Physiological Psychology Flashcards
List the three kinds of nerve cells and describe their functions
- Sensory (afferent) neurons: transmit sensory information from receptors to spinal cord and brain
- Motor (efferent) neurons: transmit information from the brain and spinal cords to the muscles
- Interneurons: found between other neurons; most numerous type; linked to reflexive behavior (functionalists like John Dewey uninterested in this distinction)
What does a sensory neuron do?
Sensory (afferent) neurons: transmit sensory information from receptors to spinal cord and brain
What does a motor neuron do?
Motor (efferent) neurons: transmit information from the brain and spinal cords to the muscles
What do interneurons do?
Interneurons: found between other neurons; most numerous type; linked to reflexive behavior
What two systems comprise the human nervous system?
- Central nervous system: brain and spinal cord
2. Peripheral nervous system: Nerve tissues and fibers outside the brain and spinal cord
List the component parts of the peripheral nervous system
- Somatic nervous system (sensory and motor neurons)
- Autonomic nervous system (heartbeat, digestion, etc.)
a. Sympathetic (fight or flight)
b. Parasympathetic (yin yoga)
Who studied the autonomic nervous system in depth?
Walter Cannon
What was Walter Cannon’s major contribution to psychology?
Autonomic Nervous System
What neurotransmitter is most involved in the parasympathetic nervous system
Acetylocholine
What is the function of the neurotransmitter “acetylocholine”
Slows you down; parasympathetic nervous system
What are the three basic subdivisions of the brain? Describe their functions.
- Hindbrain: located where the brain meets the spinal cord; responsible for balance; motor-coordination; breathing; digesting; sleeping; walking, etc. (vital functions needed for survival)
- Mid-brain: Sensorimotor reflexes that also promote survival; together the hindbrain and the mid-brain called the “brain stem”
- Forebrain: complex human processes
What are the component parts of the brainstem?
- Hindbrain: located where the brain meets the spinal cord; responsible for balance; motor-coordination; breathing; digesting; sleeping; walking, etc. (vital functions needed for survival)
- Mid-brain: Sensorimotor reflexes that also promote survival
What is the hindbrain?
- Hindbrain: located where the brain meets the spinal cord; responsible for balance; motor-coordination; breathing; digesting; sleeping; walking, etc. (vital functions needed for survival)
What is the mid-brain?
- Mid-brain: Sensorimotor reflexes (involuntary reflex responses triggered by auditory or visual stimuli); promote survival; together the hindbrain and the mid-brain called the “brain stem”
What is the study of the evolutionary development of human beings called?
Phelogeny
What is phelogeny?
the study of the evolutionary development of human beings
What is the medulla oblongata?
In hindbrain; responsible for vital functions like breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure
What is the pons?
Above medulla oblongata; contains sensory and motor tracts between the cortex and the medulla
What is the cerebellum?
Top of hindbrain; responsible for balance/posture; coordinates body movements (alcohol impairs function of cerebellum)
What is the reticular formation?
Extends from hind-brain into mid-brain; regulates arousal and alertness (anesthetics cause unconsciousness by depressing activity of the reticular formation)
The forebrain is divided into: _______
Two cerebral hemispheres
Name the two cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain and describe their functions.
- Thalamus: all incoming sensory information except for small; sorts sensory input and then transmits them to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex; like a “way station”
- Hypothalamus: homeostatic functions (metabolism, temperature, water balance, etc.); key player in emotional experiences during high arousal states; helps to control some endocrine (hormonal) functions and the autonomic nervous system; important in drive behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex); fight or fight responses
What is the thalamus?
One of the cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain.
Thalamus: all incoming sensory information except for small; sorts sensory input and then transmits them to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex; like a “way station”
What is the hypothalamus?
One of the cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain.
Hypothalamus: homeostatic functions (metabolism, temperature, water balance, etc.); key player in emotional experiences during high arousal states; helps to control some endocrine (hormonal) functions and the autonomic nervous system; important in drive behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex); fight or fight responses
Name the component pieces of the hypothalamus and describe their functions.
- Lateral hypothalamus (LH): Hunger center; tells you when to begin eating and drinking; aphagia: LH is damaged; starve to death if not force-fed
- Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH): Satiety center; tells you when to stop eating (very hungry); brain lesions lead to excessive eating
- Anterior hypothalamus: sexual behavior; damage leads to asexual behavior.
What is the lateral hypothalamus?
Part of the hypothalamus, which is one of the cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain.
Lateral hypothalamus (LH): Hunger center; tells you when to begin eating and drinking; aphagia: LH is damaged; starve to death if not force-fed
What is the ventromedial hypothalamus?
Part of the hypothalamus, which is one of the cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain.
Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH): Satiety center; tells you when to stop eating (very hungry); brain lesions lead to excessive eating
What is the anterior hypothalamus?
Part of the hypothalamus, which is one of the cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain.
Anterior hypothalamus: sexual behavior; damage leads to asexual behavior.
What is osmoregulation?
Water regulation - performed by osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus; Walter Cannon developed conceptualization of homeostasis
What is the basal ganglia?
It is in the middle of the brain; coordinates muscle movements as it receives information from the cortex and relays this information (via the extrapyramidal motor system) to the brain and spinal cord.
Extrapyramidal motor system: gathers information about body position and sends this information to brain and spinal cord.
Damage to basal ganglia: Parkinson’s; catatonic schizophrenia
What is the extrapyramidal motor system?
Part of the basal ganglia.
Extrapyramidal motor system: gathers information about body position and sends this information to brain and spinal cord.
What is the limbic system?
Interconnected structures looping around central portion of the brain; emotion and memory
Septum: Primary pleasure area of the brain; also inhibits aggression; discovered by James Olds and Peter Milner (1950s); if damaged leads to vicious behavior called septal rage
What is the septum?
Part of the limbic system.
Septum: Primary pleasure area of the brain; also inhibits aggression; discovered by James Olds and Peter Milner (1950s); if damaged leads to vicious behavior called septal rage
What did James Olds and Peter Milner study?
Septum: Primary pleasure area of the brain; also inhibits aggression; part of limbic system; if damaged leads to vicious behavior called septal rage.
What is the amygdala
Responsible for defensive and aggressive behavior; studied by Heinrick Kluver and Paul Bucy; when damaged, aggression and fear remarkably reduced; Kluver-Bucy syndrome: removal of amygdala
What did Heinrick Kluver and Paul Bucy study?
Amygdala
Kluver-Bucy syndrome: removal of amygdala
What is the hippocampus?
Learning and memory (look up patient HM)
HM experienced anterograde amnesia (can’t develop new memories when hippocampus damaged/removed); Brenda Milner described HM’s memory problems in detail
What is anterograde amnesia?
Can’t develop new memories (when hippocampus damaged/removed)
What is retrograde amnesia
Can’t remember prior to brain damage
What did Brenda Milner study?
Patient HM
HM experienced anterograde amnesia (can’t develop new memories when hippocampus damaged/removed);
What is the cerebral cortex?
Also called neocortex
Outer surface of the brain; number of bumps and folds called convolutions; has two halves called cerebral hemispheres; has four lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal
