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PSYC 100 > Week 6: Neurobiology > Flashcards

Week 6: Neurobiology Flashcards

The Brain, Psychophysiological Methods in Neuroscience, The Nervous System

1
Q

Metabolites

A

A substance necessary for a living organism to maintain life (oxygen, glucose)

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2
Q

The Nervous System

A

complex biological organ; enables many animals including humans to function in a coordinated fashion; evolved over time

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3
Q

Homo Habilis

A

A human ancestor, handy man, that lived two million years ago

Used crude stone tools

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4
Q

Homo Sapiens

A

Modern man, the only surviving form of the genus Homo

Uses modern tools

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5
Q

Ectoderm

A

Outermost layer of a developing fetus

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6
Q

Neural Induction

A

A process that causes the formation of the neural tube

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7
Q

Rostrocaudal

A

A front-back plane used to identify anatomical structures in the body and the brain

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8
Q

Spina Bifida

A

Developmental disease of the spinal cord, where the neural tube does not close caudally

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9
Q

Forebrain

A

Part of the nervous system that contains teh cerebral hemispheres, thalamus, and hypothalamus

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10
Q

Neuroblasts

A

Brain progenitor cells that asymmetrically divide into other neuroblasts or nerve cells

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11
Q

Neuroepithelium

A

The lining of the neural tube

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12
Q

Neural Crest

A

A set of primordial neurons that migrate outside the neural tube and give rise to sensory and autonomic neurons in the peripheral nervous system

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13
Q

Development of Nervous System

A

Nervous tissue emerges from the ECTODERM through the process of NEURAL INDUCTION

Process causes the formation of the neural tube, which extends in a ROSTROCAUDAL plane

The tube, which is hollow seams itself in the rostrocaudal direction

As gestation progresses the neural tube ballons up at the rostral end, and FOREBRAIN, midbrain, hindbrain, and the spinal cord can be visuallly delineated (day 40); abt 50 days into gestation, six cephalic areas can be anatomically discerned

The NEUROBLASTS that form the NEUROEPITHELIUM of the neural tube generate all the neurons and glial cells of the central nervous system; neuroepitheliumj also generates a group of specialized cells that migrate outside the neural tube to form the NEURAL CREST

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14
Q

Autonomic Nervous Systems

A

A part of the peripheral nervous system that connects to glands and smooth muscles; consists of sympathetic and parasmpathetic divisions

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15
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

A part of the peripheral nervous system that uses cranial and spinal nerves in volitional actions

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16
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous Systems

A

A division of the autonomic nervous system that is slower than its counterpart - that is, the sympathetic nervous system - and works in opposition to it; generally engaged in “rest and digest” functions

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17
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

A division of the autonomic nervous system that is faster than its counterpart that is the parasympathetic nervous system and works in opposition to it; generally engaged in “fight or flight” functions

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18
Q

The Peripheral Nervous System

A

SOMATIC - CRANIAL nerves/SPINAL nerves
AUTONOMIC - SYMPATHETIC nervous system/PARASYMPATHETIC nervous system

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19
Q

cerebrum vs cerebral cortex

A

cerebrum refers to entire large upper area of brain (big brain)

cerebral cortex is just the outer layer of that brain area involved in higher functions

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20
Q

Cerebellum

A

Consists of left and right hemispheres that sit at the top of the nervous system and engages in a variety of higher-order functions

A nervous system structure behind and below the cerebrum; controls motor movement coordination, balance, equilibrium, and muscle tone

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21
Q

Sulcus

A

The crevices or fissures formed by convolutions in the brain - when cerebellum is crumpled into skull it forms furros called sulci

(plural form, Sulci)

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22
Q

Gyrus

A

A bulge that is raised between or among fissures of the convoluted brain - bulges between sulci

(Plural form, Gyri)

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23
Q

Central Sulcus

A

The major fissure that divides the frontal and the parietal lobes

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24
Q

Lateral Sulcus

A

The major fissure that delineates the temporal lobe below the frontal and the parietal lobes

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25
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

An area of the cerebrum that lies below the lateral sulcus; contains auditory and olfactory (smell) projection regions

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26
Q

Primary Motor Cortex

A

A strip of cortex just in front of the central sulcus that is involved w motor control

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27
Q

Magnification Factor

A

Cortical space projected by an area of sensory input (ex. mm of cortex per degree of visual field)

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28
Q

Broca’s Area

A

An area in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere; implicated in language production

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29
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

The most forward region (Close to forehead) of the cerebral hemispheres

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30
Q

Aphasias

A

Due to damage of the Broca’s area; an inability to produce or understand words

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31
Q

Working Memory

A

The form of memory we use to hold onto information temporarily; usually for the purposes of manipulation

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32
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

An area of the cerebrum just behind the central sulcus that is engaged w somatosensory and gustatory sensation

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33
Q

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

A

A strip of cerebral tissue just behind the central sulcus engaged in sensory reception of bodily sensations

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34
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

A language area in the temporal lobe where linguistic information is comprehended

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35
Q

Arcuate Fasciculus

A

A fiber that connects Wernicke’s and Broca’s speech areas

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36
Q

Agnosias

A

Due to damage of Wernicke’s area; an inability to recognize objects, words, or faces

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37
Q

Occipital lobe

A

The back part of the cerebrum, which houses the visual areas

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38
Q

Thalamus

A

A part of the diencephalon that works as a gateway for incoming and outgoing information

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39
Q

Transduction

A

A process in which physical energy converts into neural energy

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40
Q

Limbic System

A

A loosely defined network of nuclei in the brain involved w learning and emotion

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41
Q

Hippocampus

A

A nucleus inside (medial) the temporal lobe implicated in learning and memory

42
Q

Fornix

A

A nerve fiber tract that connects the hippocampus to mammillary bodies

43
Q

Cingulate Gyrus

A

A medial cortical portion of the nervous tissue that is a part of the limbic system

44
Q

Globus Pallidus

A

A nucleus of the basal ganglia

45
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Part of the diencephalon; regulates biological drives w pituitary gland

46
Q

Pons

A

A bridge that connects the cerebral cortex w the medulla, and reciprocally transfers information back and forth between the brain and the spinal cord

47
Q

Medulla Oblongata

A

An area just above the spinal cord that processes breathing, digestion, heart and blood vessel function, swallowing, and sneezing

48
Q

Gray Matter

A

Composes the bark or the cortex of the cerebrum and consists of the cell bodies of the neurons

49
Q

White matter

A

Regions of the nervous sytem that represent the axons of the nerve cells; whitish in colour because of myelination of the nerve cells

50
Q

Imunocytochemistry

A

A method of staining tissue including the brain, using antibodies

51
Q

Lesion Studies

A

A surgical method in which a part of the animal brain is removed to study its effects on behaviour or function

52
Q

Event-related potentials

A

A physiological measure of large electrical change in the brain produced by sensory stimulation or motor responses

53
Q

Computerized axial tomography (CAT)

A

A noninvasive brain-scanning procedure that uses X-ray absorption around the head

54
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A

Brain imaging noninvasive technique that uses magnetic energy to generate brain images

55
Q

Psychophysiological methods

A

Any research method in which the dependent variable is a physiological measure and the independent variable is behavioural or mental (such as memory)

56
Q

Neuroscience methods

A

A research method that deals w the structure or function of the nervous system and brain

57
Q

Invasive

A

A procedure that involves the skin being broken or an instrument or chemical being introduced into a body cavity

58
Q

Lesions

A

Abnormalities in the tissue of an organism usually caused by disease or trauma

59
Q

Noninvasive

A

A procedure that does not require the insertion of an instrument or chemical through the skin or into a body cavity

60
Q

Hemoglobin

A

The oxygen-carrying portion of a red blood cell

61
Q

Oxygenated hemoglobin

A

Hemoglobin carrying oxygen

62
Q

Deoxygenated hemoglobin

A

Hemoglobin not carrying oxygen - oxygen molecules have all been released

63
Q

Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD)

A

the signal typically measured in fMRI that results from changes in the ratio of oxygenated hemoglobin to deoxygenated hemoglobin the blood

64
Q

Temporal Resolution

A

Refers to how small a unit of time can be measured; high temporal resolution means capable of resolving very small units of time; in neuroscience it describes how precisely in time a process can be measured in the brain

65
Q

Spatial Resolution

A

Refers to how small the elements of an image are; high spatial resolution means the device/technique can resolve very small elements; in neuroscience it describes how small of a structure in the brain can be imaged

66
Q

Voltage

A

Difference in electric charge between two points

67
Q

Positron

A

A particle having the same mass and numerically equal but positive charge as an electron

68
Q

Depolarization

A

A change in a cell’s membrane potential, making the inside of the cell more positive and increasing the chance of an action potential

69
Q

Hyperpolarization

A

A change in a cell’s membrane potential, making the inside of the cell more negative and decreasing the chance of an action potential

70
Q

Neural Plasticity

A

Ability of synapses and neural pathways to change over time and adapt to changes in neural process, behaviour or environment

71
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

The part of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal cord

72
Q

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A

A neuroimaging technique that measures electrical brain activity via multiple electrodes on the scalp

Technique for studying brain activation; uses at least two and sometimes up to 256 electrodes to measure the difference in electrical charge (the VOLTAGE) between pairs of points on the head; in contrast to fMRI, EEG measures neural activity directly, rather than a correlate of that activity

Poor spatial resolution; Provides highest level of temporal resolution

73
Q

Electromyography (EMG)

A

Measures electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles; measures voltage between two points; technique can be used to determine muscle activity in research and emotion research

74
Q

When to use what..

A

If you are interested in what brain structures are associated with cognitive control, you wouldn’t use peripheral nervous system measures. A technique such as fMRI or PET might be more appropriate.

If you are interested in how cognitive control unfolds over time, EEG or MEG would be a good choice.

75
Q

Magneotencephalography (MEG)

A

Technique for non-invasively measuring neural activity; flow of electrical charge (the current) associated w neural activity produces very weak magnetic fields that can be detected by sensors placed near the participant’s scalp

Great temporal resolution; not as suscpetible to distortions from the skull/scalp; MEG recording apparatus is much more expensive than EEG, less widely available

76
Q

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A

A neuroimaging technique that infers brain activity by measuring changes in oxygen levels in the blood.

Method used to assess changes in activity of tissue, such as measuring changes in neural activity in different areas of the brain during thought; measures the change in the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin, known as the BOLD signal

  1. fMRI measures blood volume and blood flow, and from this we infer neural activity; fMRI doesn’t measure neural activity directly
  2. fMRI data typically have poor temporal resolution; however when combined w sMRI, fMRI provides excellent spatial resolution

Method is valuable for identifying specific areas of the brain that are associated w different physical or psychological tasks; Clinically, fMRI may be used prior to neurosurgery in order to identify areas that are associated with language so that the surgeon can avoid those areas during the operation. fMRI allows researchers to identify differential or convergent patterns of activation associated with tasks

77
Q

Brain Stem

A

the “trunk” of the brain comprised of the medulla, pons, midbrain, and diencephalon - collectively, these regions also are involved in our sleep-wake cycle, some sensory nd motor function, as well as growth and other hormonal behaiours

Responsible for many of the neural functions that keep us alive, including regulating our respiration (breathing), heart rate, and digestion

“life support” needed for severe damage to brain stem

“brain dead” - loss of brain stem function

78
Q

Cerebellum

A

A nervous system structure behind and below the cerebrum; controls motor movement coordination, balance, equilibrium, and muscle tone

The distinctive structure at the back of the brain

79
Q

Cerebrum

A

Consists of left and right hemispheres that sit at the top of the nervous system and engages in a variety of higher-order functions

80
Q

Cerebral hemispheres

A

Cerebral cortex, underlying white matter, and subcortical structures; responsible for our cognitive abilities and conscious experience

81
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

The outermost grey matter of the cerebrum; the distinctive convolutions characteristic of the mammalian brain

82
Q

Subcortical

A

Structures that lie beneath the cerebral cortex, but above the brain stem

83
Q

Somatosensory (body sensations) Cortex

A

The region of the parietal lobe responsible for bodily sensations; the somatosensory cortex has a contralateral representation of the human body

84
Q

Motor Cortex

A

Region of the frontal lobe responsible for voluntary movement; the motor cortex has a contralateral representation of the human body

85
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

Subcortical structures of the cerebral hemispheres involved in voluntary movement

86
Q

Contralateral

A

Literally “opposite side’; used to refer to the fact that the two hemispheres of the brain process sensory information and motor commands for the opposite side of the body (ex. the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body)

87
Q

Lateralized

A

to the side; used to refer to the fact that specific functions may reside primarily in one hemisphere or the other (ex. for the majority individuals, the left hemisphere is most responsible for language)

88
Q

Callostomy

A

Surgical procedure in which the corpus callosum is severed (used to control severe epilepsy)

89
Q

Split-brain patients

A

a patient who has had most or all of his corpus callosum severed

90
Q

Visual hemifield

A

The half of visual space (what we see) on one side of fixation (where we are looking); the left hemisphere is responsible for the right visual hemifield, and the right hemisphere is responsible for the left visual hemifield

91
Q

Myelin

A

Fatty tissue, produced by glial cells that insulates the axons of the neurons; myelin is necessary for normal conduction of electrical impulses among neurons

92
Q

Converging evidence

A

Similar findings reported from multiple studies using different methods

93
Q

Phrenology

A

A now-discredited field of brain study, popular in the first half of the 19th century that correlated bumps and indentations of the skull w specific functions of the brain

94
Q

Ablate

A

Surgical removal of brain tissue

95
Q

Case Studies

A

A thorough study of a patient (or a few patients) w naturally occurring lesions

96
Q

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

A

A neuroscience technique whereby a brief magnetic pulse is applied to the head that temporarily induces a weak electrical current that interferes w ongoing activity

97
Q

Temporal resolution

A

a term that refers tohow small a unit of time can be measured; high teporal resolution means capable fo resolving very small units of time; in neuroscience it describes how precisely in time a process can be measured in the brain

98
Q

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

A

a neuroscience technique that passes mild electrical current directly through a brain area by placing small electrodes on the skull

99
Q

Positron Emission tomography (PET)

A

A neuroimaging technique that measure brain activity by detecting the presence of a radioactive substance in the brain that is initially injected into the bloodstream and then pulled in by active brain tissue - Records flow in the brain

disadvantages - invasive and rendering poor spatial resolution

100
Q

Diffuse optical imaging (DOI)

A

A neuroimaging technique that infers brain activity by measuring changes in light as it is passed through the skull ands urface of the brain

When DOI is set up to detect changes in blood oxygen levels, the temporal resolution is low and comparable to PET or fMRI

When DOI is set up to directly detect active neurons, it has high spatial and temporal resolution

PSYC 100 (11 decks)

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