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Biological Psychology > Neuroscience and Behaviour > Flashcards

Neuroscience and Behaviour Flashcards

1
Q

Cell Body

A

coordinates information processing tasks and keeps the cell alive. Contains nucleus with chromosomes containing DNA.

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2
Q

Dendrites

A

Receives information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body

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3
Q

Axons

A

Transmits info to other neurons, muscles or glands

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4
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

insulating layer of fatty material

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5
Q

Glial cells

A

support cells found in the nervous system that provide structure and insulate nerve cells. Make up myelin sheath

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6
Q

Components of neurons

A

Cell body, dendrites, axons, myelin sheath, glial cells

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7
Q

Multiple Sclerosis

A

where myelin sheath deteriorates causing a slowdown in transmision of info between neurons

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8
Q

Synapse

A

Junction between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another

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9
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

Receive info from the external worls and convey this to the brain via the spina chord

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10
Q

Motor neurons

A

carry signals from the spinal chord to the muscles

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11
Q

Interneurons

A

Connect sensory, motor neurons or other interneurons

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12
Q

Purkinje cells

A

type of interneuron that carries info from cerebellum to the rest of the brain and spinal chord

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13
Q

Bipolar cells

A

type of sensory neuron found in retina of eye

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14
Q

Resting potential

A

difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of a neurons cell membrane

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15
Q

Action potential

A

an electrical signal that is conducted along the length of a neurons axon to a synapse

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16
Q

Refractory period

A

the time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated

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17
Q

Terminal buttons

A

Knoblike structures that branch out from an axon

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18
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

chemicals that transmit info across the synapse to a receiving neurons dendrites

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19
Q

Receptors

A

Parts of cell membrane that receive neurotransmitters and initiate a new electric signal. It is a protein embedded in the membrane that matches the molecular shape of a specific neurotransmitter molecule

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20
Q

Acetylcholine

A

a neurotransmitter involved in a number of functions, including voluntary motor control

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21
Q

Dopamine

A

a neurotransmitter that regulates motor behaviour, motivation, pleasure and emotional arousal

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22
Q

Glutamate

A

a major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in info transmission throughout the brain

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23
Q

Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (Gaba)

A

primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

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24
Q

Noradrenalin

A

a neurotransmitter that influences mood and arousal

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25
Serotonin
a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating and aggressive behaviour
26
Endorphins
chemicals that act within the brain pathways and emotion centres in the brain
27
Agonists
drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter
28
Antagonist
drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter
29
Peripheral nervous system
connects the CNS to the bodys organs and muscles
30
Somatic nervous system
a set of nerves that conveys information into and out of the CNS
31
Autonomic nervous system
set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs and glands
32
Sympathetic nervous system
prepares the body for action
33
Parasympathetic nervous system
helps the body return to a normal resting state
34
Spinal reflexes
Simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions
35
Hind brain
area of the brain that coordinates information coming in and out of the spinal chord. Made up of medulla, reticular formation, cerebellum and pons.
36
Medulla
extension of the spinal chord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation and respiration
37
Reticular Formation
inside the medulla, regulates sleep, wakefulness and levels of arousal
38
Cerebellum
Behind medulla, controls fine motor skills
39
Pons
relays info from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
40
Tectum
In the midbrain. Orients an organism in the environment. Moves it in a coordinated way towards a stimulus
41
Tegmentum
In the midbrain. Involved in movement and arousal
42
Forebrain
Controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory and motor functions. Made up of cerebral cortex and subcortical structures
43
Cerebral cortex
Outermost layer of the brain. Made up of Corpus callosum, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, frontal lobe
44
Subcortical structures
areas of the forebrain under the cerebral cortex. Include thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, limbic system, hippocampus, amygdala, basal ganglia
45
Thalamus
relays and filters info from the senses and transmits the info to the cerebral cortex
46
Hypothamalus
regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst and sexual behaviour
47
Pituitary gland
master gland. Releases hormones that direct the functions of many other glands in the body
48
Limbic system
Include amygdala and hippocampus. Involved in motivation, emotion, learning and memory
49
Hippocampus
Creating new memories
50
Amygdala
At top of hippocampus. Essential role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of emotional memories
51
Basal ganglia
direct intentional movements
52
Association areas
Areas of cerebral cortex that are composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to info registered in the cortex
53
Primary visual cortex
Outermost layer of the occipital lobe, area where visual info is processed
54
Primary auditory cortex
outermost layer of the temporal lobe where auditory info is processed
55
Corpus callosum
connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of info across hemispheres
56
occipital lobe
processes visual info
57
Parietal lobe
processes info about touch
58
Temporal lobe
responsible for hearing and language
59
Frontal lobe
specialised areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory and judgement
60
Heritability
a measure of the variability of behavioural traits among individuals that can be accounted for by genetic factors
61
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
used to record electrical activity in the brain
62
Computerised axial tomography
recombines multiple X-ray photographs into a single image
63
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
uses magnet to cause charged molecules to realign to produce measurable field distortions
64
Positron emission tomography (PET)
uses radioactive markers to measure blood flow in the brain
65
functional mri (FMRI)
uses magnet to cause haemoglobin molecules to realign to measure blood flow in the brain
66
Blood-Brain barrier
Semi-permeable barrier between blood and brain. Protects and helps to regulate the chemical balance of the brain
67
How does the brain get nutrients
Small molecules like O2 and CO2 diffuse across BBB. Glucose and amino acids cross via active transport
68
Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852-1934)
Used newly-developed staining techniques to show that neurons are separable
69
Why does a neuron have a resting | potential of -70mV (rather than 0)?
It makes it possible for the neuron to respond quickly and actively to a stimulus via an action potential
70
What is Hyperpolarization
increased (even more negative) polarization of the neuron. A type of Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
71
What is Depolarization
reduction of the neuron’s polarization towards zero. A type of Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
72
What happens to sodium and potassium ions during action potential
Na+ channels open and ions flood into neuron. Then Na+ channels close and K+ channels open. K+ flow out of neuron. Then both channels close after refractory period
73
saltatory conduction
how an action potential moves down an | axon towards another cell (in a myelinated axon)
74
Who discovered the synapse
Charles Scott Sherrington (1857-1952)
75
What occurs at the synapse
Neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles in the axon terminals of the presynaptic neuron. When an action potential arrives at the terminals of the presynaptic neuron, voltage gated calcium channels open due to depolarization. Ca+ enters the neuron. this leads to release of neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. Neurotransmitters cross the cleft and attach to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.
76
Ionotropic receptors
neurotransmitter directly opens some type of ion channels. The effect is fast and short-lived. E.g. muscle activity
77
Metabotropic receptors
neurotransmitter opens ion channels indirectly & produces slower but longer-lasting effects. E.g. hunger
78
Temporal Summation
rapid repeated sub-threshold stimulations of a presynaptic neuron added together
79
Spatial summation
When IPSPs & EPSPs inputs arriving simultaneously at different locations on the dendrites and cell body are combined
80
3 ways of terminating the neurotransmitter action
1. Serotonin, dopanime, norepinephrine detach from the receptor and are re-absorbed by the presynaptic neuron (‘re-uptake’) for re-use. 2. Acetylcholine is broken down by acetylcholinesterase into acetate and choline (‘enzymatic degradation’). 3. Glial cells can reabsorb transmitters at some synapses (& influence synaptic activity by granting or withholding such absorption)
81
Norepinephrine
is same as noradrenalin. Helps control mood and arousal
82
Midbrain
The superior colliculi help guide eye movements and fixation of gaze. The inferior colliculi help sound localisation. The substantia nigra plays a role in reward, addiction, projects to the basal ganglia to integrate movements

Biological Psychology (7 decks)

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