Psychology (2) Flashcards
What is cognitive neuroscience?
The relationship between cognitive functions and the brain.
What do studies in cognitive neuroscience investigate?
The mind, inferred from measures of behaviour in relation to brain activity.
What has led to the explanation of neural mechanisms in cognitive neuroscience?
The growth and use of technology.
What does cognitive neuroscience explore in relation to brain regions?
Connectivity between brain regions and their role in cognitive function.
What is Electroencephalography (EEG)?
Measurement of the brain’s electrical activity via electrodes placed on the scalp.
EEG is often used in clinical settings to diagnose conditions like epilepsy and sleep disorders.
What does Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) measure?
Measurement of brain activity by detecting small changes in the brain’s blood flow and oxygenation levels.
fMRI is commonly used in research to understand brain function and to map brain activity during various tasks.
What is the purpose of Positron Emission Tomography (PET)?
Visual imaging technique that allows the detection of brain activity via the use of radioactive tracers that are injected into the body.
PET scans are used to observe metabolic processes in the body and can help in the diagnosis of conditions like cancer and neurological disorders.
How does Magnetoencephalography (MEG) work?
Measurement of the brain’s activity by detecting changes in its magnetic fields.
MEG is particularly useful for localizing brain functions and understanding the timing of neural events.
What is the focus of evolutionary psychology?
Identify the selection pressures that have impacted on human psyche over time
Evolutionary psychology seeks to understand how evolution has shaped our mental processes.
What does evolutionary psychology test regarding psychological mechanisms?
Whether they show features expected if designed to solve particular adaptive problems
This involves examining if our mental processes are suited to the challenges faced by our ancestors.
Who is Steven Pinker?
A psychologist and author known for his work in evolutionary psychology.
What are two notable books published by Steven Pinker?
- The Language Instinct (1994)
- The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature (2002)
What psychological perspective does Steven Pinker advocate?
Evolutionary psychology.
According to Pinker and Bloom (1990), what is language?
A product of evolution and not a by-product.
What does Steven Pinker believe about language faculties?
They are innate.
What view is associated with Steven Pinker’s beliefs?
Nativist view.
True or False: Steven Pinker is considered a controversial figure in Psychology.
True.
What are Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)?
Studies that scan markers across complete sets of DNA to investigate genetic variations associated with a disease or trait.
GWAS are instrumental in understanding the genetic basis of various diseases and traits.
What major projects enabled the development of Genome Wide Association Studies?
The Human Genome Project and the HapMap Project.
The Human Genome Project was completed in 2003, and the HapMap Project was completed in 2005.
Approximately how many genes exist in human beings?
Approximately 20,500 genes.
This mapping of genes is crucial for understanding genetic variation.
What types of diseases are commonly investigated using Genome Wide Association Studies?
Diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and mental illness.
GWAS help identify genetic variations that may contribute to these diseases.
True or False: Genome Wide Association Studies only focus on physical diseases.
False.
GWAS also investigate psychological traits, such as personality traits.
Fill in the blank: The Human Genome Project was completed in _______.
2003
Fill in the blank: The HapMap Project was completed in _______.
2005
What is one application of Genome Wide Association Studies in psychology?
Investigation of psychological traits such as personality traits.
This shows the relevance of genetic studies in understanding human behavior.
What are the limitations of Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)?
Huge costs associated with running these studies, large sample sizes needed, GWAS does not establish causal genetic variation
GWAS studies are often expensive and require significant resources to analyze large datasets.
Fill in the blank: GWAS does not establish _______ genetic variation.
causal
Causal genetic variation refers to specific genetic changes that directly contribute to a trait or disease.
True or False: GWAS can be conducted with small sample sizes.
False
Large sample sizes are necessary to achieve statistically significant results in GWAS.
What is a major financial consideration when conducting GWAS?
Huge costs associated with running these studies
The financial burden can limit the number of studies that can be successfully conducted.
What is required in terms of sample size for GWAS?
Large sample sizes needed
Larger samples help improve the reliability and validity of the findings.
What are the two main types of cells in our nervous system?
Neurons and Glia Cells
Neurons communicate with each other, while Glia Cells support neuronal function.
What is the primary function of neurons?
To communicate with each other to perform information processing tasks.
What do Glia Cells provide to neurons?
Physical support, nutrients, and enhanced function.
Who developed a stain that allowed the visualization of neurons in the brain?
Golgi (1843-1926).
What did Cajal (1852-1934) contribute to the understanding of neurons?
He showed that neurons come in different shapes and sizes.
True or False: Neurons actually touch each other.
False.
Fill in the blank: Glia Cells are also known as _______.
[Glue].
What are neurons?
Electrically excitable cells which can communicate with other cells.
What are the three basic parts of a neuron?
- Cell Body
- Axon
- Dendrites
What part of the neuron receives signals from other neurons?
Dendrites
What is the function of the axon in a neuron?
Transmits neural impulses away from the cell body.
What is the myelin sheath?
A protective covering that surrounds the axon and helps speed up neural impulses.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is the part of the neuron that contains the nucleus.
Cell Body
True or False: Neurons can communicate with each other.
True
What structure at the end of the axon helps in communication with other neurons?
Terminal branches of axon
What is a neural impulse?
An electrical signal that travels along the axon.
What are the two stages of communication of information within and between neurons?
Conduction and Transmission
What does conduction refer to in the context of neuron function?
Conducting information along a neuron
What does transmission refer to in the context of neuron function?
Passing information between neurons
What is the natural electric charge of neurons called?
Resting Potential
What is the value of the resting potential in millivolts?
-70 millivolts
Who conducted research on resting potential in 1939?
Hodgkin & Huxley
What is the resting potential generated by?
A differing concentration of ions inside and outside the cell
Fill in the blank: The difference in charge between the inside and outside of the cell membrane is called _______.
Resting Potential
True or False: Resting potential is a stable state that occurs only when a neuron is actively firing.
False
What phenomenon is produced when a neuron is stimulated?
Action Potential
This phenomenon was noted by Hodgkin & Huxley in 1939.
What must be reached for an action potential to occur?
Threshold
If the threshold is not reached, no action potential is produced.
What is the range of voltage change during an action potential?
-70 to +40 millivolts
This indicates the depolarization of the neuron during the action potential.
True or False: An action potential occurs regardless of whether the threshold is reached.
False
Action potentials only occur when the stimulation reaches a specific threshold.
What happens to the neuron’s charge during an action potential?
It jumps from -70 to +40 millivolts
This change represents the rapid depolarization phase of the action potential.
What is an action potential?
An action potential occurs when there is a change in charge in the cell.
What happens to the Na+ channels during an action potential?
Na+ channels open, allowing Na+ to flood into the cell, increasing the charge.
What occurs when the peak of an action potential is reached?
The K+ channels open, letting K+ leave the cell until resting potential is restored.
What is the refractory period?
The refractory period is the time during which the cell cannot fire again as Na+ and K+ pumps reset the cell.
Fill in the blank: Axons cell membranes are _______.
permeable.
What is myelination?
The process of covering the axon in a Myelin sheath
What is a Myelin sheath composed of?
A layer of fatty cells made up of glia cells
What is the primary function of the Myelin sheath?
Insulation and faster transmission of signals
How does myelination affect signal loss?
It reduces signal loss
What are demyelinating diseases?
Diseases that slow transmission along axons, such as Multiple Sclerosis
True or False: Myelination allows for slower transmission of signals along neurons.
False
What is the role of Nodes of Ranvier?
Facilitate quicker movement of signals between nodes
Fill in the blank: The process of covering the axon in a _______ is known as myelination.
Myelin sheath
What happens to transmission speed in demyelinating diseases?
It slows down
List two key benefits of myelination.
- Faster transmission
- Reduced signal loss
Who discovered that neurons do not actually touch each other?
Cajal
What is the small gap between the sending neuron and receiving neuron called?
Synapse
What must happen for neurons to communicate?
Information must travel across the synapse
Fill in the blank: Between the sending neuron and receiving neuron, there is a _______.
synapse
True or False: Neurons physically touch each other.
False
What is the first step in synaptic transmission?
Action potential arrives at terminal button
What happens after the action potential arrives at the terminal button?
Stimulate release of neurotransmitters into the synapse from the presynaptic neuron
What do neurotransmitters do after being released into the synapse?
Cross the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the postsynaptic dendrite
What is generated if neurotransmitters bind to receptor sites and reach the threshold?
An action potential is generated
Fill in the blank: Neurotransmitters are released from the _______ neuron.
presynaptic
Fill in the blank: The gap between the presynaptic neuron and the postsynaptic neuron is called the _______.
synaptic gap
What are the structures that contain neurotransmitters in the presynaptic neuron called?
Vesicles
What is the term for the process of neurotransmitters being taken back into the presynaptic neuron?
Reuptake
What receptors are located on the presynaptic neuron that help regulate neurotransmitter release?
Autoreceptors
True or False: Postsynaptic neurons are responsible for generating action potentials.
True
What can neurons form thousands of?
Synaptic connections
What characterizes the pathways formed by neurons?
Specific neurotransmitters
What hypothesis explains how neurotransmitters fit into receptor sites?
Lock and Key hypothesis
Fill in the blank: After transmission, excess neurotransmitter leaves the synapse by _______.
[Reuptake, Enzyme Deactivation, Binding to auto receptors]
What are the three ways excess neurotransmitter can leave the synapse?
- Reuptake
- Enzyme Deactivation
- Binding to auto receptors
What do auto receptors do in the context of neurotransmitter transmission?
Moderate the amount of transmitter in the synapse
What are neurons often specialized based on?
Their location
What is a characteristic of Purkinje cells?
Dense network of dendrites
What is the shape of hippocampal pyramidal cells?
Triangular body and long dendrites
What distinguishes bipolar cells?
Few dendrites and a single axon
What functions are associated with Purkinje cells?
Coordination, control, and learning movements
What is the role of hippocampal pyramidal cells?
Generation of cognitive maps
What signals do bipolar cells convey?
Light driven signals from rods and cones to retinal ganglion cells
Fill in the blank: Purkinje cells are associated with _______.
coordination, control, and learning movements
True or False: All neurons have the same structure.
False
What type of neurons are characterized by a triangular body?
Hippocampal pyramidal cells
What are the two broad types of the nervous system?
Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System
What does the Central Nervous System consist of?
The brain and spinal cord
What is the function of the Peripheral Nervous System?
Connects the CNS to the body’s organs and muscles
True or False: Neurons can communicate with each other.
True
Fill in the blank: The _______ Nervous System consists of the brain and spinal cord.
Central
Fill in the blank: The _______ Nervous System connects the CNS to the body’s organs and muscles.
Peripheral
What are the two subdivisions of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
Somatic Nervous System and Autonomic Nervous System
The PNS is responsible for transmitting information in and out of the Central Nervous System (CNS).
What is the function of the Somatic Nervous System?
Transmits information in and out of the CNS and allows conscious control over behaviors
It helps us perceive and coordinate behaviors.
What does the Autonomic Nervous System control?
Involuntary commands controlling bodily functions such as blood vessels, organs, and glands
It operates without conscious control.
What are the two branches of the Autonomic Nervous System?
Sympathetic Nervous System and Parasympathetic Nervous System
These branches manage different involuntary functions.
True or False: The Somatic Nervous System is responsible for involuntary bodily functions.
False
The Somatic Nervous System is under conscious control.
Fill in the blank: The _______ Nervous System makes your blood vessels dilate and controls digestion.
Sympathetic
This system is part of the Autonomic Nervous System.
What type of control do we have over the Autonomic Nervous System?
No conscious control
It operates automatically to manage bodily functions.
What does the sympathetic nervous system prepare the body for?
Action
It activates the body’s fight or flight response.
What physiological changes occur when the sympathetic nervous system is activated?
• Dilates pupils
• Increases heart rate
• Diverts blood to brain and muscles
These changes enhance physical performance and alertness.
What does the sympathetic nervous system inhibit?
• Digestion
• Responses to pain and injury
This inhibition allows the body to focus on immediate survival.
True or False: The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body to fight or run.
True
This is part of the fight or flight response.
Fill in the blank: The sympathetic nervous system ______ the pupils.
dilates
This allows more light to enter the eyes, enhancing vision.
What happens to heart rate when the sympathetic nervous system is activated?
Increases
This helps pump more blood and oxygen to muscles.
What is a common scenario that activates the sympathetic nervous system?
Hearing footsteps while walking in the dark
This triggers a fear response, activating the sympathetic nervous system.
What is the role of the Parasympathetic Nervous System?
It returns the body to a normal resting state.
How does the Parasympathetic Nervous System typically respond to the actions of the Sympathetic Nervous System?
It usually mirrors the Sympathetic Nervous System.
What happens to heart rate when the Parasympathetic Nervous System is activated?
It reduces the heart rate.
What effect does the Parasympathetic Nervous System have on pupil size?
It constricts the pupils.
Fill in the blank: The Parasympathetic Nervous System undoes what the _______ did.
Sympathetic Nervous System
True or False: The Parasympathetic Nervous System is responsible for the body’s fight-or-flight response.
False
What are the two main parts of the Central Nervous System?
Brain and Spinal Cord
What is the primary responsibility of the Central Nervous System?
Most of what we do
Before considering the CNS, what must we understand?
How anatomy is labelled
What is the anatomical direction that refers to the back of the body?
Dorsal
Dorsal is commonly used to describe the position of structures in relation to the back of the organism.
Which anatomical direction refers to the front of the body?
Anterior
Anterior is often used interchangeably with ventral in humans.
What term describes the direction towards the tail end of the body?
Posterior
Posterior is the opposite of anterior.
What is the term for the direction towards the belly or underside?
Ventral
Ventral is used primarily in animals, while in humans, it is synonymous with anterior.
Fill in the blank: The term for the direction towards the midline of the body is _______.
Medial
Medial is the opposite of lateral.
What anatomical direction refers to the sides of the body, away from the midline?
Lateral
Lateral indicates a position farther from the midline of the body.
What is the horizontal plane in relation to the brain?
A slice which is paralleled to the ground
This plane is useful for viewing the brain from a top-down perspective.
What does the frontal (coronal) plane resemble?
Like slicing a loaf of bread
This plane allows for viewing the brain from the front to the back.
What does the sagittal plane do?
Runs along the length of the brain, separating the left and right sides
A midsagittal cut divides the brain into two equal halves.
What is a midsagittal section?
A section that separates the left and right sides of the brain
It provides a symmetrical view of the brain structures.
What is often considered the brains poor relation?
Spinal Cord
What functions does the spinal cord enable the brain to perform?
Breathing, movement, interaction with our world
What is the role of the spinal cord in behavior?
Can create some behaviours
What is a reflex arch?
Simply muscle movement to protect
What is required for more complex behaviours?
Interaction between the brain and spinal cord
What does the spinal cord serve as for the nervous system?
A highway for the nervous system signals
Fill in the blank: The spinal cord can create _______.
[some behaviours]
True or False: The spinal cord is not involved in reflex actions.
False
What is the approximate weight of the brain?
1.3 kg
How long is the brain?
15 cm
How many connections are there in the brain?
Over 170 billion
How many Facebook users are there on the planet for perspective?
3.1 billion
What are the three planes through which neuroscientists can consider the brain?
- Ventral to dorsal
- Left to right
- Anterior to posterior
Which approach will be considered in this lecture regarding the brain?
Ventral to dorsal approach
True or False: Simpler functions occur at higher levels of the brain.
False
Fill in the blank: Generally, simpler functions occur at _______ levels and more complex at higher.
lower
What is the hindbrain also known as?
Brainstem
What is the primary function of the hindbrain?
Coordinates information coming in and out of the spinal cord
List the four main structures of the hindbrain.
- Medulla
- Pons
- Reticular Formation
- Cerebellum
True or False: The hindbrain consists of only one structure.
False
Fill in the blank: The _______ is one of the four main structures of the hindbrain.
[any of the following: Medulla, Pons, Reticular Formation, Cerebellum]
What are the main components of the hindbrain?
Pons, Medulla, Reticular formation, Cerebellum
The hindbrain is responsible for various vital functions and motor control.
What is the function of the reticular formation?
Regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal
Severing the reticular formation in a cat caused an irreversible coma (Moruzzi & Magoun, 1949).
What does the medulla coordinate?
Heart rate, circulation, and respiration
The medulla is crucial for autonomic functions.
What role does the cerebellum play in motor control?
Controls fine motor skills and smooths actions
This is important for coordination and balance (Smetacek, 2002).
What does the term ‘pons’ mean in Latin?
‘Bridge’
The pons relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain.
True or False: The reticular formation is involved in regulating sleep.
True
It also regulates wakefulness and arousal levels.
Fill in the blank: The __________ coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration.
Medulla
The medulla is a vital part of the hindbrain.
What happens if the reticular formation is severed?
Causes an irreversible coma
This was demonstrated in a study by Moruzzi & Magoun in 1949.
What is the primary function of the pons?
Relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
This makes it essential for communication within the brain.
Name one key function of the cerebellum.
Controls fine motor skills
It is essential for coordination and balance, smoothing movements.
What is the function of the tectum?
Orientates us to the environment
The tectum is responsible for reflexive responses to sensory stimuli, such as turning towards a loud noise.
When you hear a loud noise and look towards it, which part of the brain is involved?
Tectum
What role does the tegmentum play in the brain?
Involved in movement and arousal
The tegmentum helps in orienting us to sensory information and is linked to pleasure-seeking behaviors.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is associated with pleasure seeking and motivation.
Tegmentum
True or False: The tectum is involved in movement.
False
What are the two main parts of the midbrain mentioned?
- Tectum
- Tegmentum
What is the highest level of the brain called?
Forebrain
The forebrain is linked to complex cognition, emotion, sensation, and motor functions.
What are the two main components of the forebrain?
- Cerebral Cortex
- Subcortical Structures
The cerebral cortex is visible and has two distinct hemispheres, while subcortical structures are located beneath the cerebral cortex.
True or False: The cerebral cortex is not visible with the eye.
False
The cerebral cortex is visible and has two distinct hemispheres.
Fill in the blank: The forebrain is linked to ________, emotion, sensation, and motor functions.
[complex cognition]
What does the term ‘subcortical structures’ refer to in the context of the forebrain?
Structures housed under the cerebral cortex near the centre of the brain
These structures play various roles in processing information and regulating emotions.
What is the longitudinal fissure?
A large trench that separates the two hemispheres of the brain
The longitudinal fissure divides the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
What are the two distinct hemispheres of the cerebellum?
Left and right hemispheres
The cerebellum is responsible for coordination and balance.
What is contralateral processing?
The phenomenon where the right side of the body is controlled by the left side of the brain and vice versa
This principle is fundamental in understanding brain function and motor control.
What connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain?
Corpus callosum
The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers that facilitates communication between the two hemispheres.
What are the folds and grooves on the surface of the brain called?
Folds are gyri (singular: gyrus) and grooves are sulci (singular: sulcus)
Gyri and sulci increase the surface area of the brain and are involved in various brain functions.
What are the four lobes of the brain?
- Frontal Lobe
- Parietal Lobe
- Temporal Lobe
- Occipital Lobe
Each lobe has distinct functions related to different aspects of cognition and sensory processing.
Fill in the blank: The cerebellum has a series of _______ and _______.
[folds], [grooves]
These structures help in increasing the surface area of the cerebellum.
True or False: The precentral gyrus is part of the frontal lobe.
True
The precentral gyrus is involved in motor control.
What is the role of the central sulcus?
It separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe
The central sulcus is a key landmark in the brain’s anatomy.
What are the main functions of the Frontal Lobe?
Complex thinking, planning, judgments, and movement
What are the main functions of the Parietal Lobe?
Processing sensations from the body, locating objects, and attentional processing
What are the main functions of the Temporal Lobe?
Hearing, language, identifying patterns, and memory
What is the main function of the Occipital Lobe?
Processing of visual input
Fill in the blank: The _______ Lobe is responsible for complex thinking and planning.
Frontal
True or False: The Temporal Lobe is involved in processing visual input.
False
Fill in the blank: The _______ Lobe processes sensations from the body.
Parietal