The nervous system: measurement, structure, function Flashcards
4 methods of modern study of brain and behaviour
- neuropsychology
- Electroencephalography (eeg)
- Neuroimaging
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
What does neuropsychology study?
Study of brain damage
What does EEG measure?
electrical activity in the brain - moment to moment activity
What are event-related potentials (ERPs) used for?
Often used in neurobiological research investigating psychological functions
What are 2 examples of neuroimaging?
PET and fMRI
What is positron emission tomography (PET scans)?
Measures where activity happens -
What is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)?
measures where activity happens - measures blood flow in the brain during an activity - establishes role of different brain regions in psychological activity
What does magnetoencephalography measure?
measures when and where activity happens
What does transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measure?
Stimulation (increase or decrease) of brain activity in a specific region of the brain
What is neuropsychology?
Use knowledge gained from impaired brains to inform knowledge of normal function - what happens with behaviour after brain damage?
What is the function of the enteric nervous system?
Controls the gut
Regulates digestion
Sometimes categorised as part of the autonomic nervous system
Helps control nutrient absorption and waste elimination
What is the function of the somatic nervous system?
Transmits sensations and produces movement
it connects the brain to the sensory organs to receive incoming information (afferent pathways)
it connects the brain to the muscles to produce movement (efferent pathways)
How many pairs of cranial and spinal nerves in the somatic nervous system?
12 pairs of cranial nerves
31 pairs of spinal nerves
What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?
Regulates internal organs
What are the 2 parts of the autonomic nervous system?
- Sympathetic nervous system
- Parasympathetic nervous system
What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
Fight or flight
Prepares body for action
Increases heart rate and blood pressure, pupil dilation
What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
Rest and digest
Helps body to relax
Decreased heart rate and blood pressure, stimulated digestion
What is the structure of a neuron?
Building block of the nervous system
Dendrites, cell body, axon, myelin sheath, axon terminals
What is the function of a neuron?
Basic information-processing unit
Functional units of the nervous system
Interaction between neurons enable behaviour
Transmit info from one another through synapses
Where is the input zone of a neuron and what is its function?
Dendrites - Receiving info from other neurons
Where is the integration zone and what is its function?
Cell body - summing up all received info
Where is the conduction zone and what is its function?
Axon - conducting info via electrical activity
Where is the output zone and what is its function?
axon terminals - passing on info to other neurons
What is the function of a sensory neuron?
Carry info from body to spinal cord and brain
What is the structure of a sensory neuron?
Unipolar - single axon branching in 2 directions
What is the function of a motor neuron?
Carry info from nervous system to muscles and internal organs
What is the structure of a motor neuron?
Multipolar - many dendrites and a single axon
What is the function of interneurons?
Receive info from neurons and pass it to other neurons
What is the structure of interneurons?
Bipolar - one dendrite, one axon
What is the function of a synapse?
info-processing unit
What is the function of the presynaptic neuron?
Sending info
What is the function of the postsynaptic neuron?
Receiving info
What are the different types of neurotransmitters?
Inhibitory and excitatory
What is the function of neurotransmitters?
Key role in communicating info between neurons
What are the 2 major types of neurotransmitters?
- Amino acids
- Amines
What are examples of amino acids?
GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) and glutamate
What are 3 examples of amines?
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Catecholamines: norepinephrine (NE), enipherine (adrenaline), dopamine (DA)
Indoleamines: Serotonin (5-hydroxtryptamine - 5-HT), melatonin
What is the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) responsible for and which networks are they in?
In the cholinergic networks
Responsible for attention, learning and memory
What is the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) responsible for and which network are they in?
Dopaminergic networks
Responsible for movement and motor control (Mesostriatal pathway) and reward and reinforcement (mesolimbocortical pathway)
What is the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) responsible for and which network are they in?
Serotonergic networks
Responsible for mood, sexual behaviour and anxiety
What are glia?
Support cells
What are the 4 types of glia?
astrocytes
Microglia
Olygodendrocytes
Schwann cells
Glia - what is the function of astrocytes?
Nutrition
Link between neurons and blood vessels
BUT - edema (swelling) when injured
Glia - what is the function of microglia?
‘clean-up-crew’
Remove debris from damaged/dead cells
BUT - Alzheimer’s
Glia - what is the function of olygodendrocytes?
Myelination in the central nervous system
Glia - what is the function of Schwann cells?
Myelination in the peripheral nervous system
What is the function of the myelin sheath?
Speed of electrical conductance - thicker –> faster
