yr 11 Neuropsychology flahscards

Main Function of the Nervous System

Reception, processing, and response to internal and external stimuli

Reception (Nervous System)

Detecting stimuli via sensory receptors from the internal or external environment

Processing (Nervous System)

Interpreting sensory information and deciding whether action is needed

Response (Nervous System)

Conscious or unconscious reaction to processed sensory input

what is the Central Nervous System (CNS) made up of

Made up of the brain and spinal cord; processes information and sends out responses

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Network of nerves outside the CNS that transmits information to/from the body

Brain

Network of neurons that processes almost everything we think, feel, and do

Spinal Cord

Connects brain to the rest of the body and can initiate spinal reflexes

Spinal Reflex

An automatic, involuntary response initiated by the spinal cord without brain input

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary muscle movements and carries sensory info to the CNS

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Controls involuntary body functions (e.g., heart rate, digestion)

Sympathetic Nervous System

Activates fight-or-flight response (increases HR, BP, glucose, etc.)

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calms the body down and reverses the sympathetic effects

Neuron

Basic building block of the nervous system that transmits information

Sensory Neuron (Afferent)

Carries sensory info from receptors TO the CNS

Motor Neuron (Efferent)

Carries motor commands FROM the CNS to muscles and organs

Interneuron

Found in the CNS; connects sensory and motor neurons, enables reflexes

Axon

Long fiber that sends neural impulses away from the soma to other cells

Axon Terminals

Branch-like endings of axons that transmit messages to other neurons

Synaptic Button (Terminal Button)

Releases neurotransmitters into the synapse to communicate with other neurons

Action Potential

An electrical impulse that travels down the axon to send information

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messenger released from axon terminals into the synapse

Excitatory Neurotransmitter

Increases the chance the receiving neuron will fire (e.g., glutamate)

Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

Decreases the chance the receiving neuron will fire (e.g., GABA)

GABA

Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter; has calming effects

Glutamate

Primary excitatory neurotransmitter; enhances learning and memory

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter that triggers muscle contraction

Norepinephrine

Involved in arousal, alertness, and mood

Agonist

Mimics a neurotransmitter and activates the receptor (e.g., benzodiazepine for GABA)

Antagonist

Blocks a neurotransmitter from binding to its receptor (e.g., curare blocks ACh)

Hindbrain

Controls basic survival functions like heart rate and breathing

Cerebellum

Coordinates voluntary movement and balance; affected by alcohol

Medulla

Regulates vital functions like breathing and heart rate; damage is fatal

Pons

Involved in sleep, dreaming, and arousal

Midbrain

Connects hindbrain and forebrain; involved in alertness and muscle movement regulation

Reticular Formation

Regulates alertness and filters incoming stimuli

Forebrain

Largest brain region; responsible for complex thought, emotion, memory

Hypothalamus

Regulates internal environment (e.g., temperature, hunger, hormones)

Thalamus

Relay station for sensory information to the cortex

Cerebrum

Largest part of the brain responsible for thinking, memory, learning

Cerebral Cortex

Outer layer of cerebrum responsible for higher-order brain functions

Corpus Callosum

Band of nerve fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres

Left Hemisphere

Specializes in verbal tasks, logic, math, and speech production/comprehension

Broca’s Area

Controls speech production (left frontal lobe)

Wernicke’s Area

Controls language comprehension (left temporal lobe)

Right Hemisphere

Specializes in non-verbal tasks like spatial awareness, music, face recognition

Frontal Lobe

Involved in decision-making, movement, planning, emotion regulation

Primary Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movements; located in frontal lobe

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory information, spatial reasoning, and proprioception

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

Receives sensory input (touch, temperature, pain)

Spatial Neglect

Condition often caused by right parietal lobe damage, ignoring one side of space

Occipital Lobe

Processes visual information; includes primary visual cortex

Temporal Lobe

Processes auditory information, memory, face recognition, and language

Primary Auditory Cortex

Located in temporal lobe; processes sounds

Gyri

Ridges on the brain’s surface

Sulci

Grooves between the gyri

Fissures

Deep grooves in the brain

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize and change throughout life due to learning or injury

CT Scan

Uses x-rays to create images of brain structure; shows damage or abnormalities

MRI

Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed brain images

PET Scan

Shows brain activity by tracking radioactive glucose consumption

fMRI

Measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow

EEG

Records electrical activity of the brain via electrodes; good for sleep/consciousness research