Physiological Flashcards
Fraz Gall
developed doctrine of phrenology –> if a particular trait were developed, then the part of the brain responsible for that trait would expand
Pierre Flourens
1st person to study the functions of the major sections of the brain –> ablation
William James
important to study how the mind functioned in adapting to the enviornment—> functionalism
John Dewey
believed that psychology should focus on the study of the organism as a whole as it functioned to adapt to the environment
sensory neurons
transmit sensory info from receptors to the spinal cord & brain
motor neurons
transmit motor info from brain & spinal cord to the muscles
interneurons
( most numerous) linked to reflexive behavior
afferent fibers
sensory neurons transmit info through these fibers (ascend to brain)
efferent fibers
motor impulses (exit brain)
Autonomic Nervous System
regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion & glandular secretions–>involuntary muscles–>automatic/involuntary
- sympathetic: fight or flight - parasympathetic: resting & digestion
Brain stem
- hindbrain: balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, general arousal processes
- midbrain: sensorimotor reflexes; receives sensory & motor info
Forebrain
associated w/ complex perceptual, cognitive & behavioral processes; emotion & memory –> has greatest influence on human behavior
Limbic system
emotion and memory
Cerebral cortex
language processing to problem solving, impulse control, long term planning
medulla oblongata
regulates vital functions
pons
contains sensory & motor tracts between the cortex & the medulla
cerebellum
helps maintain posture & balance & coordinates body movements
reticular formation
regulates arousal, alertness (sleeping and waking), and attention
superior colliculus
receives visual sensory input
inferior colliculus
receives sensory info from the auditory system
hypothalamus
controls release of pituitary hormones; homeostatic functions
Broca’s area
speech production
Wernicke’s area
language comprehension
norepinephrine
controls alertness and wakefulness
dopamine
movement and posture
serotonin
regulating mood, eating, sleeping & arousal
epinephrine
fight or flight response
GABA
produces inhibitory postsynaptic potentials and is thought to play an important role in stabilizing neural activity in the brain
pituitary
“master gland”; triggers hormone secretion in many other endocrine glands
Thyroid
metabolism rate; growth and development
adrenal medulla
produces adrenaline, which increases sugar output of liver; also increases heart rate; “flight or fight” or response
aphasia
impairment of language functions
amnesia
impairment of memory functions
agnosia
impairment in perceptual recognition of object
apraxia
impairment of skilled motor movement
James-Lange Theory
become aware of our emotions after we notice our physiological reaction stop some external event
Cannon-Bard Theory
awareness of emotions reflects our physiological arousal and our cognitive experience of emotion
Schacter-Singer Theory
the subjective experience of emotion is based on the interaction between changes in physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation of that arousal
