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Brain & Behaviour > Philosophy of psychology, What & Why of Psychobiology AND The Nervous System (Overall Structure) > Flashcards

Philosophy of psychology, What & Why of Psychobiology AND The Nervous System (Overall Structure) Flashcards

Lecture 1/2

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1
Q

Define: ‘Psychology’

A

The study of the mind/soul

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2
Q

Define: Materialist approach to psyche

A

‘mind’ is what brains ‘do’ (verb not a noun)
e,g., “'’walk’ is what legs ‘do’”

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3
Q

Has psychology adopted the dualist or materialist approach?

A

Materialist (mostly)
-psychology is the study of the human brain, thus the study of human behaviour

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3
Q

Define: Dualist approach to psyche

A

Mind is different and separate from matter
e.g., “where in the brain is the mind?”

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4
Q

Define: ‘Behaviour’

A

Behaviour is ‘an organisms internally coordinated response to its internal or external environment’

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5
Q

What does Psychobiology aim to do?

A

Understand the biological basis of (human) behaviour

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6
Q

Which (3) systems interact with the environment to produce a response?

A

1) Immune system
2) Endocrine system
3) Nervous system

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7
Q

How does the immune system interact with the environment to produce a response?

A

Protects the body from infection by fighting bacteria, viruses, etc

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8
Q

How does the endocrine system interact with the environment to produce a response?

A

Maintains and regulates body’s internal state; controls growth, development and reproduction

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9
Q

How does the nervous system interact with the environment to produce a response?

A

Controls ongoing activity by coordinating rapid and precise responses to stimuli; biological basis of all ‘cognitive’ functions

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10
Q

Explain: wrong assumption that compares to biopsychology to social psychology?

A

Assumption that bio psychology studies the ‘why’ and ‘what’ of human behaviour (like social psychology), explained in genes & hormones.
Actually studies ‘how’ of human behaviour (not ‘why’ or ‘what’

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11
Q

How is our present-day study of the ‘mind’ and ‘behaviour’ informed by our understanding of (neuro)biology?

A

No psychological theory/concept can violate biological (physical) principles:

-Theories of reincarnation aren’t psychological theories
-Theories about belief in reincarnation are psychological theories

No psychological research question can be outside a biological framework:

-Research into life after death is not psychological research
-Research into ‘near death experience’ is psychological research

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12
Q

Define & Explain: Nervous System

A

A network of electro-chemically active cells (‘neurons’) specialised to communicate with each other

When cells communicate a chemical change in one cell, it causes a corresponding change in the other

The neuron which sends the signal is known as ‘active’, if the signal is strong enough then the second cell becomes active, and so on

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13
Q

Explain: Simplest form of nervous system

A

UNcentralised nervous system (e.g., hydra, starfish)
No ‘nerve centre’ that controls:
-Activity of groups of other neurons
-Actions of distant body parts

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14
Q

What is the direction of a neuron’s signals?

A

Direction of signal transfer: From the dendrites, down the axon, to the axon terminals

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15
Q

Define & Explain the role of: Neurons

A

A neuron = a nerve cell
They fire nerve impulses. They do this by releasing neurotransmitters, also known as the body’s chemical messengers. These chemicals carry signals to other cells.

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16
Q

What is the only animal without a nervous system?

A

A sponge (they are animals that behave like plants)

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17
Q

Describe: Nervous systems in structurally simple animals

A

Even structurally simple animals have centralised nervous systems (e.g., flatworm, leech, insect)
With:
-separate CNS (proto-brain & nerve cord)
-parietal nervous system

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18
Q

Describe: Nervous systems in vertebrates

A

Similar to structurally simple animals but more complex:
-structural: central & peripheral NS more clearly separated
-functional: more hierarchically organised with brain specialised to organise & direct communication

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19
Q

What makes up the Central Nervous System?

A

Brain —> Central nervous system –> Spinal cord

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20
Q

What makes up the Peripheral Nervous System?

A

Somatic & Autonomic nervous system

21
Q

What makes up the Autonomic Nervous System?

A

Sympathetic & Parasympathetic nervous system

22
Q

What is the role of the Sympathetic system?

A

Prepare the body for ‘Fight or flight’ during stressful situations
Effects: increases heart rate, dilates pupils, inhibits digestion, releases adrenaline

23
Q

What is the role of the Parasympathetic nervous system?

A

Promotes ‘Rest and maintenance/digest’ activities that occur when the body is at rest
Effects: decreases heart rate, constricts pupils, stimulates digestion, conserves energy

24
Q

Where is the CNS?

A

Encased in bonesps

25
Q

Explain: Function of the Somatic nervous system?

A

Controls voluntary movements & transmits sensory information to the CNS

26
Q

Explain: Function of the Autonomic nervous system?

A

Controls involuntary bodily functions: heartbeat, digestion, respiration, etc through sympathetic & parasympathetic systems

27
Q

Explain: (2) Components of Somatic Nervous system

A

Motor Neurons
Sensory Neurons

28
Q

What do Motor neurons do?

A

Send signals from CNS to muscles to induce movement

29
Q

What do Sensory neurons do?

A

Send signals from sensory organs to CNS

30
Q

Describe: What systems make up the Peripheral nervous system?

A

Somatic NS & Autonomic NS

31
Q

Describe: What is the function of the Central Nervous System?

A

CNS acts a ‘control centre’ for entire nervous system. It:
-Integrates
-Coordinates
-Controls
-Cognition
-Emotion

32
Q

Explain: How does the CNS integrate information?

A

Processes sensory information and makes decisions based on that information

33
Q

Explain: What does the CNS coordinate?

A

Coordinates all voluntary & involuntary movements

34
Q

Explain: How does the CNS control the body?

A

Regulates bodily functions and maintains homeostasis

35
Q

Explain: How does the CNS support cognition?

A

Supports cognitive functions such as thinking, memory, and learning

36
Q

Explain: How is the CNS relevant in emotions?

A

It generates & processes information

37
Q

Define: ‘White Matter’

A

Axons of neurons wrapped in myelin sheath (myelinated neurons)

38
Q

Define: ‘Grey Matter’

A

Tightly densely packed cell bodies

39
Q

What are the two (2) behaviours that can be performed by just 2 neurons in spinal cord (no brain)?

A

1) Spinal cord & links between PNS & CNS
2) Monosynaptic reflex arc (e.g., knee-jerk reflex)

40
Q

Explain: How the brain isn’t needed for links between the PNS & CNS

A

Sensory signals from body (except) head enter CNS via spinal cord
Motor signals to body leave CNS via spinal cord

41
Q

Explain: How the process of for monosynaptic reflex arc (how the brain isn’t needed)

A

Inside each muscle fibre, specific sense organs/receptors (muscle spindles) activate a sensory neuron when a muscle is quickly stretched
Axons enter spinal cord (via dorsal root), connecting directly with
Motor neurons, which send their axons out (via ventral root)
Activating the same muscle (effector) from which signals originated (causing it to contract)

42
Q

Explain: Polysynaptic reflex arc process

A

Doesn’t require brain
-Sensory and motor neurons connected via one or more interneurons
Sensor and effector in different locations (e.g., withdrawal reflex)
More flexible arrangement, can sometimes even show simple forms of learning (e.g., shown in aplysia)

43
Q

Explain: How spinal cord nuerons can learn without a brain to help paralysed cats walk

A

Spinal cord neurons generate complex movement patterns (e.g., walking, new born stepping reflex) but cannot voluntary initiate movements.
Patterns can only be elicited in response to appropriate stimulation
e.g., paralysed cats can walk again with sufficient training (like if stimulated by a treadmill) and the legs of cat can learn to support weight again

44
Q

Explain: How do monosynaptic reflexes enable stable movement?

A

Through the body, monosynaptic reflexes work to ‘resist’ or ‘dampen’ quick
stretching of skeletal muscles, enabling smooth, stable movement;

45
Q

Define: ‘Synapse’

A

Synapse = signalling link between a neuron and another cell (e.g., another neuron)

46
Q

Explain: How do Synaptic connections work? (Incl. Monosynaptic & Polysynaptic)

A

Structural (i.e., physical): the place where the specialised ‘sender’ part of a neuron comes close the specialised ‘receptor’ part of the target cell
Two neurons typically share many of these places, i.e., they have many synapses:

Functional (i.e., more abstract): no matter how many such ‘contact points’ are between two neurons, they all contribute to the same signal

That is, they function as one synapse:
Monosynaptic: functionally, only one synapse linking sensory & motor neuron

Polysynaptic: functionally, several synapses between sensory & motor neuron

47
Q

Define: Different types of polysynapses

A

1) Bi-synaptic (2 synapses)
2) Tri-synaptic (3 synapses)

48
Q

Explain: Central Pattern Generators (and paralysed cat experiment)

A

CPGs are neural circuits located in the spinal cord and brainstem that produce rhythmic patterns of motor activity (involuntary), such as walking, breathing, etc., without needing sensory feedback or conscious control.
These circuits can generate rhythmic outputs even in the absence of sensory inputs, providing the basic timing and coordination for repetitive motor behaviours.

Cat experiment: rhythmic motor signals that stimulate the muscles required for walking, even in the absence of brain input. When the treadmill moves, sensory feedback from the legs can activate the CPGs in the spinal cord, initiating the walking pattern. This allows the cat to produce coordinated stepping movements, despite paralysis.

49
Q

Define: Learning in terms of synaptic connections

A

Learning = modifying links between inputs & responses (link back to what nervous system is trying to achieve)

50
Q

Explain: Paralysed treadmill cat experiment: What does it tell us/What can we learn from it?

A

Told us: the spinal cord contains the necessary circuitry to generate basic walking patterns independently of the brain.

Significance: CPGs; provided evidence for existence of CPGs in the spinal cord, which can produce rhythmic motor patterns like walking.
(Good for rehabilitation and therapy after paralysis etc)

Brain & Behaviour (3 decks)

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