Unit 2 Flashcards
Phineas Gage
injured through his frontal lobes, connection to limbic system was severed
* became a case study in specializations of diff areas in brain
HM (Henry Molaison)
patient who has parts of hippocampus removed
* got permanent amnesia
Paul Broca
discovered Broca’s area
Carl Wernicke
discovered Wernicke’s area
Michael Gazzaniga
initiated split brain research
Roger Sperry
established that we have two brains and studied split brain patients
William James
focused on functions of thoughts and feelings w/ functionalism
* father of american psychology
Ernest Hilgard
divided consciousness
Martin Orne
people acted the same when hypnotized and asked to pretend to act hypnotized
* established that hypnotism is not a likely cause of deviant behavior
J. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley
activation synthesis theory: dreams happen when the brain tries to make sense of random activity in the brain while asleep
Phrenology
studying bumps on the brain to see if it would reveal mental information
Localization of Function
idea that different parts of brain have different functions
Neurons
- nerve cell
- basic building block of nervous system
Cell Body
cell’s life support center
Dendrite
neuron’s extensions that receive messages and conduct towards cell body
Axon
extension that passes signal away from the cell body
Terminal Branch
forms junctions with other cells
Myelin Sheath
- fatty tissue layer encasing axons
- increases transmission speeds
Action Potential
a neural impulse, a brief electrical charge
Ions
electrically charged atoms
Resting Potential
positive ions outside and negative inside
Selectively Permeable
ex. axon surface
* picky about what goes in and out
Depolarization
charge change
* outside is negative inside is positive
Refractory Period
a period of inactivity (refreshing/resetting) after a neuron fired
Excitatory Signal
like pushing a neuron’s accelerator
Inhibitory Signal
like pushing a neuron’s brake
Threshold
level of stimulation needed to trigger an action potential
All or None Response
a neuron completely fires or doesn’t, no in between
Synapse
where axon terminal and dendrites meet
Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross synaptic gap, travel to receptor site and bind there
Reuptake
when the sending neuron reabsorbs the excess neurotransmitters
Dopamine
- movement
- learning
- attention and emotion
too much = schizophrenia
too less = parkinsons
Acetylcholine (ACh)
- muscle action
- learning and memory
- not enough = alzheimers
Serotonin
- regulates emotion and behavior
- hunger
- sleep
- inhibits aggression
undersupply = depression
Norepinephrine
- helps control alertness and arousal
GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid
inhibitory
* controls fear and anxiety
Glutamate
in msG
* excitatory
* invovled in memory
Endorphins
- pain control
- pleasure
Agonist
a molecule that stimulates a response (mimics neurotransmitters) by binding to the receptor site
Antagonist
a molecule that binds to a receptor site and inhibits/blocks a response
Central Nervous System (CNS)
- brain and spinal chord
- body’s decision maker
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
Nerves
bundled axons that form neural cables, connecting the CNS to the rest of the body
Sensory Neurons
AFFERENT –> carry incoming information from sensory receptors to CNS
Motor Neurons
EFFERENT –> neurons that carry outgoing info from CNS to muscles and glands
Interneurons
only in CNS
* only communicate internally between sensory input and motor output
Somatic Nervous System
control voluntary movements of skeletal muscles
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
controls self regulated action of internal organs and glands
* contains parasympathetic and sympathetic systems
Sympathetic Nervous System
FIGHT OR FLIGHT
arouses body and mobilizes its energy in stressful situations
Parasymathetic Nervous System
REST AND DIGEST
calms the body and conserves energy
Neural Networks
brain’s neurons clustering into work groups
Spinal Cord
two way information highway that connects PNS to brain
Reflexes
simple autonomic response to sensory stimuli
Remember: U TURN = sensory–>motor
Hormones
chemical messengers that are made in the endocrine glands and sent to other tissues through the blood
Adrenal Glands
- above kidneys
- secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine
Epinephrine/Adrenaline
arouse body in times of stress, increase heart rate, blood pressure and sugar
Pituitary Gland
regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Hypothalamus
controls pituitary gland and hunger, thirst
Lesion
tissue destruction
* naturally or experimentally caused
EEG
recording of the waves of electrical activity on surface of brain through electrodes on scalp
CT (Computed Tomography) Scan
a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by a computer into a composite representation of a slice of brain’s structure
PET Scan
visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
MRI
use magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue –> shows brain anatomy
fMRI (functional MRI)
reveals bloodflow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans
* shows brain functions and structure
Brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, respnsible for autonomic survival functions
Medulla
controls heartbeat and breathing