Biopsychology and the Foundations of Neuroscience

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from biopsychology and neuroscience for exam preparation.

Biopsychology

The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior, and mental processes.

Neuroscience

A newer field of study in psychology focusing on the brain and behavior.

Natural Selection

The process by which individuals best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Genotype

An organism’s genetic makeup, the blueprint for what an organism is.

Phenotype

An organism’s physical characteristics, including brain chemistry and wiring.

Genes

segments of chromosomes that encode the directions for the inherited physical and mental traits of an organism.

Chromosomes

threadlike structures consisting mostly of DNA, along which the genes are organized

Sex chromosomes

chromosomes that determine the biological sex of an individual, including X and Y chromosomes.

Neurons

specialized cells to receive, process and transmit info to other cells

Nerves

neuron bundles

Sensory/afferent neurons

communicate all sensory experience to the brain

Motor/efferent neurons

transport messages away from the brain to the muscles, organs and glands

Interneurons

relay messages from sensory neurons to other neurons in complex pathways

Dendrites

receiver part of the neuron, accepts most incoming messages

Soma/cell body

assesses all messages the cell receives, and passes on appropriate info at the right time down the axon

axon

single, larger “transmitter” fiber that extends from the soma

Action Potential

The electrical charge that travels along the axon of a neuron; signifies the firing of a neuron.

Nodes of Ranvier

microscopic spaces between the myelin cells that cover the axon and keep the action going through the axon

Multiple sclerosis

autoimmune disease of the CNS by inflammation and scarring of the myelin sheath and the underlying nerve, disrupting neural transmission

Resting potential

in normal state, ions have a small -ve charge

Absolute threshold

if the excitatory signals surpass the inhibitory signals, an action potential is triggered

Refractory period

brief charging period after action potential

All or none

the axon either fires or doesn’t. once the action potential is released, no going back

Depolarization

initial movement of the action potential where the action passes from resting potential in the cell body to action potential in the axon

Synapse

The gap between neurons, where neurotransmitters are released to transmit signals.

Synaptic vessicles

small sacs in the terminal buttons that contain neurotransmitters

Reuptake

NT that aren’t absorbed by the connecting dendrite are reabsorbed by the sending neuron

SSRIS (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

commonly prescribed for depressed patients to increase serotonin in the body

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals used in neural communication that affect various functions in the body.

acetycholine (ACh)

muscle action, learning, memory

undersupply - decrease in ACh producing neurons, Alzheimer’s

dopamine

influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

excess receptor activity - schizophrenia

not enough - parkinson’s

serotonin

affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

undersupply - depression

prozac and antidepressants increase lvls

norepinephrine

helps conrtol alertness and arousal

undersupply - depressed mood

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

major inhibitory NT

undersupply - seizures, tremors, insomnia

glutamate

major excitatory NT, involved in memory

oversupply - overstimulates brain, producing migranes/seizures

substance p

excitatory NT, associated w/ pain

endorphin

similar to the opiate morphine, relieves pain and induces pleasure

myasthenia gravis (MG)

chronic autoimmune disorder where antibodies destroy communication between nerves and muscle, resulting in skeletal muscle weakness

Agonists

Substances that excite or enhance the effect of neurotransmitters.

Antagonists

Substances that inhibit or block the action of neurotransmitters.

Glial Cells

Supportive cells that bind neurons together, provide insulation, and facilitate communication.

Central nervous system (CNS)

includes brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and transmitting information throughout the body

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

contains all the nerves which feed into the brain and spinal cord and connects the CNS to the limbs and organs.

Somatic nervous system

division on PNS that controls the body’s skeletal muscles voluntary movements

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

part of PNS that controls the glands and muscles of internal organs

Sympathetic nervous sustem

division of ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

Parasympathetic nervous system

division of ANS that calms the body and conserves energy after stressful situations.

Opponent process system

opponent systems work in opposition of each other to create a homeostatic balance

Reflexes

automatic response to stimuli that doesn’t involve the brain

Endocrine system

chemical messenger system that relies on hormones

Hormones

travel through bloodstream and affect other tissues

Pituitary gland

controls all endocrine system responses

Brain stem

crossover point, where most nerves on each side of the brain connect with the body’s opposite side

Medulla

regulates basic body functions - breathing, BP, HR

Pons

relays signals to the cerebellum that deal w/ movement, sleep, respiration, swallowing, bladder control, hearing, equilibrium, taste, eye movement, facial expressions/sensation and posture

Reticular formation

keeps the brain awake/alert and monitors incoming sensory messages

Thalamus

central processing chip of a computer, directs all incoming and outgoing sensory/motor traffic

Cerebellum

enables 1 type of nonverbal learning and memory

helps judge time, regulate emotions, and discriminate sounds/textures

Limbic system

limbic sys + thalamus = emotions and memory

layers also involved in feelings of pleasure, pain, fear, and rage

Hippocampus

2 hippocampi - connect present and past memories

Amygdala

relates to memory and emotion

plays the largest role in dealing w/ feelings of pleasure

Hypothalamus

analyzes body’s blood flow

regulates body temp, fluid lvls, and nutrients,

tells body how to respond during imbalances

has “reward” center

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of interconnected neural cells responsible for higher-order brain functions.

Frontal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex just behind the forehead

involved in making plans and judgement

Parietal lobes

general processing, esp for mathematical reasoning

Motor cortex

in charge of body part movement

Sensory cortex

experiences and processes body touch and movement sensations

Temporal lobe

auditory processing, heavily involved in both speech and vision

Occipital lobe

visual functions

Association areas

areas in he cerebral cortex that aren’t involved in primary motor/sensory functions

involved in higher lvl mental functioning: learning, speaking, thinking, memory, and speaking

Aphasia

impaired use of language that can be caused by dmg to cortical areas

Plasticity

The brain's ability to modify itself and re-organize after damage.

Neurogenesis

forming of new neurons

Broca’s Area

Located in the left frontal lobe, involved in expressive language; damage leads to speech difficulties.

Wernicke’s Area

Located in the temporal lobe, involved in receptive language; damage affects language comprehension.

Lateralization

each hemisphere has diff functions

apparent after brain dmg

Left hemisphere

decision making

Right hemisphere

understands simple requests, easily perceives objects, more engaged during quick, intuitive responses,

more active when copying drawings, recognizing faces, and perceiving emotions

EEG (electroencephalogram)

multiple electrodes are pasted to the outside of the head

shows a single line that charts the summated electrical fields resulting from neuron activity

PET (positron emission tomography)/SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography)

positron/photons emitted from radioactive substances

shows image w/ amt and localization of molecs that can be injected in radioactive form

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

exposes brain to magnetic field, measures fequency waves

shows high res img of brain anatomy, and newer functional images of blood flow changes

fMRI

reveals brain structure and function

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

detects magnetic fields produced by neuron electrical currents

detects and localizes brain activity, usually combined w/ a structural image from MRI