Physiological Psych

Question 1

Explain Franz Gall’s doctrine of phrenology.

Answer 1

Phrenology is the belief that if a particular trait is well developed, then the part of brain responsible for the trait would expand. Phrenologists would study bumps/bulges on peoples skulls. This was quickly shown to be false, but it generated serious research on brain functions.

Question 2

Pierre Flourens was the first person to study major sections of the brain. How did he do this?

Answer 2

He did it by extirpation (aka ablation). Various parts of brain are removed and behavioral consequences observed. He did most of this on pigeons.

Question 3

William James was one of the first to contribute to _________, a system of throughout in psych that’s concerned w/ how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment.

Answer 3

Functionalism

Question 4

How did Paul Broca contribute to physiology in his studies of specific functional imparments? What part of the brain is named after him?

Answer 4

He linked specific functional impairments to specific brain lesions. He found a man that was unable to talk because of a legion on a specific area on the left side of the brain, which became knowns as Broca’s area

Question 5

Explain the famous case of Phineas Gage

Answer 5

Gage was injured when an iron rod went through his skull, and survived with minor physical impairments. However, the rod damaged his frontal lobes and his personality changed a lot. This demonstrated the role of the prefrontal cortex in behavior

Question 6

Herman von Helmholtz was the first to measure what?

Answer 6

the speed of a nerve impulse.

Question 7

Sir Charles Sherrington was the first to infer the existence of what?

Answer 7

synapses

Question 8

What are the 3 kinds of nerve cells?

Answer 8

Sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons.

Question 9

What do sensory/afferent neurons do?

Answer 9

Transmit sensory info from receptors to spinal cord and brain

Question 10

What do motor/efferent neurons do?

Answer 10

Transmit motor info from the brain and spinal cord to muscles.

Question 11

What do interneurons do?

Answer 11

They are linked to reflexive behavior, which is crucial to survival. The interneurons are located between other neurons, mostly in the brain and spinal cord.

Question 12

What is the type of behavior controlled by neural circuits called? How does it work, say for example, when you put your hand on a hot stove and move it away before your brain registers you burnt yourself?

Answer 12

reflex arc. First your sensory neurons sends a pain signal up your spinal cord to your brain. The interneurons get the signal before your brain does, and transfers that info to the motor neurons in your hand to move before your brain gets the message. By the time your brain gets the message and makes a decision as what to do, your hand has already moved.

Question 13

What is the difference and connection between the 2 components of the nervous system: central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS)?

Answer 13

Central: brain and spinal cord. Peripheral: nerve tissue and fibers outside brain and spinal cord. PNS connects CNS to rest of the body.

Question 14

The peripheral nervous system is divided into what 2 categories?

Answer 14

Somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system.

Question 15

What does the somatic nervous system consist of?

Answer 15

sensory and motor neurons distributed throughout the skin and muscles

Question 16

What does the Autonomic Nervous System do?

Answer 16

It regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion, gland secretion and temperature control of the body- all involuntary automatic functions of the body.

gland secretions

Question 17

What are the two subdivisions of the Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 17

Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Question 18

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 18

Its main role is to conserve energy. It promotes resting and digesting. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter responsible for parasympathetic responses in the body.

Question 19

What does the sympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 19

It is activated whenever you face stressful situations, and mobilizes your body for fight or flight reactions. It increases heart rate, blood sugar level, and respiration. It decreases digestive processes. It causes pupils to dilate in order to increase amount of visual info reaching the retina. The neurotransmitter adrenaline is released.

Question 20

What are the hindbrain’s primary functions?

Answer 20

Functions necessary for survival: balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, sleeping and waking.

Question 21

What are the midbrain’s primary functions?

Answer 21

Manages sensorimotor reflexes.

Question 22

What are the forebrain’s functions?

Answer 22

Manages complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes. Associated with emotion and memory

Question 23

What is the term for evolutionary development in humans?

Answer 23

Phelogeny

Question 24

What is the most primitive region of the brain? (the first to develop)

Answer 24

The brainstem, consisting of hindbrain and midbrain.

Question 25

What is the second region of the brain to develop?

Answer 25

The limbic system, a group of neural structures primarily associated with emotion and memory

Question 26

What is the third and most recent region of the brain to develop in humans?

Answer 26

The cerebral cortex; all complex human thought and behavior such as language processing, problem solving, impulse control and long term planning

Question 27

What does the medulla oblongata do (located in hindbrain)

Answer 27

It regulates vital functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure

Question 28

What does the pons do (located in hindbrain above medulla)

Answer 28

It contains sensory and motor tracts between the cortex and the medulla

Question 29

What is the cerebellum (located in the hindbrain)

Answer 29

The cerebellum maintains posture and balance and coordinates body movements (alcohol impairs functioning of the cerebellum)

Question 30

What is the recticular formation (extends from hindbrain into midbrain)

Answer 30

It is composed of a network of nerve fibers the regulates arousal and alertness (anesthetics cause unconsciousness by depressing activity of the recticular formation)

Question 31

What is the superior colliculus in the midbrain?

Answer 31

It receives visual and sensory input, and is responsible for reflexive actions to visual stimuli

Question 32

What is the inferior colliculus in the midbrain?

Answer 32

It receives sensory info from the auditory system, and is responsible for reflexive reactions to sudden noises

Question 33

What is the role of the thalamus in the forebrain?

Answer 33

It serves as an important relay station for all senses except for smell. After recieving sensory impulses, it sorts them and sends them to appropriate places in the cerebral cortex

Question 34

What are some of the functions of the hypothalamus?

Answer 34

It serves homeostatic functions (metabolism, temperature, and water balance). It plays a key role in emotional experiences during high arousal states, aggressive behavior, and sexual behavior. It helps control endocrine (hormone) functions.

Question 35

What performs maintenance of osmoregulation (water balance in the body)?

Answer 35

Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus.

Question 36

What does the lateral hypothalamus do with regards to the hunger and thirst drives? What disorder is caused when it is surgically removed from the brain?

Answer 36

It is referred to as the hunger center, because it has receptors that detect when your body needs more food or fluids. When this part of the hypothalamus is destroyed, it causes a disorder called aphagia, in which the organism refuses to eat and drink and would starve to death unless force fed.

Question 37

What does the ventromedial hypothalamus do with regards to hunger and thirst drives, and what disorder is caused by brain lesions to this area?

Answer 37

It is the “satiety center” because it tells you when you’ve had enough to eat. People with brain lesions here have the disorder hyperphagia, or excessive eating. This leads to obesity.