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PSY112 - Brain & Behaviour > Week 2 - Biological Psychology 1 > Flashcards

Week 2 - Biological Psychology 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

The Nervous System is composed of what type pathways and structures?

A

Nerve pathways and structures

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2
Q

What 5 things does the NS mediate aspect of?

A 
Motor Activity
Cognitive Activity
Sensory and Perceptual Activity
Emotional and Behavioural Activity
Physiological Activity
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3
Q

What 2 systems is the Nervous System made up of?

A

The Peripheral Nervous System

The Central Nervous System

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4
Q

What is the main role of the Peripheral Nervous System?

A

Carries information to and from the CNS

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5
Q

What are the 2 compartments (systems) of the PNS?

A

The Somatic and Autonomic NS

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6
Q

What is the role of the Somatic Nervous System?

A

Conveys sensory information to the CNS and sends motor messages to the muscles.

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7
Q

What is the role of the Autonomic Nervous System?

A

Send and receive information to and from the glands and organs of the body (involuntary). It is involved in basic life functions

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8
Q

What are the 2 subparts of the ANS?

A

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic NS

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9
Q

What is the role of the Sympathetic NS?

A

Readies the body for threats (fight or flight)

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10
Q

What is the role of the Parasympathetic NS?

A

Routine maintenance of energy resources (rest & digest) and decreasing arousal. It calms and maintains energy

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11
Q

What is the role of the CNS?

A

Respond to stimuli and basic life processes

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12
Q

2 parts of the CNS?

A

Brain and Spinal cord

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13
Q

What is the role of the Spinal Cord?

A

Sends information to the brain

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14
Q

What is the role of the brain?

A

Processing information and directs psychological activity and maintains life support

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15
Q

What are neurons?

A

Cells of the NS specialised for receiving and transmitting electrochemical signals

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16
Q

How do neurons work?

A

They send and receive messages from the body to the brain and vice versa by dispersing chemicals called neurotransmitters

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17
Q

What is the anatomy of a neuron?

A 
Dendrites
Cell Body
Axon Hillock
Axon (myelin sheath covering) (nodes inside)
Collateral Branches
Terminal Buttons
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18
Q

What is the role of Glial Cells? (4)

A

Repair following injury
Clear up debris
Prevent some substances from entering the brain
Insulate neuron axons (myelin sheath)

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19
Q

What is meant by the resting potential of a neuron?

A

In its resting state, the fluid environment outside the axon is more positively charged than the inside.

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20
Q

What are Graded Potentials?

A

Electrical charges caused by neural signals arriving from the axons of other cells

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21
Q

What are the 2 types of Graded Potentials?

A

Excitatory

Inhibitory

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22
Q

Explain Excitatory transmitters

A

Membrane potential becomes more positive and closer to the threshold (depolarisation) - more likely to fire

23
Q

Explain Inhibitory transmitters

A

Membrane potential becomes more negative and further away from the threshold (hyperpolarisation)- less likely to fire

24
Q

Where are Excitatory and Inhibitory transmitters summed?

A

At the axon hillock

25
Q

Action potentials are what? (3)

A

all or none
uniform in size
travel the length of an axon in order direction

26
Q

The entire process of an action potential takes how long?

A

1-2ms

27
Q

What is the absolute refractory period?

A

Brief period of time when another AP cannot occur

28
Q

Explain the step by step process involved in synaptic transmission?

A

NT are encased in the axon terminals
When an AP is triggered, NT’s are released into the synaptic cleft
The NT’s attach to receptors (on dendrites or cell body) and produce a GRADED POTENTIAL
The NT is released from the receptor and taken back into the presynaptic cell (reuptake)

29
Q

The chemical process of synaptic transmission is like what?

A

A lock and key system

30
Q

Define Glutamate (NT) (2 things)

  • Role

- What increases/blocks

A

The main excitatory transmitter in the CNS
- Involved in learning, memory and transfer or sensory
input
- Alcohol and memory enhancers interact with some
glutamate receptors.

31
Q 
Define Gaba (3 things)
- Role
A

The main inhibitory transmitter in the CNS

  • Dampens neural activity
  • Involved in learning, memory and sleep
32
Q

Define Acetylcholine (ACh) (2 things)

  • Role

- What increases/blocks

A

Involved in muscle contraction (PNS) and cortical arousal (CNS) including aspects of selective attention, sleep and memory.

  • Nicotine increases ACh
  • Botox blocks ACh
33
Q

Define Noradrenaline (2 things)

  • Role

- What increases

A

Involved in cortical arousal (wakefulness, heart rate) and autonomic nervous system activity
- Meth increases noradrenaline

34
Q

Define Dopamine (4 things)

  • Role

- What increases/blocks

A

Role is motor function and reward (eg food, sex, drugs)

  • Increased levels is associated with schizophrenia
  • Reduced levels associated with Parkinson’s
  • Drugs of dependence/rewards increase dopamine
35
Q

Define Serotonin (3 things)

  • Role

- What increases

A

Cortical arousal, mood, sleeping, eating

  • SSRI’s used to treat depression increase serotonin
  • Ecstasy (MDMA) increases serotonin
36
Q

Define Endorphins (2 things)

A

Involved in pain control and mood elevation (euphoria) eg “runners high”
- Endogenous Opioids

37
Q

Define Anandamide (2 things)

A

Associated with pain control, eating behaviour, motivation, memory and sleep
- Endogenous cannabinoid

38
Q

What are Psychoactive Drugs?

A

Any drug that interacts with a NT system and affects mood, arousal and behaviour

39
Q

What are the 2 types of Psychoactive Drugs?

A

Agonists and Antagonists

40
Q

What do Agonists do?

2 types

A

Enhance the effect of a neurotransmitter either by increasing the amount and release of by mimicking it and binding to receptors

  • Morphine: Binds to endorphin receptors to reduce pain
  • Prozac (SSRI’s): Reduces serotonin reuptake, increasing its availability
41
Q

What do Antagonists do?

2 types

A

Inhibit the effect of a given neurotransmitter, either by reducing the amount and release or blocking receptors

  • Botox: Blocks release of acetycholine, thereby stopping its effect on muscles/reduces tremors
  • Antipsychotics: Block dopamine receptors, reducing action of dopamine
42
Q

What is the Endocrine System?

A

System of glands that control vital functions by producing hormones (eg growth, metabolism, reproduction)

43
Q

What are Hormones?

A

Chemicals released into the bloodstream by endocrine glands

44
Q

What do hormones do?

A

Travel through the blood stream and bind to cell receptor sites in organs of the body (allow a global response)

45
Q

What is the 3 step process in the ANS ‘fight or flight’

A
  1. Activation of the sympathetic system (muscle stimulation, heart rate
  2. Response
  3. Activation of the parasympathetic branch
46
Q

What is the role of the Hypothalamus?

A

Regulate both ANS and endocrine system (by activating the pituitary gland)

47
Q

What is the Pituitary Gland? Role?

A

The master gland

It releases hormones which have a direct effects or which activate glands further down the chain

48
Q

What is Oxytocin and what is its role?

A

The love molecule

Involved in birth contractions, milk production, maternal/romantic love, interpersonal trust

49
Q

What does the HPA Axis do?

A

Works in conjunction with the sympathetic system to respond to stress

50
Q

Role of the Adrenal Glands (2)

A

Release adrenaline and cortisol, triggering fight or flight response
- Designed for immediate action (when chronically activated, can lead to long term health problems

51
Q

Role of the Thyroid Gland

A

Releases growth and metabolism hormones. Hypothyroidism can be associated with fatigue and depression

52
Q

Role of the Pancreas

A

Controls blood sugar levels (produces insulin)

53
Q

Role of Gonads (testes/ovaries)

A

Release sex hormones (oestrogen/testosterone)

PSY112 - Brain & Behaviour (11 decks)

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