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Psych for the MCAT :) > Physiology Psychology > Flashcards

Physiology Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A
  • Composed of nerve tissue and fibers that connects the Central Nervous System to the rest of the body
  • Contains the Somatic and Autonomic nervous systems
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2
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

*Voluntary

Composed of sensory and motor neurons thoughout the skin and muscles

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3
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A
  • Involuntary
  • Automatic response (independent of conscious control), regulating heartbeat, respiration, digestion, secretions, etc…
  • Composed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system
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4
Q

Sympathetic System

A

*Fight or Flight
Designed to face stressful situations; associated with fear and rage reactions

EX:Increases heart rate, blood sugar level, respiration, and decreases digestive processes –> maximize energy for quick respons

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5
Q

Parasympathetic System

A

*Rest and Digest

Designed to conserve energy; associated with resting and sleeping states as well as managing digestion

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6
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

*Afferent Neurons

Transmit sensory neurons from receptors to the spinal cord and brain

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7
Q

Motor Neurons

A

*Efferent Neurons

Transmit motor information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles

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8
Q

Interneurons

A

*Most numerous

Found between other neurons; Predominantly in the brain and spinal cord linked to reflexive behavior

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9
Q

Reflex Arcs

A

Neural Circuits controlled by reflex crucial to survival

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10
Q

Meninges

A

Thick sheath of connective tissue to protect the brain, anchor it within the skill and reabsorb cerebral spinal fluid

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11
Q

HindBrain

A

“Vital functions” and balance

Composed of the:

  • Medulla Oblongata: Breathing / Digestion
  • Reticular Formation: Sleeping / Waking
  • Cerebellum: Refined motor functions
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12
Q

Medulla Oblongata

A

Responsible for breathing and digestion

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13
Q

Reticular Formation

A
  • Located in the brainstem

- Responsible for sleeping, waking, arousal and alertness

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14
Q

Cerebellum

A

Responsible for refined motor functions

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15
Q

MidBrain

A

Receives sensory and motor information from the rest of the body

Composed of the

  • Inferior Colliculus (auditory)
  • Superior Colluculus (visual)
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16
Q

Inferior Colliculus

A

Sensory information from the auditory system

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17
Q

Superior Colliculus

A

Sensory information from the visual system

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18
Q

Forebrain

A

Composed of:

  • Cerebral Cortex (complex perceptual, cognitive and behavioral processes)
  • Limbic System (emotion and memory)
  • Basal Ganglia (movement)
  • Thalamus (sensory relay station)
  • Hypothalamus (hunger, thirst, emotion)
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19
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

Outer surface of the brain composed of bumps and folds; Responsible for complex perceptual, cognitive and behavioral processes like impulse control, problem solving, long term planning, etc…

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20
Q

Limbic System

A

Responsible for emotion and memory

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21
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

Coordinates muscle movement; receives info from the cortex and relays it to the brain / spinal cord

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22
Q

Thalamus

A

The sensory relay station in the brain; for all senses except smell- It sorts the info and then transmits it to the appropriate areas

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23
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Responsible overall for homeostatic, self-regulatory functions to maintain equilibrium in the body; Also releases pituitary hormones (controls the anterior pituitary)

Responsible for the 4 F’s:

  • Feeding
  • Fighting
  • Fleeing
  • Fucking
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24
Q

Osmoregulation

A

Maintenance of water balance in the body performed by osmoreceptors

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25
Q

Lateral Hypothalamus (LH)

A

LH - Lacking Hunger

Hunger center that detects when your body needs more food or fluids

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26
Q

Ventromedial Hypothalamus (VH)

A

VH - Very Hungry

Satiety center that detects when you have had enough to eat

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27
Q

Anterior Hypothalamus (AH)

A

AH - Aggressively Happy Sex

Sexual center that increases aggressive sexual behavior

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28
Q

Brainstem

A

Hindbrain + Midbrain (the first brain structures to develop)

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29
Q

Hyperphagia

A

Excessive eating

Results when there is a brain lesion on the Ventromedial Hypothalamus (VMH)

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30
Q

Aphagia

A

Refusing to eat or drink resulting in death by starvation

Results when there is a problem with the Lateral Hypothalamus (LH)

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31
Q

Neuropsychology

A

Study functions and behaviors associated with specific regions of the brain

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32
Q

Cortical Maps

A

Localizes the function of specific brain regions through direct electrical stimulation of the cerebral cortex; determines what areas of the brain perform what function

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33
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

Detects broad patterns of electrical activity in the brain created by larger groups of neurons

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34
Q

Regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF)

A

Detect broad patterns of neural activity based on increased blood flow to different areas

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35
Q

Posterior Pituitary

A

Responsible for hypothalamic hormones (anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) that increases water intake by kidneys and oxytocin)

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36
Q

Pineal Gland

A

Regulates biological rhythms; produces Melatonin

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37
Q

Melatonin

A

Regulates circadian rhythms

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38
Q

Extrapyramidal Motor System

A

Gathers information about the body’s position

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39
Q

Septal Nuclei (Septum)

A

Primary pleasure center in the brain; actis to inhibit aggression

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40
Q

Amygdala

A

Responsible for defensive and aggressive behaviors

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41
Q

Hippocampus

A

Responsible for learning and memory processes

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42
Q

Sulci

A

Folds in the cerebral cortex

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43
Q

Gyri

A

Bumps in the cerebral cortex

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44
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

Composed of the prefrontal lobe + motor cortex
Responsible for “Executive Functioning” - supervises and directs the operations of other brains regions

Associated with:

  • Perception
  • Memory
  • Emotion
  • Impulse control
  • Long-term Planning
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45
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

Somatosensory information processing; the destination for all incoming sensory signals except smell; responsible for touch, pressure, temperature and pain

  • Also responsible for spatial processing and manipulation (orient you in 3D space)
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46
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

Responsible for Vision

47
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

Responsible for hearing (auditory cortex), memory and emotion

48
Q

Contralaterally

A

Right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and Vice Versa
Ex: movement

49
Q

Ipsilaterally

A

Right brain controls the right side of the body; same goes for the left side
Ex: Smell

50
Q

Dominant Hemisphere

A

Generally the left hemisphere - analytical and manages the details

51
Q

Non-dominant Hemisphere

A

Generally the right hemisphere - intuition, music, creativity and spatial processing

52
Q

Acetylcholine

A 
Neurotransmitter that transmit nerve impulses to the muscles
Responsible for:
- Voluntary muscle control
- Parasympathetic nervous system
- Attention
- Alertness
53
Q

Serotonin

A

Neurotransmitter responsible for:

  • Mood
  • Sleeping
  • Eating
  • Dreaming
  • Arousal
54
Q

Gammo-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA)

A

Neurotransmitter responsible for brain “stabilization” of neural activity

55
Q

Endorphins

A

Neurotransmitter that is the natural pain killer

56
Q

Epinephrine

A

Neurotransmitter responsible for:

- Fight or Flight response

57
Q

Norepinephrine

A

Neurotransmitter responsible for:

  • Wakefulness
  • Alertness
58
Q

Dopamine

A

Neurotransmitter responsible for:

  • Smooth movements
  • Postural Stability
59
Q

Catecholamines

AKA: Monoanimes or Biogenic Amines

A

Consist of Epinephrine, Norepinephrine and Dopamine; Play a role in emotions

60
Q

Pituitary

A

Mater Gland that triggers hormone secretion in endocrine glands

61
Q

Adrenal Medulla

A

Produces adrenaline (epinephrine) causing sympathetic nervous system affects throughout the body like increasing sugar output of the liver and increasing heart rate

62
Q

Adrenal Cortex

A
  • Produces cortisol (stress hormone) and other corticosteroids
  • Along with the testes produces testosterone responsible for libido
63
Q

Neurulation

A

The folding process in vertebrate embryos, which includes the transformation of the neural plate into the neural tube and eventually the central nervous system

64
Q

Ventricles

A

Cerebrospinal Fluid filled cavities in the middle of the brain that link up with the spinal canal that runs down the middle of the spinal cord

65
Q

Anterograde Amnesia

A

Not being able to establish new long term memories

66
Q

Retrograde Amnesia

A

Memory loss of events that transpired before the brain injury

67
Q

Convolutions

A

Bumps and folds on the cerebral cortex increasing cellular mass

68
Q

Association Area

A

area that combines input from diverse brain regions

69
Q

Projection Areas

A

Receive incoming sensory information or send motor-impulse commands; Including visual cortex and motor cortex

70
Q

Visual Cortex

A

`Receives visual input from the retina

71
Q

Motor Cortex

A

Sends out voluntary motor commands to the muscles

72
Q

Broca’s Area

A

Articulation center of the brain that control muscles for speech production

73
Q

Wenicke’s Area

A

Language reception and comprehension; enables us to understand spoken language

74
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

Fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres; Responsible for sharing of information between the two hemispheres in a coordinated fashion

75
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical substances that the vesicles released whenever the neuron “fires”

76
Q

Emotion

A

Natural instinctive state of mind derived from one’s circumstances, mood or relationship with others

77
Q

Elements of Emotion

A
  1. Physiological Response - sympathetic nervous system (change in breathing, heart rate, temperature and blood pressure)
  2. Behavioral Response - facial expressions and body language
  3. Cognitive Response - subjective interpretation of emotion experienced
78
Q

Emotion According to Darwin

A

Emotions are thought to be evolutionary adaptations due to situations encountered over evolutionary history that guide sensory processing, physiological response and behavior

  • believes that emotions and corresponding expressions are universal
79
Q

Universal Basic Emotions

- Paul Ekman

A
  • Happiness
  • Sadness
  • Contempt
  • Suprise
  • Disgust
  • Anger
  • Fear

*Basic emotions recognized by societies around the world

80
Q

James Lange Theory

A

Become aware of our emotion as a response to our noticing the physiological reactions to some external event

First response: Peripheral Nervous system
Second response: Conscious Emotion

81
Q

Cannon Bard Theory

A

Awareness of emotions reflects our physiological response and cognitive experience of emotion happening simultaneously

First Response: Sympathetic Nervous system and Conscious Emotion
Second Response: Action

82
Q

Schachter-Singer Theory (Two-Factor Theory)

A

Emotions is based on interaction between physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation of that arousal. An individual’s appraisal of the situation determines the interpretation which is dependent on what is happening in the environment around us

First Response: Nervous system and Cognitive Appraisal
Second Response: Conscious Emotion

83
Q

Amygdala Role in Emotion

A

Signals the cortex about stimuli related to attention and emotions; Learns from the surroundings to produce emotion

84
Q

Hippocampus Role in Emotion

A

Creates long term memories which create a context for emotional experience

85
Q

Prefrontal Cortex

A
  • Planning intricate cognitive functions, expression personality and making decisions
  • Coordinates cognitive and arousal
  • Executive management of emotional arousal and impulse control
86
Q

Stress

A

Response to challenging events (behavioral, physical, cognitive or emotional)

87
Q

Cognitive Appraisal

A

Subjective evaluation of a situation

Stage 1 (primary) - initial evaluation of environment and associated threat

Stage 2 (secondary) - evaluation whether we can cope with stress

88
Q

Stressor

A

Biological element, external condition or event leads to a stress response

89
Q

Distress

A

When experiencing an unpleasant stressor

90
Q

Eurstress

A

Result of positive conditions / stressors

91
Q

Social Readjustment Scale

A

Stress level is measured in “life change units”

92
Q

General Adaptation Syndrome

A

Stages of a stress response:

  1. Homeostasis (balance)
  2. Alarm - initial reaction / activation of the sympathetic system
  3. Resistance - hormones keep the sympathetic system engaged
  4. Exhaustion - body cannot maintain elevated response
  5. Panic Zone
  6. Breakdown (burnout)
93
Q

Problem Focused Coping

A

Strategies include:

  • Social Support
  • Facing problem head on
  • Following Plan
94
Q

Emotional Focused Coping

A

Strategies include:

  • Self Control
  • Distance
  • Wishful Thinking
  • Positive reappraisal
95
Q

Monoamine Theory of Depression

A

Linking oversupplies of norepinephrine or serotonin to mania and under supplies with depression

96
Q

Psychopharmacology

A

Science of how drugs affect behavior; Development of medications to treat mental illness

97
Q

Depressants (Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs)

A

Slow down the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS)

98
Q

Synergistic Drugs

A

Drugs that have an additive effect

Ex: Depressants

99
Q

Bezodiazepines (Barbiturates)

A

Facilitate and enhance the action of GABA which stabilizes the brain activity

100
Q

Behavioral Stimulants

A

Increase behavioral activity by increasing motor activity or by counteracting fatigue

101
Q

Amphetamines

A

Speed up the central nervous system in ways that mimic the action of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight)

102
Q

Antidepressants

A
  • Elevate mood
  • Increase overall activity level
  • Increase appetite
  • Improve sleep patterns
103
Q

Tricyclic Antidepressants

A

Reduce depression by facilitating the transmission of norepinephrine or serotonin at the synapse

  • Block the re-uptake of monoamines
  • Inhibit the action of an enzyme called MOA which breaks down and deactivates norepinephrine and serotonin in the synapse
104
Q

Anti-psychotic Drugs

A
  • Effective in treating the delusional thinking, hallucinations, and agitation
  • Block receptors sites for dopamine
105
Q

Narcotics

A

Opium, Heroin and Morphine
- Most effective pain relievers that bind directly to opiate receptors in the brain; which normally respond to the body’s own natural painkillers (endorphins)

106
Q

Psychedelics

A

Mixed class of drugs that alter sensory perception and cognitive processing

107
Q

Endocrine System

A

Internal communication network in the body that uses chemical messengers called hormones

108
Q

Anterior Pituitary

A

Release hormones that regulate activities of endocrine glands

109
Q

Auditory Cortex

A

Emotional tone of language is processed in the “non-dominant” (generally right) hemisphere

110
Q

Thyroid

A

Affects metabolism rate; growth and development

111
Q

Ablation (Extirpation)

A

Surgically induced brain lesions

112
Q

Stereotaxic Instrument

A

The instrument used to locate brain areas where electrodes are implanted (then heat, cold or electricity is applied) to produce lesions

113
Q

Circadian Rhythms

A

Internally generated rhythms; Cycles of sleeping and waking (about 24 hours long in humans and other animals)

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