overt
behavior that can be observed by a viewer
can be quantified
thoughts on the brain fxn 2000 years ago
they believed the brain was a radiator, purpose was to cool down teh temperature of blood
other words for physiological psych
biopsychology, psychobiology, behavioral neuroscience
physiological psych def
branch of psychology that studies the relationship btwn behavior and the body (brain)
neuroscience
multidisciplinary study of nervous system→ all aspects
mind brain problem
what is the relationship btwn the mind and brain? Do they belong to the same world or different worlds?
2 views: Dualism and Monism
Dualism
mind and brain belong to diff worlds
(non physical vs physical world)
mind controls the brain by “interacting” with it
monism
mind and brain belong to same world
subsets
materialism- mind and brain belong to physical world
Idealism- mind and brain belong to the metaphysical world
Rene Descartes
17th century philosopher
proposed the 1st sophisticated model of NS and brain
Dualist
Claimed body is a machine→ want to discover how it works
claimed that mind interacts w body at pineal gland
emphasis on physical explanation of behavior
Descartes Hydraulic model
Descartes Hydraulic model
assumes brain to be like complex plumbing system with pipes under pressure
nerves are hollow tubes where fluid flows
pineal gland pumps fluid through brain and nerves
believe that mind (soul) tilts the pineal gland to direct fluid to specific nerves-> specific muscles inflate (move)
testable model!
galvani
1700s
found that nerves are like wires conducting electricity in frogs→ disproved descartes hydraulic model
helmholtz
1800s
asked why nerve conduction speed is only 90ft /sec
localization - specific brain areas carry out specific fxns
phineas gage
gene
unity of heredity
found on chromosomes
portion of chromosome
paired→ alleles
dominant alleles
produce effects regardless of which allele it is paired with
recessive alleles
produces its effects only when paired with the same recessive allele on the other chromosome
unless X linked→ since y is much shorter and there may not be corresponding allele
codominance
blending of the effects of both alleles, both expressed
effects of gene pairs
characterisitics determined by several gene pairs
neurons
specialized cells that receive info and send it to other cells
86 billion in brain
motor
sensory
interneurons
motor neurons
output
receives info from other neurons and carries info to muscle or gland
CNS to PNS
sensory neuron
input
receive sensory information and carries info to other neurons
PNS to CNS
Unipolar- one projection
bipolar- 2 projections
interneuron
connect one neuron to another in a particular part of the CNS
glial cells
oligodendrocytes and schwann cells
oligodendrocytes
build myelin around axons in CNS
branch to multiple neurons
schwann cells
build myelin sheath around axon in PNS
wrap self around 1 mm segment of 1 axon at a time
channel proteins vs protien pumps
channel proteins- do not involve atp
protein pumps- involve ATP and active transport
polarization
diff in electric charge (voltage) btwn inside and outside the cell
what causes resting potential
unequal distribution of ions on the 2 sides of the membrane
we see more Na on which side of the cell?
outside, more positive
we see more K on which side of the cell?
inside, more negative
why do we have differences in concentration across the Pm?
Na+ channels: closed at rest
K+ channels: leaky at rest
Na-K pump move ions unequally
K ions: concentration and electrical pull
Conc: want to move outside cell→ move from high to low conc of ion
electrical: want to move inside cell to make cell less negative
Na ions: concentration and electrical pull
Conc: want to move inside cell→ move from high to low conc of ion
electrical: want to move inside cell to make cell less negative
depolarization
rapid increase in mem potential→ more positive
Na rushes into cell making inside more positive
repolarization
starts when Na channels close and K channels open letting K go out of cell, making cell more negative
action potential
abrupt depolarization and temporary reversal of the usual polarization of the membrane
allows neuron to send signals over long distances
steps of an AP
1) threshold reached, Na channels open and Na rushes inside cell making it more positive → depolarization
2) Na channels closed and K channels opened letting K rush outside cell, making it more negative → repolarization
3) K channels close, mem potential goes below RMP
4) Na K pump restores membrane to RMP
refractory periods
absolute and relative
absolute refractory period
period of time where Na channels cannot reopen and action potentials cannot be produced
from peak of depolarization to return of RMP
relative refractory period
only stimuli stronger than usual can produce an AP
hyperpolarization below RMP to depolarization back to RMP
rate law
intensity of a stimulus is encoded by the rate of AP
where do AP occur?
axons, axon hillock is integration center
qualities of AP
strength is independent of intensity of stimulus (all or none)
nondecremental- do not decay as they travel
graded potentials
can occur in axon dendrites and soma
stregth depends on intensity
decay as they travel
saltatory conduction
when action potential jumps from node to node btwn myelin sheath
chemical synapses
vesicles carry NTs, empty into synaptic cleft, taken up by mem channels
Ca triggers vesicles to release NTs
exocytosis
receptor sites have lock and key mech that match with NTs
EPSP
partial depolarization of postsynaptic membrane
makes AP more likely to occur in the post synaptic neuron
IPSP
hyperpolarization of postsynaptic mem
makes AP less likely to occur
temporal summation
combines PSPs arriving from the same neuron
spatial summation
combines PSPs occuring simultaneously at diff locations on dendrites and soma
diff neurons w
what happens to Nt left in synaptic cleft?
molecules reabsorbed by transporters in terminal and repackaged into vesicles→ reuptake
some cases they are broken down into simpler components by enzyme→ inactivation
other cases they are 1st absorbed by glial cells
autoreceptors
special proteins in the presynaptic mem that sense the amt of NTs in the cleft→ regulate the amt of NT in cleft
Acetylcholine
transmitter at muscles
involved in learning
monoamines
serotonin
Dopamine
norepinephrine
epinephrine
serotonin
involved in mood, sleep, arousal, aggression, depression, OCD and alcoholism
monoamine
dopamine
contributes to mvmt control
behavior modulation- > reward pathways → addiction
schizophrenia and parkinsons involved in dysregulation
monoamine
norepinephrine
released during stress
inc arousal and attentiveness
dec involved in depression
monoamine
epinephrine
a stress hormone
minor role as nt in brain
monoamine
amino acid nts
glutamate
GABA
glycine
glutamate
pricipal excitory NT in brain and SC.
involved in learning
dysfunction→ schizophrenia
AA
GABA
predominant inhibitory NT
receptors respond to alcohol and benzos
deficiency→ epilepsy
AA
Glycine
inhibitory NT
convulsions and death with introduction of strychnine which affects NT activity
AA
neuropeptides
endorphins
substance P
neuropeptide Y
endorphins
neuromodulators that reduce pain and enhance reinforcement
neurop
substance P
pain
neurop
neuropeptide Y
initiates eating
neuroP
gas nt
nitric oxide
nitric oxide
retrograde
viagra
gas nt
agonist
chemical that mimics or inc the effect of a NT
morphine → mimics endorphins
antagonist
a chemical that blocks the effect of a nt
Curare blocks ACh receptors at the muscles
nerve
bundle of axons in PNS
tract
bundle of axons in CNS
forebrain
cerebral hemispheres
corpus callosum
thalamus- inferior to corpus callosum, posterior to hypothalamus
hypothalamus- anterior to thalamus
gray matter
unmyelinated axons and cell bodies
white matter
myelinated axon pathways
lobes of cerebrum
frontal
parietal
temporal-impt for hearing, dorsal component is suditory cortex
occipital
insula- inner, involved in sense of taste
central sulcus
posterior border of frontal lobe
lateral fissure
separates frontal and parietal lobes from temporal lobe
parietal-occipital sulcus
separates parietal lobe from occipital lobe
midbrain
inferior to thalamus
hindbrain
pons- inferior to midbrain
medulla- inferior to pons
cerebellum- posterior to medulla
neuraxis
an imaginary line drawn through the center of the CNS from the bottom of the spinal cord to that front of the forebrain