electric signals reach a threshold inside a neuron?
it initiates an action potential, an all-or-nothing signal that moves down the entire length of the axon
Where does communication between neurons take place?
communication between neurons takes place thru synaptic transmission, when an action potential triggers release of neurotransmitters that travel across the synpase to bind with receptors on the receiving neuron’s dendrite
What are some of the major neurotransmitters?
- acetylcholine (ACh)
- dopamine
- glutamate
- GABA
- norepinephine
- serotonin
- endorphins
How do drugs affect behavior?
by acting as agonists that facilitate the actions increase of neurotransmitters
or
as antagonists that block or diminish the action of neurotransmitters
What are the two divisions of the nervous system?
- Central (CNS)
- Peripheral (PNS)
What makes up the central nervous system?
- brain
- spinal cord
What is the role of the peripheral nervous system?
the PNS connects the CNS with the rest of the body
How is the PNS divided?
- somatic (voluntary muscles)
- autonomic (involuntary muscles)
How is the autonomic (involuntary) system divided?
- sympathetic *arousal
- parasympathetic *calming
How does the spinal cord influence behavior?
the spinal cord can control basic behaviors, such as spinal reflexes, without input from the pain
ex: pulling hand away from a flame
What 3 parts is the brain divided into?
- hindbrain
- midbrain
- forebrain
What is the function of the hindbrain?
the hindbrain coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord with the following structures:
- medula: breathing/heart rate
- reticular formation: sleep/arousal
- cerebellum: fine motor skills
- pons: communication from cerebellum to cerebral cortex
What is the function of the structures without the midbrain?
the structures of the midbrain coordinate functions such as orientation to the environment and movement toward sensory stimuli
What are the subcortical structures of the forebrain?
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
- limbic system (hippocampus/ amygdala)
- basal ganglia
How does the endocrine system interact with the nervous system?
the endocrine system works closely with the nervous system to regulate thoughts, emotions, behaviors thru the release of hormones
What is the cerebral cortex / its structure
the cerebral cortex is part of the forebrain and is composed of two hemispheres with four lobes
What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?
- frontal
- parietal
- temporal
- occipital
How did the nervous system evolve?
nervous systems evolved from simple collections of sensory + motor neurons in simple animals to elaborate centralized nervous systems found in mammals
What’s the difference between monozygotic/ dizygotic twins?
- monozygotic twins share 100% of their genes
- dizygotic twins share 50% of their genes
What is epigenetics?
epigenetics refers to the study of environmental influences that determine whether genes are expressed, without altering the basic DNA sequences that constitute the genes themselves
How can the brain be studied?
The brain can be studied by observing how perceptual, motor, intellectual, and emotional capacities are affected after brain damage in particular areas of the brain
how is an EEG used to study the brain?
patterns of electrical activity in large brain areas can be examined from outside the skull, using EEG
single-cell recordings can indicate which neurons represent particular kinds of stimuli or control particular aspects of behavior
How is functional brain imaging used to study the brain? PET/ fMRI
PET/ fMRI can be used to scan the brain as people perform different perceptual or intellectual tasks, helping to identity which brain areas are involved in specific types of processes
What part of the brain is involved in movement and arousal?
the midbrain
The _ regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior
hypothalamus
What explains the beneficial effects of exercise on aspects of brain function/ cognitive performance?
neuron plasticity
Using _ researchers can observe relationships between energy consumption in certain brain areas and specific cognitive and behavioral events
functional brain imaging
What is the role of interneurons?
interneurons connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons
