Psych Ch 1 & 2 Flashcards
Brain & Perception
What are the meninges?
“The meninges are a thick, triple layer of connective tissue that wraps the brain.
Their function is to protect the brain, keep it anchored in the skull, and reabsorb cerobrospinal fluid.
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What are the three layers of meninges, from outer to inner most?
“1. Dura Matter
- Arachnoid Matter
- Pia matter
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What are the three basic divisions of the human brain?
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- Hindbrain
- Midbrain
- Forebrain
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Describe the basic functional/structural motif of the 3 basic divisions of the brain?
The brain is organized as the hindbrain on bottom, the midbrain in the middle, and the forebrain on top.
The lower structures like the low brain and midbrain are dedicated to basic survival operations like control of heart rate and balance.
The upper structures like the forebrain are dedicated to complex intellectual operations like integrating sensory info, sending motor commands, or thinking.
Together, the midbrain and the hindbrain form the {{c1::brainstem::what brain structure?}}
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What are ventricles?
“Fluid filled cavities in the brain.
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What are the 5 major neural structures in the forebrain?
- Cerebral Cortex
- Basal Ganglia
- Limbic System
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
What are the basic overall functions of the structures in the hindbrain?
“Basic survival processes like the control of balance, breathing, digestion, and general arousal like sleeping and waking.
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What are the basic overall functions of structures in the midbrain?
“The midbrain receives sensory and motor information and is associated with involuntary reflex responses triggered by visual or auditory stimuli.
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What are the basic overall functions of the structures in the forebrain?
The structures of the forebrain are associated with complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes.
As the neural tube develops into the embryonic brain, what are its three basic divisions?
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- The prosencephalon (Forebrain)
- The mesencephalon (midbrain)
- The rhombencephalon (hindbrain)
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As the embryonic brain develops further, its 3 basic divisions will turn into 5. Describe the 5 divisions of the embryonic brain.
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As the brain develops, the prosencephalon branches into the telencephalon and the diencephalon. Also, the rhomboencephalon splits into the metencephalon and the myelencephalon.
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As the organism develops, the myelencephalon eventually becomes the {{c1::medulla oblongata::what neural structure?}}
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As the organism develops, the metencephalon eventually becomes the {{c1::pons and the cerebellum::what 2 neural structures?}}
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What is neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is the study of how phenomona in the brain affect or determine psychological processes.
What is a CT?
A CT scan is just a series of X-rays taken at different angles and then combined by a computer to make cross sectional images of tissue.
What is a PET scan?
“A PET scan is when a radioactive sugar is injected into the body. Because the sugar is radioactive, you can watch it as it is dispersed and uptaken by the body.
This is useful for finding cancers since they are very glucolytically active.
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What is an MRI?
“An MRI is when a magnetic field is applied to the body in order to visualize the hydrogens. Hydrogen rich tissues will appear one way while hydrogen deficient spaces will appear another. You can visualize the body in this way.
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What is fMRI?
“fMRI is the same basic technique as MRI, but specifically focuses on changes associated with the flow of blood. This is very useful in neuropsycholgy research as areas of the brain receiving high blood flow are usually areas of the brain that are being activated during that behavior.
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What is the thalamus?
“The thalamus is a structure within the forebrain that serves as an important relay station for sensory info of all types except smell.
The thalamus sorts information it receives and sends it to the appropriate area of the cerebral cortex for interpretation.
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What is the hypothalamus?
“The hypothalamus is a neural structure in the forebrain that sits beneath the thalamus.
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What are the 5 basic responsibilities of the hypothalamus?
- Feeding
- Fighting
- Flighting
- Fucking
MNEMONIC: THE 4 F’s
- And body wide homeostasis as both a neuro and an endocrine structure.
What are the 3 divisions of the hypothalamus?
- Lateral Hypothalamus
- Ventromedial Hypothalamus
- Anterior hypothalamus
Describe the lateral hypothalamus (LH).
The lateral hypothalamus generates feelings of hunger when the body does not have enough food or liquid.
MNEMONIC: When the LH is destroyed, one Lacks Hunger.
Describe the ventromedialhypothalamus (VMH).
The ventromedial hypothalamus promotes feelings of satiety when we’ve eat enough food.
MNEMONIC: Without a VMH you’d be Very Hungry.
Describe the anterior hypothalamus (AH)
The AH is in control of sexual behavior. It also regulates sleep and body temperature.
MNEMONIC: Without an AH you’d be Asexual.
What is the posterior pituitary gland?
“The posterior pituitary gland is a collection of axonal projections from the hypothalamus where Oxytocin and ADH are stored and released.
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What is the pineal gland?
“The pineal gland is a small projection in the brain that secretes melatonin. This gland receives input from the retina in order to coordinate sleeping and waking with the fall and rise of the sun.
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What is the Basal ganglia?
“The basal ganglia are a group of structures in the brain that receive motor impulses from the cerebral cortex and send them to the muscles via the extrapyramidal portal system.
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What is the extrapyramidal system?
The extrapyramidal system is the structure in the basal ganglia that transmits non-motor information to the spinal cord during movement initiated in the pyramidal system.
Does the extrapyramidal system initiate movement?
No! The extrapyramidal system sends information to the spinal cord from the cortex during movement.
This information is used to smoothe out and refine the movement already being generated by the somatic nervous system.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
“Parkinson’s disease is a chronic illness associated with destruction of certain portions of the basal ganglia.
This is why a characteristic symptoms of Parkinson’s is jerky/strange movement.
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What is the limbic system?
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The limbic system is a series of structrues that loop around the central portion of the brain.
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What are the four components of the limbic system?
“1. Septal Nuclei
- Amygdala
- Hippocampus
- Fornix
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What is the septal nuclei?
“The septal nuclei is one of the primary pleasure centers in the brain. There is an association between these nuclei and addictive behavior as well.
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What is the amygdala?
“The amygdala is a structure in the limbic system that plays an important role in defensive and aggressive behaviors including fear and rage.
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What is the hippocampus?
The hippocampus is a structure in the limbic system that plays a vital role in learning and memory processes.
In specific terms, what is the hippocampus’s role in memory?
The hippocampus helps consolidate information to form long term memories. It can also redistribute remote memories to the cerebral cortex (important in remembering!)
What is the fornix?
“The fornix is a long projection from the hippocampus. The hippocampus uses the projection to communicate with the other structures in the limbic system.
What is anterograde amnesia?
Anterograde amnesia is when you are unable to establish new long-term memories, but you remember everything from before the incident.
What is retrograde amnesia?
Retrogade amnesia is when you can form new long term memories, but you can’t remember things from before the incident.
What is the cerebral cortex?
“The cerbral cortex (also called cerebrum and neocortex) is the outer surface of the brain. This neural structure is responsible for advanced cognitive function.
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