Physiological/Behavioral Neuroscience (12-14%) Flashcards
What type of agraphia does damage to damage to Broca or Wernicke’s areas cause?
Phonological agraphia due to an inability to sound out words.
When do REM cycles usually occur during sleep?
90-110 minutes after sleep starts.
What are the stages of sleep?
Non REM:
Stage W, Stage N1, Stage N2, Stage N3
Stage R = REM
What are the psychological effects of narcotics?
Euphoria, relaxation, and drowsiness
Most hormones are characterized as either:
Organizational or Activational
What are some important sexual organizational hormones?
H-Y antigen, estrogens and androgens
What are the psychological effects of sedatives?
Euphoria, relaxation, and loss of inhibition.
What are the limitations of hyponosis?
Subjects cannot be forced against their will or made to behave in a way that violates his or her moral code.
Degeneration of the basal ganglia is associated with…
Motor dysfunction in Parkinsons and Huntington’s Diseases
What is the deepest stage of sleep?
N3
What are some psychoactive stimulants?
Caffeine, metamphetamine, cocaine
Where is the superchiasmatic nucleus (SCM) located?
Inside of the hypothalamus
What are two examples of amino acid neurotransmitters?
Glutamate and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
What are the functions of oxytocin?
Stimulate birth, breast feeding, and pair-bonding.
What are some psychoactive narcotics?
heroin, oxycodone
Acquired apraxia usually occurs due to damage to what are of the brain?
The posterior parietal cortex
What are the two classes of monoamine neurotransmitters?
Catecholamines and indolamines
What is the function of the pituitary gland
The master gland of the endocrine/hormone system
What are some important sexual activational hormones?
Estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
Which sleep cycles predominate earlier in the night, which later in the night?
N3 earlier in the night, N2 and REM later in the night.
What does agnosia refer to?
The inability to process sensory information
Another name for the medulla is…
Another name for the myelencephalon is…
What is it called when there is a period of time after which a neuron needs a stronger stimulus before it can fire?
relative refractory period
A lack of serotonin is linked to
Depression
What is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system?
Glutamate
What are some psychoactive sedatives?
alcohol, barbituates, xanax
What are the functions of the cerebral cortex of the frontal lobe?
Speech (Broca’s area), reasoning, and problem solving.
What is the a visual agnosia where you cannot recognize faces, even those of close family and friends?
Prosopagnosia
What are brain wave changes seen during meditation and may even increase in experienced meditators after meditation?
Increase in alpha and beta waves.
What is the function of amino acid neurotransmitters?
Fast-acting directed synapses
Where is the cerebral cortex?
It is the outer half inch of the cerebral hemispheres.
What is hypnosis?
A trancelike state (distinct from sleep) where individuals are highly suggestible.
Another name for desynchronosis is…
Jet Lag
What are the four major classes of psychoactive drugs?
1) Hallucinogens
2) Stimulants
3) Sedatives
4) Narcotics
What can influence someone’s experience with a psychoactive substance?
Their expectations, previous experiences, and their existing emotional, psychological, and physical states.
How do neuromodulators differ from neurotransmittesr?
The result in long-term changes to the post-synaptic cell.
What is the most restorative stage of sleep?
N3
What are the myelin producing cells for the central nervous system?
Ogliodendrocytes
What is the function of Botox?
It is an acetylcholine antagonist
What is the function of the thalamus?
Channels sensory information to the cerebral cortex
The brain secretes more melatonin when it is (dark/light)
dark
What are some possible causes of agraphia?
1) problems with language processing
2) inability to spell
3) disruption of motor processing
4) disruption of visualization skills
(Or any combination thereof)
What are the psychological effects of hallucinogens?
Psychosis like distortions in perception esp hallucinations (visual and auditory), intensified feelings, and an altered sense of time.
How much of the cerebral cortex is neocortex?
90% is neocortex
Is the resting potential of a neuron positive or negatively charged?
Negatively charged
Repeated blows to the head can cause
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
Which stage of sleep has the largest arousal threshold?
N3
How do Broca’s and Wernicke’s aphasias differ?
Those with Broca’s aphasia can understand speech but has difficulty speaking (speaks slowly and leaves out words). Those with Wernicke’s aphasia has fluent but non-sensical speech because word-choice is impaired.
What are the general functions of LH and FSH
The formation and release of gametes in females (ovum) and males (sperm).
What are some important hormones that are released from the pituitary gland
Oxytocin, LH, FSH, prolactin
Growth Hormone, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
ACTH (adrenocorticotroic hormone) Vasopressin (ADH),
What defines N3 sleep?
Predominance of delta waves?
What are the elements of the telencephalon?
Limbic system
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Cingulate Gyrus
What is the rebound effect as regarding sleep?
If the body does not get enough REM sleep earlier it will compensate for it by getting more REM sleep later.
When does N1 sleep usually occur?
When someone is transitioning into sleep
How does fMRI work?
It measures oxygen flow in different areas of the brain during certain tasks.
What is the oldest part of the brain?
The reticular formation
How much do infants versus the elderly sleep?
16 hours versus 6 hours
How many sleep cycles do people complete per night?
4 to 6
What is the function of the reticular formation?
1) Alertness
2) Sleep
3) Thirst
4) Involuntary muscles (ie. the heart)
The signs of CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) are similar to signs of what other diseases?
Alzheimers and Parkinsons
Another name for a neuron’s action potential is…
Another name for nerve impulse is…
What is the function of the limbic system?
1) Fleeing
2) Feeding
3) Fighting
4) Fornicating
what are the elements of the hindbrain?
1) Myelencephanlon
2) Metencephalon
3) Base of the reticular formation
How does a PET scan work?
It scans for glucose metabolism to measure activity in various brain regions during certain tasks.
What is the function of the tectum?
Controls vision and hearing
REM sleep takes up what overall % of sleep?
20-25% of sleep
What is contained in the metencephalon?
Pons and Cerebellum
An excitatory postsynaptic potential makes the neuron more (+ or -) while an inhibitory post synaptic potential makes the neuron more (+ or -)
Excitatory makes it more positive, and an inhibitory potential makes it more negative.
About what % of sleep is REM sleep in babies?
Almost 50%
What is the function of the cerebral cortex of the temporal lobe?
Hearing and speech (Wernicke’s area)
What is the function of dopamine?
Linked to feelings of seeking and reward.
What are some exogenous endorphins?
Opioids like heroin and morphine
What are the three primary portions of the brain?
1) Hindbrain
2) Midbrain
3) Forebrain
What is it called when there is a period of time after which a neuron cannot fire?
absolute refractory period
What is the function of the amygdala?
Controls emotional reactions like fear and anger
Agnosia usually occurs to damage in which parts of he brain?
occipital or parietal lobes
Depolarization makes the neuron more (+ or -) while hyperpolarization makes the neuron more (+ or -)
Depolarization makes the neuron more positive, and hyperpolarization makes it more negative.
What defines REM sleep?
Small, irregular brain waves, the body acts as if it is awake (even though it is not), the body is paralyzed, dreams and nightmares occur.
What is the word for the first onset of menstruation?
Menarche
What is it called when electrodes are implanted into an animal’s brain to measure activity in certain areas?
Stereotaxic instrumentation
What does acquired apraxia refer to?
The inability to plan and coordinate specific learned, purposeful motor movements on command due to a brain injury.
How many layers are there in the neocortex?
6 layers
What does alexia refer to?
The loss of capacity to read
What is the corticospinal tract?
Connections between the brain and spine
Meditation has been successfully used to treat …
Pain, stress, anxiety disorders.
Which neurotransmitters can be linked to addiction?
Endorphins and dopamine
What is another name for REM sleep
What is another name for paradoxical sleep?
which direction do afferent versus efferent fibers of the peripheral nervous system run?
Afferent towards
Efferent away
The bumps on the surface of the brain area called ____ the grooves are called ____
gyri, sulci
How long does N1 sleep usually last?
About 1-7 minutes
Alexia is often associated with damage to what part of the brain?
The left angular gyrus
Another name for Jet Lag is…
desynchronosis
What does agraphia refer to?
The loss of the ability to write
What are the portions of the midbrain?
1) Tectum
2) Tegmentum
When the brain is producing mostly alpha waves during sleep, what do the eyes generally look like?
The eyes are usually closed (not opening and closing)
Does agnosia usually impact one or multiple senses at a time?
One
What is the function of the superior colliculus?
What is the brainstem structure that controls visual reflexes?
What are the portions of the forebrain?
Corticospinal Tract Diencephalon (Thalamus and Hypothalamus) Telencephlon (the rest of the forebrain) Pituitary Gland Cerebral Cortex
What is an example of a catecholamine monoamine?
Dopamine
Most psychologic and recreational drugs work using what mechanism?
Altering the function of neurotransmitters
What defines N1 sleep?
A proliferation of theta waves
What are the parts of the diencephalon?
The thalamus and hypothalamus
What are key named areas of the brain is focused on speech?
Broca’s area (Frontal Lobe) and Wernicke’s area (Temporal Lobe)
What are the functions of the cerebral cortex of the occipital lobe?
Vision
What is meditation?
Techniques that usually involve the training of attention and awareness, either by increasing or broadening focus.
What are the functions of the cerebral cortex of the parietal lobe
The somatosensory system
What does the size of a cortical association area correspond to?
sensitivity and accessibility of those functions
What is the function of the cerebellum?
1) Muscle coordination
2) Balance
3) Posture
What is the most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitters in the nervous system?
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
What is a formal meditation based pain treatment?
MBSR (Mindfulness-based stress reduction).
What are the myelin producing cells for the peripheral nervous system?
Schwann cells
What is the frequency of various wave forms during sleep?
Delta waves < 4Hz
Theta waves 4-7 Hz
Alpha waves 7-14 Hz
Beta waves 15-30 Hz
What is an example of an indolamine monoamine neurotransmitter?
Serotonin
How fast a nerve conducts impulses is related to how ___ its axon is.
Wide
What is the function of the inferior colliculus?
What is the brainstem structure that controls auditory reflexes?
Can everyone be hyponotized?
No, and some people are more susceptible to hypnosis than others.
What are the psychological effects of stimulants?
Euphoria, increased energy, alertness, heightened sense of pleasure.
What are potential causes of alexia?
1) inability to comprehend written words
2) Inability to read aloud
What does saltatory conduction refer to?
The conduction of nerve impulses along nodes of ranvier
During what stage of sleep is growth hormone secreted?
N3
A lack of dopamine is linked to… too much dopamine is linked to…
Parkinsons (too little) Schizophrenia (too much)
What is the function of the myelencephalon?
1) Reflexes
2) Sleep
3) Attention
4) Movement
What is the function of endorphins?
They are involved in pleasure and pain control. As a result, exogenous endorphins are highly addictive.
What are the gaps between schwann cells along the axons called?
Nodes of Ranvier
What defines W stage sleep?
> 50% alpha waves
What is the overall function of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors? (SSRIs)
They function as serotonin agonists by decreasing the reuptake of serotonin.
How is hypnosis achieved?
By encouraging sleepiness and focuses on the sensations that the subject is experiencing during progressive relaxation. Post-hypnotic suggestions are given instructing individuals to act in a specific way after recovery from the post-hypnotic state.
What happens to neurotransmitters after they have influenced another neuron?
They are either deactivated by enzymes or they experience re-uptake.
What does the “W” stage of sleep stand for?
“Wake”
What is the function of the tegmentum
1) Houses the remainder of the reticular formation
2) Involved in the sensiormotor system
3) Involved in the analgesic effect of opioids.
What is the function of acetycholine?
It is an important neurotransmitter for stimulating skeletal muscle, it is also involved in the parasympathetic nervous system.
What is the function fo the hypothalamus?
Controls the autonomic biological motivations (hunger, thirst) and controls the pituitary gland.
What is the function of the hippocampus?
Helps transfer short term memory into long term memory. Also, new neurons can form here.
Aphasia refers to…
The loss of ability to speak or understand language in spoken or written form
What are some hallucinogens?
LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) and mescaline
What does the “all-or-none law” refer to?
The fact that nerve impulses are all are none, and always of the same strength, strength of a message is changed by frequency of impulses not by the intensity of the impulse.
What defines N2 sleep?
theta waves, as well as alternations between sleep spindles and K complexes. Heart rate and respiration slow and body temperature begins to drop.
