Psyc 273 - Nervous System Development

Steps of brain development

1. Formation of the neural tube

2. Neurogenesis - Massive increase in the number of brain cells

3. Cell migration

4. Cell differentiation

5. Synaptogenesis

6. Apoptosis - unused cells die

The hypothalamus…

controls hormone secretions

The pineal gland…

effects reproductive maturation

The pituitary gland…

• anterior - effects hormone secretion by thyroid, adrenal cortex, and gonads; growth

• posterior - effects water and salt balance

The thyroid…

effects growth and development and metabolic rate

The adrenal glands…

• adrenal cortex (outer) - effects salt, carbohydrate metabolism, and inflammatory reactions

• adrenal medulla (inner) - effects emotional arousal (epinephrine)

The pancreas…

effects sugar metabolism

The gonads (testes/ovaries)…

effect body development; maintenance of reproductive organs in adults

___ cells die during typical neural development.

Many

Preimplantation genetic testing may allow physicians to determine an embryos what?

Sex

Neural Darwinism is the idea that, during development…

competitive axons must form synapses with target tissues in order to survive.

Hormones are a critical part of which function?

• circadian rhythms

• hunger and digestion

• stress

• all of the above

Exocrine glands secrete substances onto a ___, such as the ___

surface; skin

Transgenic animals can be created by injecting a targeted section of DNA into the embryo of a developing animal before implanting the embryo in utero to develop. The gene becomes incorporated into the animal's DNA, allowing it to express the products of that gene. We have seen this process before, when we talked about ___ studies.

optogenetics

The development of ocular dominance as a results of increased connections between commonly used cells is an example of what?

Hebbian synapses

A neuron that releases ___ is a neuroendocrine cell.

• Arginine vasopressin (AVP)

• GnRH

• Oxytocin

• all of the above

Preventing estrogen synthesis in a male zebra finch during development would likely…

cause no significant changes in the song system of the brain.

Reproduction that does NOT include the fusion of gametes or recombination of chromosomes is known as what?

Asexual reproduction

Which of the following is an example of chromosomal variability in humans?

• having multiple X chromosomes

• having only one Y chromosome

• having only one X chromosome

• all of the above

If binocular deprivation lasts for an extended period of time, it is possible that…

vision can be permanently altered.

Researchers have found that gene depression in the brain can be affected by mothering. Which of the following is true, regarding the findings of the mice study in the textbook?

Attentive rodent mothers prevented the methylation of stress hormones.

Memory impairment correlates with ___ shrinkage during ___.

hippocampal; aging

Capsaicin, the chemical that make peppers spicy, is produced by plants to discourage mammals from eating them.

Allomone chemical communication

A deer releases a scent indicating it is in heat

Pheromone chemical communication

The testes secrete testosterone.

Endocrine chemical communication

A spider attracts prey by releasing a chemical that mimics a female moth pheromones.

Allomone

When does a human have the most synapses?

Early childhood

These types of glands are hormone producing tissues.

Endocrine

___ are chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands.

Hormones

Do women produce testosterone, estrogen, or both?

Both

Estrogen and testosterone…

bind to receptors inside their respective target cells.

Genes are parts of longer strands of…

DNA

Which of the following hormones is MOST responsible for the masculinization of the zebra finch song system?

Estrogen

If Dr. Bruce Banner (a.k.a., the Hulk) were to mutate due to an experiment gone wrong, causing his nervous system to develop abnormally, which of the following stages would most likely be affected?

The development of the neural tube from the neural groove

Which of the following best describes the number of neurons that die during early development?

A significant proportion, around 50% of neurons created during development die

If Dr. Gregory House were to diagnose a patient with phenylketonuria (PKU), which of the following interventions would most likely improve the patient’s condition?

Decreasing the patient’s intake of phenylalanine

During two truths and  a lie, Karol said that she has ___. Nobody guessed that fact as the truth. She went on to explain 1 in 10,000 people are born with this heritable intellectual disorder. What is Karol’s disorder?

Phenylketonuria

It is not known if ___ ___ is caused by Alzheimer's or if it is a response to it.

beta-amyloid production

Which structure develops first during human embryonic development?

Neural plate

Treating a female zebra finch egg with estrogen would most likely lead to which effect?

The brain would look more like the average male brain.

Male zebra finch’s have…

testosterone and estrogen.

Stephen has an elongated face, large prominent ears, and a prominent chin. He also struggles with learning new information in class. Which of the following is the best explanation for this?

Stephen has fragile X syndrome