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General Psychology > Neuroscience (Module 2 Ch 3) > Flashcards

Neuroscience (Module 2 Ch 3) Flashcards

Memorize by October 10th

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1
Q

Polygenic vs Monogenic

A

Characteristic is determined by the interaction of several genes vs determined by a single gene

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2
Q

Behavioral Genetics

A

The study of how heredity affects behavior
Is often very complex since most characteristics are polygenic as well as influenced by environmental factors

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3
Q

Heritability

A

The extent to which a characteristic is influenced by genetics
What extent is a trait caused by nature? What extent is it caused by nurture?

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4
Q

Epigenetics

A

The study of changes in the way genes are expressed without changing the sequence itself
Genes can be activated or deactivated based off of environmental conditions

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5
Q

Soft Inheritance

A

The process by which genes are inherited via epigenetics

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6
Q

Neurons

A

Cells in the nervous system that communicate with each other
Everything that you do or think starts with neurons

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7
Q

Dendrites

A

Reach out into the nervous system, collect information, and bring it to the neuron

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8
Q

Cell Body

A

AKA the Soma
Decides whether or not to send that information to the next neuron
Where the nucleus is located

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9
Q

Axon

A

Works as a hallway
Gets information from the soma to the end of the neuron

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10
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

What the axon is wrapped in
Helps speed up transmission

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11
Q

Terminal Buttons

A

The end of the neuron
Releases information onto the next neuron

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12
Q

Synapse

A

The space between neurons

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13
Q

Glial Cells

A

Help support neurons

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14
Q

What are the different functions of glial cells?

A

Creating a skeletal system (helping with structure), nourishing the neurons, creating myelin, repairing damage, removing waste, creating the blood-brain barrier

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15
Q

The blood brain barrier

A

Separates the blood from the brain to prevent toxins from reaching the brain

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16
Q

What are the different types of neurons?

A

Sensory, Motor, Mirror, Inter

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17
Q

What do sensory neurons do?

A

Take information from the senses (your eyes, skin, ears, etc.) and transmits it to the brain for processing

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18
Q

What do motor neurons do?

A

Takes directions from the brain to the muscles to help us move

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19
Q

Afferent vs Efferent

A

Takes information to the brain vs takes information from the brain

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20
Q

What do mirror neurons do?

A

Allow us to mirror other people both physically and emotionally
Essential to empathy

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21
Q

What are interneurons?

A

Neurons that are connected to other neurons

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22
Q

Electrical vs Chemical Information Transmission

A

Occurs within a neuron vs occurs between neurons

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23
Q

Action Potential

A

Changes in electrical charge along the axon of a neuron from -70mV to +40mV
Caused by the movement of charged potassium and sodium ions into and out of the axon

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24
Q

Resting Potential

A

The difference between the inside and outside of the axon when the neuron is at rest (-70mV)

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25
Q

Propagation

A

The process in which an impulse moves down the axon

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26
Q

Node of Ranvier

A

The gaps in the myelin sheath that the action potential jumps across

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27
Q

Absolute vs Relative Refractory Period

A

No matter what, the neuron will not fire again vs the neuron can fire again, but only if triggered by a stronger stimulus

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28
Q

Neurotransmittors

A

How neurons send information to each other

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29
Q

Synaptic Vesicles

A

Sacs in the terminal buttons that contain neurotransmitters

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30
Q

Agonists vs Antagonists (medication)

A

makes a neurotransmitter more effective vs makes a neurotransmitter less effective

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31
Q

Dopamine

A

Related to reward, pleasure, and voluntary movement
Too much = Schizophrenia
Too little = Parkinson’s

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32
Q

Serotonin

A

Controls negative emotionality and regulates sleep and focus
Too little = Depression or Anxiety

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33
Q

Epinephrine

A

Gives you an energized mental state (aka adrenaline)

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34
Q

Norepinephrine

A

Gives you an energized mental and physical state
Too little = Depression
Too much = PTSD

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35
Q

Endorphins

A

The body’s natural pain killer, also associated with a positive emotional state

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36
Q

GABA

A

Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, meaning it tells the cell body to stop sending information
One of the most abundant neurotransmitters
Dysfunction = Epilepsy

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37
Q

Glutamate

A

Primary excitatory neurotransmitter, meaning it tells the cell body to continue sending information

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38
Q

Acetylcholine

A

Important to learning, memory, attention, and sleeping
Has a strong relationship with motor neurons
Dysfunction = Memory Disorders such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s

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39
Q

Law of Forward Condition

A

Information transmission always goes from the dendrites through the axon to the terminal buttons (never the other way around)

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40
Q

All or None Principle

A

If the soma decides to send the information along, it will travel the whole length of the axon (it’ll never stop halfway down)

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41
Q

Excitatory vs Inhibitory

A

The soma decides between whether or not is should send the information (excitatory) or not (inhibitory)

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42
Q

Neuropeptides

A

Small strings of amino acids that aren’t formally considered neurotransmitters

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43
Q

Enzymatic Degradation

A

Enzymes within the nervous system basically eat the leftover neurotransmitters in the synapse

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44
Q

Reuptake

A

Leftover neurotransmitters in the synapse are taken back in by the terminal buttons that released them

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45
Q

Synaptic Pruning

A

The dying off of certain synapses that are no longer useful, helping make the brain more efficient

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46
Q

Brain

A

the center of the nervous system

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47
Q

Intelligence does not correlate with brain size, it correlates with…?

A

Surface area

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48
Q

How do you increase the surface area of the brain without increasing size?

A

Wrinkles

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49
Q

New builds on old

A

Evolutionarily and developmentally, the newer parts of the brain are towards the top while the older parts are towards the bottom

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50
Q

Contralateral Control

A

The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and vice versa

51
Q

Association Area

A

What parts of the brain are responsible for which components of thinking

52
Q

What are the three different brain divisions?

A

Hindbrain, Midbrain, and Forebrain

53
Q

Hindbrain

A

The oldest
Conducts information through the spinal cord to the rest of the brain
Primary goal is to keep you alive through vital bodily functions

54
Q

Midbrain

A

The smallest division of the brain, located in the center
Controls orientation and moving us through space
Takes in a lot of visual information and processes bodily movement
Important source of dopamine

55
Q

Forebrain

A

The top part of the brain
Highest level in terms of both function and location
Controls cognitive, sensory, and motor function

56
Q

Medulla

A

Located in the hindbrain
Controls heart rate, circulation, respiration, and reflexes

57
Q

Reticular Formation

A

Located in the hindbrain
Controls sleep, mood, and arousal/focus (crucial to waking up and falling alseep)
Important for serotonin and norepinephrine

58
Q

Pons

A

Located in the hindbrain
Manages sleep, focus, and facial expressions (including understanding others and making our own)
Relays information to the cerebellum

59
Q

Cerebellum

A

Located in the hindbrain
Has the most neural connections
Controls balance, fine motor movement, gracefulness, and coordination

60
Q

Tectum

A

Located in the midbrain
Receives sensory information and connects it to movement
Essentially helps build a picture of the environment

61
Q

Tegmentum

A

Located in the midbrain in front of the Tectum
Focuses on movement and focus
Essentially helps you navigate the environment that the tectum creates a picture of

62
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

The outer wrinkly layer of the forebrain, divided into four lobes per side (8 total)

63
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

The band of fibers that connects the two halves of the brain
Without it, the right side wouldn’t be able to communicate with the left

64
Q

Subcortical Structures

A

Located in the forebrain beneath the cerebral cortex, including the thalamus, pituitary gland, and limbic system

65
Q

Thalamus

A

Located in the forebrain
One of the subcortical structures
The way station for all sensory information except smell

66
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

Located in the forebrain
One of the subcortical structures
Controls the release of hormones

67
Q

Limbic System

A

Located in the forebrain
Part of the subcortical structures
Represents your emotional brain

68
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Part of the Limbic system
Controls the four F’s: feeding, fleeing, fighting, and f*cking
Also controls the Pituitary Gland

69
Q

Amygdala

A

Part of the Limbic system
Critical for emotional memory, especially negative ones such as anger, fear, and disgust

70
Q

Hippocampus

A

Part of the Limbic system
Critical for memory

71
Q

Cingulate Gyrus

A

Part of the Limbic system
Band of fibers that focuses on directing attention
Decreased function of this area is associated with Schizophrenia

72
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

Part of the Limbic system
Focuses on motor control
High levels of dopamine present
Decreased function in this area is associated with Parkinson’s

73
Q

What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?

A

Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, and Temporal

74
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

Controls high order processing such as decision making, reasoning, and creativity

75
Q

Prefrontal Cortex

A

The front most part of the frontal cortex
Disproportionately large in humans (28% of frontal lobe)
Considered the executive decision-maker (determines whether we should engage in something or not)
Doesn’t fully develop until early to mid 20’s

76
Q

Motor Cortex

A

Located in the frontal lobe
Concerned with general movement
Most of it is dedicated to the movement of the mouth, tongue, and hands

77
Q

Homunculus

A

An artistic rendering of what humans would look like if they were proportioned like either their motor cortex or their somatosensory cortex (basically has really big hands and mouth)

78
Q

Phineas Gage

A

Had a piece of railroad sent under his cheek and through his frontal lobe, which drastically changed his personality
Described as being more short-tempered and having a harder time with tasks after the incident

79
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

Located directly above the midbrain
Focuses on orientation, visual integration, and touch

80
Q

Somatosensory Cortex

A

Located right behind the motor cortex (but considered part of the parietal lobe)
Focuses on touch sensations (relating to the skin)

81
Q

Visual Integration

A

Relating visual information (which comes from the occipital lobe) to movement

82
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

Builds visual information
Starts by creating simple features like color and shape, then processes them into more complex images

83
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

Focuses on hearing, language, and recognition
Significant lateralization occurs here

84
Q

Lateralization

A

The idea that certain parts of the brain differ depending on left or right hemisphere

85
Q

What does the right side of the temporal lobe focus on?

A

Non-language sounds

86
Q

What does the left side of the temporal lobe focus on?

A

Language

87
Q

Broca’s Area

A

Located on the left side of the temporal lobe
Allows for speech production

88
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

Located on the left side of the temporal lobe
Allows for speech comprehension

89
Q

Aphasia

A

Damage to the brain that affects the ability to communicate (speak or comprehend language)

90
Q

Broca’s Aphasia

A

Being unable to produce the words that you want to
There is an understanding by the person that the sounds coming out of their mouth aren’t really words and don’t make sense

91
Q

Wernicke’s Aphasia

A

Words still come out, but there’s no meaning behind them
Cannot understand what you’re saying to them

92
Q

Auditory Cortex

A

Located in the temporal lobe
Processes sound

93
Q

Insula

A

A small structure located between the temporal and parietal lobes that focuses on perception of sensations, emotional states, empathy, and addictive behavior

94
Q

The Nervous System

A

Controls all the actions and automatic processes of the body
Everything we experience and do is the result of activity in nerve cells

95
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

The brain and spinal cord

96
Q

Spinal Cord

A

Can respond to certain inputs without directions from the brain

97
Q

Gate Control Theory

A

The spinal cord can block pain signals from getting to the brain, so that the brain can process information without getting distracted

98
Q

Cerebrospinal Fluid

A

Fluid that protects or cushions the CNS from danger
Also nourishes the CNS using glucose

99
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

All other nerve cells outside the CNS
Include the Somatic Nervous System and the Autonomic Nervous System

100
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

Transmits info back and forth between the CNS and the skeletal muscles
Voluntary

101
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

Serves the involuntary bodily systems (aka those involving organs and glands)
Includes two branches: sympathetic and parasympathetic

102
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

Branch of the ANS that activates bodily systems in times of emergency
I.E. responsible for flight or fright

103
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

Branch of the ANS that relaxes the body, returning it to a state of rest or low activity (aka rest and digest)
Mediates the effects of the Sympathetic Nervous System

104
Q

Enteric Nervous System

A

Nerve cells embedded in the gastrointestinal system that are sometimes referred to as “the second brain”
Controls hunger signals and is responsible for our “gut feelings”
95% of serotonin in the body is found here

105
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

The brain’s ability to adopt new functions, reorganize itself, and make new neural connections as needed across life and experience
Varies with age and region of the brain (some are more plastic than others)

106
Q

Neurogenesis

A

The development of new neurons

107
Q

Arborization

A

The growth/formation of new dendrites

108
Q

Synaptogenesis

A

The formation of new synapses or connections with other neurons

109
Q

What brain imaging techniques show us structure?

A

MRI, DTI, NIRS
Also mesoSPIMS

110
Q

What brain imaging techniques show us activity?

A

EEG (+ ERP), fMRI, PET, TMS

111
Q

mesoSPIMS

A

Uses light-sheet microscopes to view individual neurons
Does not show activity

112
Q

MRI

A

Uses magnets to produce still images of the brain’s structure, but does not tell us anything about activity

113
Q

DTI

A

Type of MRI that focuses on where myelin is

114
Q

NIRS

A

uses light pulses to produce images of the brain rather than magnets

115
Q

fMRI

A

Uses magnets to track the metals in our blood
Allows us to see where activity is occurring, but not when
Extremely expensive

116
Q

EEG

A

Imaging technique that involves placing electrodes on the skull to measure activity
Good at telling us exactly when activity occurs, but not where

117
Q

ERP

A

Specific pieces of data from a single electrode used in an EEG

118
Q

PET

A

Tracks where glucose is going to tell us which parts are the most active (and thus need the most fuel)

119
Q

TMS

A

Uses a coil to send magnetic pulses through the brain, disrupting normal processing
One of the only non-invasive ways to determine causality

120
Q

Endocrine System

A

The system of glands that regulates the secretion of hormones in the body

121
Q

Hormones

A

Chemicals that travel in the blood stream, carrying messages to tissues and organs

122
Q

What glands are part of the endocrine system?

A

Pituitary (the master gland, controls release of hormones), thyroid (controls metabolism), pancreas (controls blood sugar), ovaries/testes (control sex hormones), adrenal (responds to stress and emotions by regulating heart rate, blood pressures, and blood sugar)

123
Q

Catecholamines

A

Chemicals produced by the adrenal glands that can act as hormones or neurotransmitters
Control ANS activation, including fight or flight
Includes dopamine and norepinephrine

124
Q

Cortisol

A

A stress hormone released by the adrenal glands that regulates metabolic functions

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