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PSYC111 > The Brain > Flashcards

The Brain Flashcards

1
Q

Neurons

A

Cells in the brain that communicate with each other, all thoughts and cognition begin at the brain

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2
Q

Dendrites

A

Part of neuron that branches out from the cell body, receives information from other neurons

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3
Q

Soma

A

Cell body, contains nucleus, decides whether to send info on to other neurons

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4
Q

Axon

A

“Long” part of neuron, transports info from the cell body to the end of the neuron, contains myelin sheath which speeds up transmission of information

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5
Q

Terminal buttons

A

At the end of the neuron, transmits info to the next neuron, sends neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft

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6
Q

Synapse/synaptic cleft

A

Synapse: Area where information is transferred from one neuron to the next
Synaptic cleft: space between terminal buttons and dendrites where neurotransmitters are released

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7
Q

What are the four types of neurons

A

Sensory: takes info from sense organs to the brain
Motor: take directions from brain to muscles to make movements
Mirror: allow us to mirror people physically and empathetically
Inter: neurons connected to other neurons for transportation of info

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8
Q

What is the most common type of neuron

A

Inter

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9
Q

Glial cells

A

Create a skeletal system for neurons, nourish/fuel neurons, create myelin sheath, help remove waste, help repair damage, create blood brain barrier

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10
Q

Afferent vs efferent

A

Afferent: neurons that take info to the brain
Efferent: neurons that take info from the brain

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11
Q

What neurological processes are electrical vs chemical?

A

Info within neurons = electrical
Info between neurons = chemical

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12
Q

Action potential

A

Change of charge within neurons (-70V to +40V) that allows information to travel down the axon

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13
Q

Relative vs absolute refractory period

A

Refractory period: the period after an action potential where it is either more difficult (relative) or impossible (absolute) to perform another action potential

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14
Q

What are neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messengers that play an important role in interneuron communication

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15
Q

Agonist vs antagonist

A

Agonist: make transmitters more effective
Antagonist: make transmitters less effective

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16
Q

Dopamine

A

Pleasure/reward neurotransmitter, associated with an emotional boost, helps with voluntary movement

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17
Q

Serotonin

A

Neurotransmitter that controls negative emotions (depression, anxiety), important for regulating sleep

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18
Q

Epinephrine/norepinephrine

A

Epinephrine: Energized mental state neurotransmitter
Norepinephrine: energized mental and physical state neurotransmitter

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19
Q

Endorphin

A

Neurotransmitter, body’s pain killer, associated with positive mental state

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20
Q

GABA

A

Primary inhibitive neurotransmitter, stops cell body

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21
Q

Glutamate

A

Primary excitatory transmitter

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22
Q

Acetylcholine

A

Neurotransmitter that communicates with motor neurons

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23
Q

What is the first neurotransmitter that was discovered

A

Acetylcholine

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24
Q

Synaptic pruning

A

Process of getting rid of synapses that are no longer useful to us

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25
Q

What physical quality of the brain determines intelligence

A

Surface area (wrinkles)

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26
Q

Where are the evolutionarily older/newer parts of the brain located

A

Older = lower, newer = higher

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27
Q

Contralateral control

A

Left side of the brain controls the right side of the brain body and vice versa

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28
Q

Association area

A

What parts of the brain are responsible for different components of thinking

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29
Q

What are the 3 divisions of the brain

A

Hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain

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30
Q

What does the hindbrain do

A

Deals with info to and from the rest of the nervous system, and vital body functions to keep you alive

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31
Q

Medulla

A

Located on “stem” part of hindbrain, important for heart rate, circulation, respiration, reflexes. Damaged medulla = death

32
Q

Reticular formation

A

Located below medulla in hindbrain, deals with sleep, arousal, mood and focus

33
Q

Pons

A

Located near the top of the stem part of hindbrain, manages sleep, arousal, focus, and facial expressions (both our own and understanding others)

34
Q

Cerebellum

A

Near the back of the hindbrain, sends info to pons, which is sent to other parts of the nervous system. Is concerned with balance and fine motor movement

35
Q

What is the smallest brain division

A

Midbrain

36
Q

What does the midbrain do

A

Orient is and help us move through space

37
Q

What neurotransmitter is the midbrain a significant source of

A

Dopamine

38
Q

Tectum

A

Back part of midbrain, receives sense information and connects it to movement

39
Q

Tegmentum

A

Focuses on movement and arousal

40
Q

How do the tectum and tegmentum work together

A

Tectum helps you build a picture of your environment, tegmentum helps you move through it

41
Q

What is the largest brain division

A

Forebrain

42
Q

What does the forebrain do

A

Contains cerebral cortex, deals with high order thinking/processes

43
Q

Frontal lobe

A

Front of cerebral cortex, contains prefrontal cortex and primary motor cortex. deals with reasoning, decision making, creativity

44
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

Part of frontal lobe, deals with decision making (doing/stop doing something), allocating resources, how things connect with each other, what to engage with/ignore

45
Q

Primary motor cortex

A

Concerned with fine movement, mainly focused on the face, mouth and hands

46
Q

Parietal lobe

A

Contains somatosensory cortex, which is concerned with touch/skin sensations mostly focused on the mouth nose and hands. Also integrates touch sensations with visual information

47
Q

Occipital lobe

A

Deals with vision, and processes it into more complicated information

48
Q

Temporal lobe

A

Deals with hearing, language and recognition

49
Q

Temporal lobe lateralization

A

Left of temporal lobe = language focused
Right of temporal lobe = non language sounds

50
Q

Broca’s area

A

Allows for speech production

51
Q

Wernickes area

A

Allows for language comprehension

52
Q

Broca’s/Wernicke’s aphasia

A

Aphasia: problem/disruption of speech
Broca’s: cannot produce words, but can comprehend others
Wernicke’s: can produce words but they are nonsensical and cannot comprehend others

53
Q

Subcortical structures

A

Part of forebrain underneath the cerebral cortex

54
Q

Thalamus

A

Subcortical structure, relay station for sensory and motor information

55
Q

Pituitary gland

A

Subcortical structure close to hindbrain, related to growth, metabolism, reproduction

56
Q

Limbic system

A

Subcortical structure that deals with emotions

57
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Part of limbic system, deals with fleeing, feeding, fighting and mating (survival instincts)

58
Q

Amygdala

A

Part of limbic system, deals with emotional memory, typically negative emotions

59
Q

Hippocampus

A

Behind amygdala, critical for memory

60
Q

Cingulate gyrus

A

Part of limbic system that deals with focusing on information

61
Q

Basal ganglia

A

Part of limbic system that produces dopamine

62
Q

What is the most common type of brain imagine technique?

A

MRI

63
Q

Structure vs activity imaging

A

Structure: shows physical structure of brain
Activity: shows where activity happens in brain

64
Q

MRI

A

Physical imaging: uses magnets to understand your brain structure, shows images in horizontal slices

65
Q

DTI

A

Physical imaging: type of MRI that focuses on myelin

66
Q

NIRS

A

Phyiscal imaging: sends light pulses into the brain, reflections show the structure

67
Q

EEG

A

Activity imaging: places electrodes across your skull and measures electrical activity

68
Q

ERP

A

Activity imaging: Looks at a singular electrode from the EEG over time

69
Q

FMRI

A

Activity imaging: Magnets use metal in blood to determine which parts of our brain are being used

70
Q

PET

A

Activity imaging: Tracks glucose (active locations require more fuel)

71
Q

TMS

A

Activity imaging: magnetic coil is moved around the brain and disrupts brain’s processes, non-invasive way of determining causality

72
Q

Central vs peripheral nervous system

A

CNS: brain + spinal cord
PNS: all other parts

73
Q

What part of the body responds fast to impulses

A

Spinal cord

74
Q

Gate control theory

A

Spinal cord blocks pain so your understanding is not blocked by pain

75
Q

Cerebrospinal fluid

A

Liquid that protects + nourishes the brain and spinal cord

76
Q

Autonomic vs somatic

A

Autonomic = involuntary actions
Somatic = voluntary actions

77
Q

What are the three parts of the autonomic nervous system

A

Sympathetic: Fight/flight responses
Parasympathetic: Rest/digest/calming
Enteric: Nerve cells embedded in gastrointestinal lining, associated w/ gut feelings

PSYC111 (11 decks)

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