Psych Section 1 Material Flashcards
Describe nervous system schematic
-areas that transfer
information (peripheral)
-areas that process that information (central)
Central Nervous System (CNS)
-The information processing center of your nervous system.
-Consists of the brain and the spinal cord
Cerebral Cortex
high-level thinking, sensory integration and processing, behavior planning and initiation
Cerebellum
muscle coordination, balance, posture
Brain Stem
basic life functioning
Dorsal Spine (up)
Collects sensory information from peripheral nervous system.
Ventral Spine (down)
Transmits behavior commands to peripheral nervous system.
Identify 3 major structures of brain
-Cerebral Cortex
-Cerebellum
-Brain stem
Medulla (brain stem area)
(breathing, heart-beat)
Pons (brain stem area)
(sleep)
Midbrain (brain stem area)
(temp. control, alertness)
Hypothalamus (brain stem area)
(hunger, digestion)
Thalamus (brain stem area)
(information relay station)
-receives incoming sensory
information and sends it to the cortex
What is the most dorsal (up) part of the brain stem known as?
limbic system.
The Limbic System
-The brain’s core.
-The information relay and emotion
processing center
Basal ganglia (limbic system)
are critical to voluntary
movement
Amygdala (limbic system)
is important for processing
memories, social cognition, paying
attention, and some emotions (fear).
Hippocampus (limbic system)
is involved in learning
and creating long-term memories.
The Peripheral Nervous System
-Serves the brain by providing it with sensory information and
by carrying out it’s motor commands
-Has two systems:
○ Autonomic: unconscious regulation of muscles and organs
○ Somatic: conscious control of certain muscles and the collection of sensory information
Sympathetic branch of the Autonomic Nervous System (automatic):
-Active when threatened
-Produces physiological arousal to ensure safety
-Signals processed by the sympathetic ganglia
● Adrenal glands activity
● Digestion stops
● Pupils dilate
● Muscles tense
● Heart-rate increases
● Sweating increases
Parasympathetic branch of the Autonomic Nervous System (automatic):
-Active when at rest
-Reduces physiological arousal to ensure longevity
-Signals processed by spinal nerves
● Blood vessels constrict
● Digestion starts
● Pupils constrict
● Muscles relax
● Heart-rate decreases
● Sweating decreases
Somatic Nervous System
Responsible for nearly all voluntary muscle movements as well as for processing sensory information that arrives via external stimuli including hearing, touch and sight
Identify anatomical directions
⬆️ DORSAL
⬇️ VENTRAL
➡️ POSTERIOR
⬅️ ANTERIOR
Anterior, Medial -><-, Lateral <–>, Posterior
Corpus Callosum
-a dense bundle of
myelinated axons (a.k.a. white matter) that connect the two cerebral hemispheres allowing them to share information
-If the corpus callosum is not formed due to a genetic abnormality, or surgically severed, the person will have a “split-brain”
Identify views/sections of brain
-Sagittal
-Horizontal
-Coronal
Identify lobes of cerebral cortex
-Frontal lobe
-Parietal lobe
-Temporal lobe
-Occipital lobe
Frontal Lobe
-Is essential for motor planning, language, judgment,
and decision-making.
-It is proportionally larger in humans than in any
other animal
Motor Cortex (frontal lobe)
The region for controlling your mouth,
your face, your hand, and the rest of
your body, are all roughly the same
size.
- strip of the frontal cortex anterior to the central sulcus that initiates all voluntary motions
Broca’s Area (frontal lobe)
-implicated in language production.
○ Also known as “the motor speech area” it specifically appears to be required for speech production and grammar
-Damage to this area can cause
expressive aphasia
Prefrontal Cortex (frontal lobe)
The most anterior part of the frontal
cortex, the prefrontal cortex is involved
in many high-level functions such as:
○ Self-control
○ Thinking about the future
○ Understanding cause and effect
○ Personality expression
○ Social behavior and language
○ Moral judgements
○ Decision making
○ Abstract thought
Parietal Lobe
involved in touch sensations, spatial reasoning,
visual attention, multisensory integration, and more.
Somatosensory Cortex (parietal lobe):
-A strip of the parietal cortex posterior to the central sulcus that receives all bodily (touch) sensations
Angular Gyrus (parietal lobe):
-A region of the parietal cortex posterior to the lateral fissure that is involved in understanding symbols and words
Occipital Lobe
involved in processing visual information
Primary Visual Cortex (occipital lobe)
-The most posterior part of the brain.
-All visual information is sent here first for the processing of basic information such as orientation, contrast, and motion
Temporal Lobe
-It contains the primary auditory area, the initial receiving area for auditory information.
-It is also involved in olfaction (smell),
highest-level visual processing (face/object recognition), memory, multisensory integration, etc.
Primary Auditory Area
Wernicke’s Area (temporal lobe)
-implicated in
language production.
-Also known as “the language comprehension area” it specifically appears to be required for
understanding written and spoken language.
-Damage to this area can cause receptive
aphasia.
Identify meninges
-Dura Mater: a thick durable layer that contain veins for deoxygenated blood
-Arachnoid Mater: a squishy, liquid filled layer that looks like spiderwebs
-Pia Mater: a delicate, form-fitting layer that keeps unwanted fluids out
Neurocranium
the part of the skull that protects the brain
Meninges
-Multiple layers of tissue that seal and cushion the outside of the brain
-Between the skull and the brain there are multiple layers of protective
tissue called the meninges.
Ventricles
fluid-filled sacs that cushion the interior of the brain
Blood-brain barrier
cells surrounding blood vessels that block toxins while allowing vital metabolites to enter the brain
Immune system
various organs and substances in the body, such as microglia,
that work together to fight off infections
List brain’s defense systems
-Neurocranium: the part of the skull that protects the brain
-Meninges: multiple layers of tissue that seal and cushion the outside of the brain
-Ventricles: fluid-filled sacs that cushion the interior of the brain
-Blood-brain barrier: cells surrounding blood vessels that block toxins while
allowing vital metabolites to enter the brain
-Immune system: various organs and substances in the body, such as microglia, that work together to fight off infections
Describe the Phineas Gage incident
Prefrontal cortex was damaged
Was kind and respective but became impulsive and temperamental
Differentiate TMS and tDCS
-Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Has shown some signs of being an effective
treatment for depression
-Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: has been shown to improve performance of
many cognitive functions such as mathematical ability, memory, attention, and coordination
Describe what each neuroimaging
device uses to create images
Ct: specialized x-rays
EEG: electrodes placed on scalp
MRI: magnets and radio frequencies
PET: a radioactive tracer
DOI: light
MEG: superconducting sensors
Identify 3 major parts of neuron
-Dendrites (branches): Receive
information from other neurons
-Soma (cell body): Process
information from dendrites
-Axon (tail): Transmit information
to other neurons
Neurons
are cells that receive, process, and transmit information.
Dendrites (branches)
Dendrites (branches): Receive
information from other neurons
Soma (cell body)
Process information from dendrites
○ Nucleus: genetic storage
○ Lysosome: cleanup; recycling
○ Endoplasmic Reticulum: protein synthesis
○ Golgi Apparatus: protein processing
○ Mitochondrion: ATP generation
Axon (tail)
Transmit information
to other neurons
Define “cytoskeleton”
A network of proteins filaments that give the neuron its shape
consists of three kinds of “bones”.
○ Microtubules are long straight “pipes” that give the neuron’s soma, dendrites and axon their rigidity and help
transfer materials and organelles .
○ Neurofilaments have numerous branches and are mostly found in axons making them thicker are more rigid.
○ Microfilaments are flexible double-helix strands that add bulk to the neuron’s shape
Identify categories of neurons
1) Unipolar/Pseudounipolar:
-Has one input/output
-No unipolar neurons in humans (only pseudo)
-Used to relay information from the PNS to the CNS
2) Bipolar:
-Has one input and one output
-Mostly used for sensory systems
3) Multipolar: (most common kind)
-Has multiple inputs and one output
-Communicate sensory and motor information
Describe what glial cells do
-Glial cells hold neurons in place (“Glia” is the Greek word for “glue”)
-they also supply them with nutrients
-provide them with physical protection and insulation
-fight off infections
-clean up waste
-provide myelin
the complex network of connections is made possible by the supportive glial cells; Glial cells are the support cells of the nervous system
Define “myelin”
Fatty substance around the axon of a neuron that insulates and allows electrical impulses to be conducted rapidly toward the synapse
The number and type of glial cells vary throughout the body, but there is
always at least as many glial cells as there are neurons
True
Explain what Nodes of Ranvier do
-make nerve signals go faster
-Nodes of Ranvier are the small gaps between myelinated portions of an axon that are densely packed with ion channels.
-This allows for saltatory conduction, wherein the nerve impulse
appears to jump from one node to the next
Astrocyte (glial cells)
maintain the blood-brain barrier
Ependymal (glial cells)
pump cerebrospinal fluid
Microglia (glial cells)
fight off infections
Satellite (glial cells)
heal muscle tissue
Define “ions”, “cations”, and “anions”
ions: electrically charged atoms
cations: positive ions (atom loses electrons)
anions: negative ions (atom gains electrons)
Describe what ion channels do
are like tiny doors in cells that manage the flow of ions in and out, helping cells communicate and work properly
-Diffusion (ions moving to lower pressures)
-Electrostatic pressure (opposite charges attract)
Define “action potential”
“nerve impulse”
-An action potential is an all-or-nothing event wherein a
neuron initiates the transfer of information
-takes less than 5 milliseconds
Recognize important neural charges
○ Resting potential -70 mV
○ Threshold of excitation -50 mV
○ Peak of action potential +40 mV
○ Refractory period -70 mV
Describe how neurotransmitters
transmit information
Neurons communicate using both electricity and chemistry.
○ Intraneural: they “talk” to themselves using electricity.
○ Extraneural: they “talk” to other neurons using chemistry.
● When a neuron receives a chemical signal it will share that information
with the rest of itself by altering its own electrical charge
Dopamine (neurotransmitter)
feel good
Glutamate (neurotransmitter)
making memories
Acetylcholine (neurotransmitter)
activity
Adrenaline (neurotransmitter)
fear
Endorphins
blocking pain
Serotonin (neurotransmitter)
satisfaction
Noradrenaline
excitement
GABA
calm
Define “psychopharmacology”
studies how drugs affect the brain and behavior.
Define “psychoactive drug”
change your mood or the way you feel.
○ As a result, they can also affect your awareness, thoughts, or behavior
Describe the main function of the 3
categories of psychoactive drugs
○ Stimulants: increase activity in the brain and body
○ Depressants: decrease activity in the brain and body
○ Hallucinogens: alter your consciousness by distorting
Explain mesolimbic pathway
All psychoactive drugs have the potential to become an addiction, but the most addictive drugs affect dopamine activity in the mesolimbic
pathway.
○ Also known as the “reward circuit of the brain” as it can be triggered by “good” behaviors such as eating tasty food, getting paid, having sex, etc
Categorize psychoactive drugs
See paper*
Define “pharmacokinetics”
The action of a drug throughout the body, including
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion
Describe 4 ways to take drugs
Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Excretion
Describe drug distribution in body
After absorption, the drug will travel throughout the body via the circulatory system to the CNS
Before a drug affects the CNS it must pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB)
Identify drugs that can can easily
pass the blood-brain barrier
if a fast acting drug also acts on the mesolimbic pathway (the reward
center) it will be even more addictive, such as amphetamines.
This is why nicotine (when smoked) can be very addictive
Describe how drugs are metabolized
The liver breaks down drugs by producing enzymes.
○ Enzymes are proteins that speed up a chemical reaction
Differentiate kinds of tolerance
-Metabolic tolerance: the liver becomes more effective at producing enzymes to
break down the drug.
-Functional tolerance: the drug’s site of action is altered to make the drug less
effective (e.g. repeatedly blocking receptors can cause more receptors to grow).
Explain how drug dependence forms
○ Physical drug dependence: (a.k.a. an addiction)
■ the drug is needed by the body to function “normally”
■ Examples: alcohol, opiates, barbiturates
○ Psychological drug dependence: (a.k.a. a habit)
■ when presented with associated memory cues the individual will
crave the drug to maintain their comfort or well-being
■ Examples: cigarettes, marijuana, coffee
List ways drugs can be excreted
-Pee - kidneys filter drug out from bloodstream
-Poop - liver metabolizes drug and bundles it with waste
-Sweat - drugs diffuse into skin and sweat glands
-Breath - drugs diffuse into the lungs and become aerosolized
Define “pharmacotherapy”
the use of drug-based medical treatments
Define “psychotropic drug”
Drugs that change mood or emotion.
■ Usually refers to drugs prescribed for various mental disorders.
Describe categories of drug reactions
-Ultra-extensive metabolizers break down certain drugs very, very
quickly
-Extensive metabolizers break down drugs quickly
-Intermediate metabolizers break down drugs slowly
-Poor metabolizers break down drugs very, very slowly
Associate drugs with mental
disorders that they treat
○ Agonist: drugs that increase a neurotransmitter’s effect.
○ Antagonist: drugs that decrease a neurotransmitter’s effect.
Explain polypharmacy problem
the concurrent use of many medications.
● Taking many kinds of drugs could lead to harmful drug interactions
agonist and antagonist
-Antidepressants - serotonin agonist
○ Anxiolytics - GABA agonist
○ Mood Stabilizers - serotonin agonist?
○ Hypnotics - GABA agonist
○ Psychostimulants - monoamine agonist
○ Antipsychotics - dopamine agonist/antagonist
