Textbook (midterm 1)

Question 1

What is embodied behaviour?

Answer 1

The movements we make and the movements we perceive in others are central to our behaviour.

Question 2

What is locked-in syndrome?

Answer 2

Condition in which patient is aware and awake but cannot move or communicate verbally because of complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles except the eyes.

Question 3

When did animals evolve the first brain cell and first brain, respectively?

Answer 3

First brain cell- 700 million years ago
First brain- 250 million years ago
Human like brain- 6 million years ago

Question 4

How did the nervous system evolve?

Answer 4

1) Neurons and muscles
2) Nerve net
3) Bilateral symettry
4) Segmentation
5) Ganglia
6) Spinal cord
7) Brain

Question 5

Who is the first person who reportedly could read silently?

Answer 5

Saint Ambrose

Question 6

What is the textbook definition of a meme?

Answer 6

An idea, behaviour, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture.

Question 7

What is the anatomic versus functional organization of the nervous system?

Answer 7

Anatomic-central units are the CNS and PNS-focuses solely on the anatomy
Functional- CNS mediates behaviour, SNS transmits sensation and produces movement, ANS balances internal functions, ENS controls the gut. Focuses on function of different areas

Question 8

What is encephalitis?

Answer 8

Infection of the brain itself-death of an area deep in the brain, cure is a hemispherectomy.

Question 9

What is the difference between a nerve and a tract?

Answer 9

Nerve-Large collection of axons coursing together OUTSIDE the CNS
Tract- Large collection of axons coursing together WITHIN the CNS.

Question 10

What are the most important functions of the hindbrain, midbrain, and diencephalon respectively?

Answer 10

Hindbrain-Motor functions
Midbrain-Sensory Functions
Diencephalon-Integration of sensorimotor tasks.

Question 11

Why is C.Elegans not as complex as the blue whale, even though it has more neurons?

Answer 11

Because complex behaviours factor in packing density and connectivity, not just neuron count.

Question 12

What part of the brain is related to autism?

Answer 12

Dysfunction of the cerebellum.

Question 13

What was the Octopus experiment?

Answer 13

Observer octopus watches a demonstrater octopus perform a task. Demonstrater octopus learned to associate the red ball with reward and the white ball with shock. Later, the observer octopus did the same task and did it FASTER than the demonstrater.

Question 14

What is the function of the brainstem?

Answer 14

To take in afferent nerves coming in from bodies senses and send out efferent nerves to the spinal cord-directs complex movements and creates a sensory world.

Question 15

What is the most important function of the hindbrain, midbrain, and diencephalon?

Answer 15

Hindbrain-mostly motor functions
Midbrain-mostly sensory functions
Diencephalon-Integration of sensory and motor functions

Question 16

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 16

A degeneratve brain disorder characterized by progressive memory loss.

Question 17

What are the ganglia?

Answer 17

Collections of neural cells that control internal organs (autonomic system)

Question 18

What cranial nerves are the parasympathetic system connected to?

Answer 18

Vagus-calms internal organs

Facial and Oculomotor-Control salivation and pupil dilation respectively.

Question 19

Why is the ENS sometimes referred to as the second brain?

Answer 19

Because it contains diverse neuron types, has glial cells, same chemical transmitters, and complex integrated neural circuits.

Question 20

What are the microbiota?

Answer 20

Population of cells in the adult gut (10^14), influences both ENS and CNS leading to changes in behaviour.

Question 21

What are the 10 principles of nervous system function?

Answer 21

1) NErvous system produces movement in a perceptual world the brain constructs-behaviour is related to the world the brain has constructed.
2) Neuroplasticity is the Hallmark of Nervous system functioning-nervous system stores info only if neural connections change (how we learn)
3) Many brain circuits are crossed
4) The CNS Functions on multiple levels-simple to complex
5) Brain is symmetrical and asymmetrical
6) Brain systems are organized hierachically and in parallel
7) Sensory and motor divisions permeate the nervous system
8) The brain divides sensory input for object recognition and motor control (ventral and dorsal)
9) Brain functions are localized and distributed
10) Nervous system works by juxtaposing excitation and inhibition.