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MCAT (topics not covered in Next Step) > Psychology - Biological Bases of Behavior > Flashcards

Psychology - Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

There are five key parts of the neuron. What are they?

A

Soma, dendrites, axon, myelin sheath, and terminal buttons

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2
Q

What is the soma?

A

The cell body of a neuron

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3
Q

What are dendrites?

A

Branching structures of neurons that receive signals from other cells

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4
Q

The insulating material that encases some axons is called?

A

The myelin sheath

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5
Q

What are terminal buttons?

A

Small knobs at the end of axons that release neurotransmitters at synapses

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6
Q

__________________ are individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit infomration.

A

Neurons

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7
Q

The ________________ or cell body contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most neurons.

A

Soma

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8
Q

__________________ are parts of the neurons that are specialized to receive information while ________________ are long, thin fibers that transmit signals away from the soma to other cells.

A

Dendrites

Axons

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9
Q

Myelination of axons has two primary functions. What are they?

A
  1. Increased speed of signal transmission
  2. Stabilization of axon structure and activity in neural networks
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10
Q

Degeneration of the myelin sheath has been implicated in diseases including ______________ ______________ where it is responsible for loss of muscle control.

A

Multiple sclerosis

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11
Q

The axon ends in a cluster of _____________ ____________, which are small kobs that secrete neurotransmitters.

A

Terminal buttons

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12
Q

What is a synapse?

A

A synapse is a junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another

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13
Q

What cells provide support for neurons?

A

Glia cells

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14
Q

What is the resting potential of a neuron?

A

It is a neuron’s stable, negative charge of -70 mV when the cell in inactive

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15
Q

What is an action potential?

A

An action potential is a very brief shift in a neuron’s electrical charge that travels along an axon

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16
Q

The _____________ _______________ ____________ is the minimum length of time after an action potential, during which another action potential cannot begin.

A

Absolute refractory period

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17
Q

What is the “all-or-none” law regarding neurons?

A

The neural impulse is an all-or-none proposition, meaning that the neuron either fires or it does not fire. There is no “half-firing” of a neural impulse

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18
Q

When a neurotransmitter and a receptor molecule combine, reactions in the cell membrane cause a _______________ ____________, a voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane.

A

Postsynaptic potential

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19
Q

Two types of messages can be sent from cell to cell. What are they?

A

Excitatory and inhibitory

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20
Q

What parts of the nervous system are in the central nervous system?

A

The brain and the spinal cord

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21
Q

What was the main contribution of Franz Gall to psychology?

A

Phrenology - linking the brain to behavior and intellect

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22
Q

What was the main contribution of Pierre Flourens to psychology?

A

He studied the major sections of the brain via ablation

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23
Q

What was the main contribution of William James to psychology?

A

He is considered the father of American psychology and associated with the functionalist school, a system of thought in psychology that studied how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments

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24
Q

What is functionalism?

A

A system of thought in psychology that studied how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments

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25
What is the main contribution of John Dewey to psychology?
He criticized the reflex arc and argued for a more holistic approach to psychology
26
What is the major contribution of Paul Broca to the field of pscyhology?
He studied behavioral deficits of people with brain damage (e.g., man unable to speak had lesion in Broca's area of brain)
27
What is the main contribution of Hermann von Helmholtz to psychology?
He measured the speed of a nerve impulse
28
What is the major contribution to pscyhology made by Sir Charles Sherrington?
He inferred the existence of synapses
29
What parts of the nervous system are in the peripheral nervous system?
Nerve tissue and fibers outside the brain and spinal cord, including all 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 12 pairs of cranial nerve
30
What are the three kinds of nerve cells in the nervous system?
Sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons
31
What are sensory neurons?
They transmit sensory information from receptors to the spinal cord and brain
32
Sensory neurons are also know as what types of neurons?
Afferent neurons
33
What are motor neurons?
Neurons that transmit motor information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands
34
What are interneurons?
Neurons found between other neurons and are the most numerous of the three types of neurons; they are located primarily in the brain and spinal cord and often linked to reflexive behavior
35
Which neurons are the most numerous?
Interneurons
36
What do reflex arcs accomplish?
They use the ability of interneurons in the spinal cord to relay information to the source of stimuli while simultaneously routing it to the brain
37
What are motor neurons also known as?
Efferent neurons
38
The peripheral nervous system can be further divided into the ______________ and ______________ nervous systems.
Somatic nervous system Autonomic nervous system
39
The __________________ nervous system of the peripheral nervous system consists of sensory and motor neurons distributed throughout the skin, joints, and muscles.
Somatic
40
The __________________ nervous system of the peripheral nervous system generally regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and glandular secretions.
Autonomic
41
The autonomic nervous system can be further divided into the __________________ and __________________ nervous systems.
Parasympathetic Sympathetic
42
What is the main role of the parasympathetic nervous system?
To conserve energy
43
The parasympathetic nervous system is associated with which one: "rest and digest" or "fight or flight"?
Rest and digest
44
What neurotransmitter is responsible for parasympathetic responses in the body?
Acetylcholine
45
What are some functions of the parasympathetic nervous system?
Constricts pupils, stimulates saliva flow, constricts bronchi, slows heartbeat, stimulates peristalsis and secretion, stimulates bile release, and contracts bladder
46
The sympathetic nervous system is activated by \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
Stress
47
What occurs when the sympathetic nervous system is activated (i.e., bodily functions)?
Increases heart rate, redistributes blood to muscles, increases blood glucose levels, relaxes bronchi, decreases digestion and peristalsis, dilates eyes to maximize light intake, releases epinephrine into bloodstream
48
What do afferent neurons do?
They bring signals to the central nervous system (i.e., sensory neurons)
49
What do efferent neurons do?
They send signals out to the body (i.e., motor neurons)
50
What are the three basic subdivisions of the human brain?
The hindbrain, the midbrain, and the forebrain
51
What covers the brain?
The meninges
52
What is the meninges?
A thick sheath of connective tissue that helps protect the brain, keep it anchored within the skull, and resorb cerebrospinal fluid
53
In addition to protecting the brain, what other functions do the meninges provide?
They keep the brain anchored to the skull and resorb cerebrospinal fluid
54
What are the three layers of the meninges?
The dura matter The arachnoid mater The pia mater
55
Which layer of the meninges is closest to the brain?
The pia mater
56
Which layer of the meninges is closest to the skull?
The dura mater
57
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ______________ is the aqueous solution in which the brain and spinal cord rest.
Cerebrospinal fluid
58
Specialized cells that line the ____________________ or internal cavities of the brain produce cerebrospinal fluid.
Ventricles
59
Brain structures associated with basic survival are located at the ____________ of the brain.
Base
60
The hindbrain and midbrain compse the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, the most primitive region of the brain.
Brainstem
61
What is the limbic system?
A group of neural structures primarily associated with emotion and fear
62
What is the cerebral cortex?
The outer covering of the cerebral hemispheres
63
What is important about the cerebral cortex?
It is associated with many higher-order brain functions including language processing and problem solving
64
What are the five major divisions and principal structures of the forebrain?
1. Cerebral cortex 2. Basal ganglia 3. Limbic system 4. Thalamus 5. Hypothalamus
65
What are the major functions of the cerebral cortex?
Complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes
66
What are the functions of the basal ganglia?
Movement
67
What are the functions of the limbic system?
Emotion and memory
68
What is the role of the thalamus?
Sensory relay station
69
What are the functions of they hypothalamus?
Hunger, thirst, emotion
70
The inferior and superior colliculi are important in what major division of the brain?
The midbrain
71
What do the inferior and superior colliculi do?
Engage in sensorimotor reflexes
72
What three principle structures make up the hindbrain?
Cerebellum Medulla oblongata Reticular formation
73
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Refined motor movements
74
What is the function of the medulla oblongata?
Vital functioning (breathing, digestion)
75
What is the major function of the reticular formation?
Arousal and alertness
76
The hindbrain or _____________________ controls vital functions necessary for survival.
Rhombencephalon
77
The hindrain or rhomencephalon divides to form the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, which becomes the medulla oblogata, and the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, which becomes the pons and cerebellum, during embryonic development.
Myelencephalon Metencephalon
78
What is the pons?
An area of the hindrain that lies above the medulla oblongata and contains sensory and motor pathways
79
Which structure of the hindbrain is responsible for maintaining posture and balance and coordinating body movements?
Cerebellum
80
What lies above the hindbrain?
The midbrain
81
The _____________________ or mesencephalin receives sensory and motor information from the body and is associated with involuntary reflex responses triggered by visual or auditory stimuli.
Midbrain
82
There are two prominent nuclei in the midbrain, two of which are collectively called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
Colliculi
83
The ________________ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ of the midbrain receives visual sensory input.
Superior colliculus
84
The ______________ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ in the midbrain receives sensory information from the auditory system.
Inferior colliculus
85
Of the three major divisions of the human brain, which has the greatest influence on human behavior?
The forebrain or prosencephalon
86
During prenatal development, the prosencephalon or forebrain divides to form the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, which forms the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and limbic system, and the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, which forms the thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary gland, and pineal gland.
Telencephalon Diencephalon
87
What are cortical maps?
Maps made of the brain by scientists electrically stimulating human brains
88
Studying electrical activity of neurons can be accomplished by using \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
Electroencephalograms
89
A noninvasive mapping procedure that detects braod patterns of nerual activity based on increased blood flow to different parts of the brain is known as ___________ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ _____________ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
Regional cerebral blood flow
90
In a CT (computed tomography) scan, multiple _____________ are taken at different angles and processed by a computer to cross-sectional slice images of the tissue.
X-rays
91
What happens in a PET (positron emission tomography) scan?
A radioactive sugar is injected and absorbed into the body, and its dispersion and uptake throughout the target tissue is imaged
92
What imaging technique uses a magnetic field to map hydrogen dense regions of the body?
Magnetic resonance imaginging (MRI)
93
A specialized type of MRI, ____________________ MRI uses the MRI technique to measure changes associated with blood flow in the brain.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
94
The ___________________ is a structure in the forebrain that serves as an important relay station for incoming sensory information, except for smell. It then sorts and transmits signals to appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex.
Thalamus
95
What part of the forebrain is important in homeostatic, endocrine, emotional, and sexual functions?
Hypothalamus
96
What are the functions of they hypothalamus?
Remember the Four Fs: Feeding, Fighting, Flighting, Functioning (Sexual)
97
What part of the forebrain is the primary regulator of the autonomic nervous system and is important in drive behaviors: hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior?
Hypothalamus
98
Which part of the hypothalamus is referred to as the "hunger center" because it has special receptors thought to detect when the body needs more food or fluids?
Lateral hypothalamus "When the **L**ateral **H**ypothalamus is destroyed, one **L**acks **H**unger"
99
The ________________________ hypothalamus is known as the "satiety center."
Ventromedial hypothalamus "When the **V**entro**M**edial **H**ypothalamus is destroyed, one is **V**ery **M**uch **H**ungry"
100
Which part of the hypothalamus controls sexual behavior as well as sleep and body temperature regulation?
The anterior hypothalamus
101
The ___________________ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is comprised of axonal projections from the hypothalamus and is the site of release for the hypothalamic hormones antidiuretic hormone or vasopressin and oxytocin.
The posterior pituitary
102
The _____________ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ secretes a hormone called melatonin, which regulates circadian rhythms.
Pineal gland
103
What group of structures in the forebrain coordinate muscle movement?
The basal ganglia
104
The basal ganglia coordinates muscle movement as it receives information from the cortex and relays this information via the __________________ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ______________ to the brain and spinal cord.
The extrapyramidal system
105
What is the extrapyramidal system?
A system that gathers information about body position and carries the information to the central nervous system, but *does not* function directly through motor neurons
106
Destruction of the basal ganglia is associated with ______________ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and the basal ganglia has also been implicated in schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Parkinson's disease (Jerky movements; uncontrolled resting tremors)
107

MCAT (topics not covered in Next Step) (6 decks)

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