Psychobiology Flashcards
What is psychobiology
The study of the biological processes that underlie our behaviour
What is cognitive neuroscience
The study of how the brain and the nervous system interact with behaviour, brain function and neurotransmitters
What are the different cognitive processes
Sensation and perception, imagery, attention and executive function, memory and learning, intelligence and decision making and problem solving, emotion and motivation, language and the development of these processes
How much does a babies brain weigh at birth
335g
How much does a babies brain weigh at 18 months
1024g
Is brain size based off of size or number of neurons
Actual size
Do synapses provide a one-way valve within the nervous system
Yes
What is the pre-frontal cortex in charge of and where is it located
Thinking, memory, behaviour and movement and it’s at the front of the brain
What is the temporal lobes in charge of and where is it located
Hearing, learning and feelings and is located in the middle, connected the the frontal lobe and cerebellum
What is the brain stem in charge of and where is it located
Breathing, heart rate and temp. And is located at the bottom, connected to the frontal and temporal lobe
What is the parietal lobe in charge of and where is it located
Language and touch and is found just on top of the temporal lobe and next to the frontal lobe, just at the back top
What is the occipital lobe in charge of and where is it located
Sight and at the back under the parietal and ontop of the cerebellum
What is the cerrebellum in charge of and where is it located
Balance and ordination and it located at the bottom too
What is cognitive neuroscience
Seeks to understand the precise nature of how we think and learn and how this links with the chemistry and structure of the brain
Why is cognitive neuroscience relevant
1.shows factors that influence the physical features of the brain
2.helps us to identify core cognitive components
Can subjective age effect your health
Yes
What is a higher subjective age a predictor of
Depression, diabetes, cognitive impairment, sleep quality etc.
What has the micro biome of the gut been linked to
Psychiatric conditions, cognition and mylenation of the PFC
What effects the micro biome of the gut
Diet, stress, genes and birth
Does the weight of our gut microbiomes reflect the weight of our brain
Yes they’re the same
What mental disorders does inflammation factors implicate in
SZ, BP, autism, MDD, PTSD, sleep disorder etc.
What is inflammation
The natural defence response of the immune system against environmental insult
How does autism effect the connectivity in the brain
Reduction in global connectivity but confessed in activity in local networks
How does SZ effect the connectivity in the brain
Strength of the functional connectivity decreased, diversity of connections increased
How does a traumatic brain injury effect the connectivity in the brain
Shearing of white matter tracts, inflammatory responses, disrupted neurotransmitters release
How does neuropsychiatry help us understand mental health
Through neurotransmitters functions, neuroimaging, cognitive neuropsychology
What are some examples of psychometric tests
Self reporting, performance monitoring and examinations
What is cognitive testing
Assessing patterns of strengths and weaknesses
How to cognitively profile ADHD
Impairments in executive function, changes in frontal-striatal circuitry
