Physio Psych

What are the two main components of the vertebrate nervous system?

Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system.

Define 'central nervous system' (CNS).

The part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?

It connects the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.

What term refers to the direction toward the back?

Dorsal.

What does 'ventral' refer to in anatomical terms?

The direction toward the front or belly.

What is the anterior direction?

Towards the front of the body.

What is meant by 'posterior' direction?

Toward the back of the body.

Define 'superior' in anatomical terms.

Above or higher than another part.

Define 'inferior' in anatomical terms.

Below or lower than another part.

What is the main function of the spinal cord?

It communicates with sense organs and muscles except for those of the head.

What do dorsal roots carry?

Sensory information.

What is carried by ventral roots?

Motor information.

What makes up gray matter in the spinal cord?

Densely packed cell bodies and dendrites.

What is the function of white matter?

Carries information from gray matter to the brain or other areas of the spinal cord.

What systems does the autonomic nervous system regulate?

Automatic behaviors such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and digestion.

Name the two subsystems of the autonomic nervous system.

Sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system.

What is the primary role of the sympathetic nervous system?

Prepares organs for rigorous activity, often referred to as the 'fight or flight' response.

Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the sympathetic nervous system?

Norepinephrine.

What does the parasympathetic nervous system facilitate?

Vegetative and non-emergency responses, known as 'rest and digest'.

What is the primary neurotransmitter used by the parasympathetic nervous system?

Acetylcholine.

List the major divisions of the vertebrate brain.

Forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain.

What structures are included in the hindbrain?

Pons, cerebellum, medulla.

What functions are associated with the cerebellum?

Movements, balance, spatial reasoning, sound discrimination, sensory integration.

What vital reflexes does the medulla control?

Breathing, heart rate, vomiting, salivation, coughing, sneezing.

What structure in the midbrain processes sensory information?

Tectum.

What role does the substantia nigra play?

Facilitates readiness for movement through dopamine pathways.

What is the outer layer of the forebrain called?

Cerebral cortex.

How many cerebral hemispheres does the mammalian brain have?

Two.

What is the basal ganglia's function?

Associated with planning motor movement and aspects of memory and emotional expression.

What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?

Occipital lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, frontal lobe.

What area of the occipital lobe processes visual information?

Primary visual cortex.

What is the primary somatosensory cortex located?

In the parietal lobe.

Which lobe is essential for processing spoken language?

Temporal lobe.

What is the precentral gyrus responsible for?

Control of fine motor movement.

What areas does the prefrontal cortex integrate?

All sensory information and other areas of the cortex.

What is a prefrontal lobotomy?

Surgical damage to the prefrontal cortex.

Which research method examines the effects of stimulating a brain area?

Experimental brain stimulation.

What does transcranial magnetic stimulation do?

Temporarily deactivates neurons using an intense magnetic field.

What does EEG stand for?

Electroencephalograph.

What does PET stand for?

Positron-emission tomography.

Which imaging technique provides a signal based on oxygen consumption in the brain?

FMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging).

What is the law of specific nerve energies?

Activity by a particular nerve conveys a specific type of information to the brain.

What are rods and cones?

Visual receptors in the retina.

What is the fovea?

The central portion of the retina allowing acute and detailed vision.

Define lateral inhibition.

Reduction of activity in one neuron by activity in neighboring neurons.

What is the role of the primary visual cortex (Area V1)?

Receives information from the lateral geniculate nucleus and is responsible for the first stages of visual processing.

What do the ventral and dorsal streams refer to in visual processing?

The ventral stream identifies objects ('what'), while the dorsal stream is important for visually guided movements ('how').

Mechanical Senses

Respond to pressure, bending, or other distortions of receptors, including touch and pain.

Somatosensory Receptors

Touch receptors that come in many forms and open sodium channels, triggering action potentials.

Merkel Disks

Receptors that respond to light touch and are important for sensing fine detail and shape.

Pacinian Corpuscle

Receptors that fire only when a stimulus is first applied and when it is removed, associated with sensing rapid vibrations and fine texture.

Nociceptors

Bare nerve endings that transmit pain information, activated by harmful stimuli.

Emotional Pain

Painful stimuli activate pathways through the reticular formation and other areas, affecting emotional experiences.

Opioid Mechanisms

Systems sensitive to opioid drugs that bind to receptors in the spinal cord and midbrain.

Placebo Effect

A phenomenon where a person experiences pain relief due to beliefs or expectations, rather than direct medical treatment.

Cannabinoids

Chemicals found in marijuana that can alleviate pain, acting mainly in the periphery of the body.

Pain Relief Strategies

Includes opioid mechanisms, placebo, and cannabinoids among others used to manage pain.