psych/soc chapter 1: biology and behavior

Franz Gall

Franz Gall

theorized behavior, intellect, and personality may be linked to anatomy

Pierre Flourens

studied the functions of different sections of the brain, determined specific functions of specific parts by removing portions of the brain through ablation/extirpation

William James

the founder of American psychology, studied how the mind adapts to the environment and how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments (functionalism)

John Dewey

also studied and contributed to functionalism, discovered concept of the reflex arc, believed that we should focus on the whole organism and how it adapts to the environment

Paul Broca

linked specific functional impairments to specific brain lesions

Broca’s area

area on the left side of the brain that affects ability to speak

language production

Hermann von Helmholtz

first person to measure the speed of a nerve impulse, related speed to reaction time

Sir Charles Sherrington

inferred the presence of synapses, originally thought synaptic transmission was an electrical process (now known to be mainly chemical)

hindbrain

rhombencephalon

divisions of rhombencephalon

myelencephalon and metencephalon

myelencephalon

develops into medulla oblongata

medulla oblongata functions

life sustaining functions

regulating breathing, heart rate, and digestion

metencephalon

develops into pons and cerebellum

pons function

contains sensory and motor pathways between cortex and medulla

cerebellum functions

maintain posture and balance, coordinate body movements

midbrain

mesencephalon

components of midbrain

superior and inferior colliculi

function of superior colliculus

receives visual sensory information

inferior colliculus

receives auditory sensory information

forebrain

prosencephalon

divisions of prosencephalon

telencephalon and diencephalon

parts of telencephalon

cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system

parts of diencephalon

thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary, pineal gland

functions of the thalamus

sensory relay system (all except for smell)

functions of hypothalamus

regulates homeostasis (metabolism, temp, pressure, pain), emotion, and sexual experiences

Feeding, Fighting, Flighting, Fornicating

Lateral Hypothalamus (LH)

hunger center, detects when the body needs more food or fluids

Ventromedial Hypothalamus (VMH)

satiety center, signals to stop eating

Anterior Hypothalamus

controls sexual behavior

functions of posterior pituitary

secretion of hypothalamic hormones oxytocin and vasopressin (ADH)

functions of pineal gland

secretes melatonin (circadian rhythm)

important for regulating biological rhythms

functions of basal ganglia

coordinate muscle movement, high concentration of dopaminergic neurons here

damage to this area can result in Parkinsons’ or Schizophrenia

components of the limbic system

septal nuclei, amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex

function of the septal nuclei

pleasure center, addiction

functions of the amygdala

responsible for aggressive and defensive behaviors, including fear and rage

functions of the hippocampus

vital role in learning and memory, specifically memory consolidation and long-term memory formation

functions of the anterior cingulate cortex

crucial for impulse control, decision making, and higher order cognitive processes

sections of the cerebral cortex

frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes

frontal lobe function

both higher order processing and motor functions

perception, memory, emotion, impulse control, motor tasks

parietal lobe function

somatosensory processing (touch, pressure, temp, pain), spatial processing and manipulation

occipital lobe function

responsible for visual processing, sometimes also implicated in learning and motor control

temporal lobe function

responsible for receiving auditory information, sound processing (including speech, music and other sounds), memory processing, emotion, and language

Wernicke’s area = language reception and comprehension

Parkinson’s Disease

which disease is commonly associated with destruction of the basal ganglia?

Schizophrenia

which disorder is commonly associated with dysregulation of the basal ganglia and dopamine?

Left Hemisphere

which brain hemisphere is typically dominant and important for speech, logic, and math skills?

Right Hemisphere (non-dominant)

which brain hemisphere deals primarily with creativity, music cognition, and spatial processing?

Electroencephalography (EEG)

uses electrodes on the scalp to measure electrical waves of the brain

Computed Tomography scan (CT/CAT)

multiple x-rays of tissue taken from various angles to produce cross-sectional images of tissue

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

radioactive sugar injected, absorption and uptake throughout tissue is imaged

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

magnetic field interacts with hydrogen atoms, used to map out areas of high hydrogen density

Functional MRI (fMRI)

same basis as MRI, but measures specific changes associated with blood flow. important for monitoring neural activity

acetylcholine

transmission of nerve impulses to muscles (muscle contraction)

voluntary muscle control, PNS, attention, alertness

epinephrine and norepinephrine

catecholamines, monoamines

crucial for control of wakefulness and alertness, sympathetic nervous system activation

fight or flight

depression

low levels of norepinephrine are associated with which disorder?

anxiety or mania

high levels of norepinephrine are associated with which disorders?

dopamine

catecholamine, highly concentrated in the basal ganglia

plays a crucial role in schizophrenia and Parkinsons’

helps maintain smooth muscle movement and posture

serotonin

monoamine

plays a role in mood, eating, sleeping, and dreaming

can play a role in depression or mania if too little or too much

GABA

inhibitory, produces inhibitory postsynaptic potentials

hyperpolarization

brain stabilization

glycine

inhibitory neurotransmitter of the CNS

causes influx of chloride ions and hyperpolarization

brain stabilization

glutamate

excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS

brain excitation

endorphins

natural painkillers

innate behavior

genetically programmed, a result of evolution

learned behavior

behaviors based on experience and environment

concordance rates

the likelihood that both twins in a twin study exhibit the same traight

twin studies aim to measure genetic factors

adoption studies

help understand environmental and genetic influences on behavior

neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly

antiepileptic medications are associated with which birth complications?

primitive reflex

a reflex that disappears with age

rooting reflex

automatic turning of the head in the direction of a stimulus that touches the cheek

Moro reflex

infants react to abrupt movements of their heads by flinging their arms out and slowly retracting them and crying

Babinski reflex

the toes automatically spread apart when the sole of the foot is stimulated, rather than curling inwards