Psychology Exam 1 Biopsychology

What is the general function of the brainstem?

Oldest, most basic elements of the brain. Basic Life Support

What is the general function of the midbrain?

Transmitting signals from the body & brainstem to the cortex for more advanced processing

What is the general function of the cortex?

Sensory processing, motor planning, thought, most advanced processing

What is the general role of the medulla?

Controls heartbeat and breathing

•Survival functions not located in cortex! (Part of brainstem)

What is the general role of the pons?

Controls sleep and wakefulness (Part of brainstem)

What is the general role of the thalamus?

Relay information from sensory organs (e.g., sense of vision, hearing, touch) to cortex.

Relay motor planning from cortex to muscles.

(Part of Midbrain)

What is the general role of the reticular formation?

Assesses information in the environment to modulate arousal

(Part of brainstem)

What is the general role of the hippocampus?

Critical for forming new memories & retrieving old memories.

(Part of limbic system)

What is the general role of the amygdala?

Emotional processing – especially for aggression and fear. Emotional memories.

(Part of limbic system)

What is the general role of the hypothalamus?

Maintains homeostasis for temperature, hunger, and physiological cycles by coordinating hormones.

(Part of the limbic system)

What is the general role of the cerebellum?

Critical for coordinating movement, non-verbal learning.

• Sensitive to effects from alcohol.

What is the general role of the corpus callosum?

Allows communication between hemispheres of the brain

What is the general role of the occipital lobe?

Processes (among other things) visual information.

•Processing area is contralateral.

•Left lobe processes vision from right visual field

•Right lobe processes vision from left visual field.

What is the general role of the temporal lobe?

Process (among other things) sounds and auditory information

•Vital for language production and comprehension

What is the general role of the parietal lobe?

Processes (among other things) sense of touch and prepares motor action

What is the general role of the frontal lobe?

Areas of the cortex [any of the 4 lobes] not involved in sensory processing are called Association Areas.

• Involved in “higher order processing”.

What is the general function of Frontoparietal Network?

Planning and executing goal-directed motor actions.

What is the general function of the Pre-frontal cortex?

Judgment and decision making, planning, inhibiting inappropriate actions

How do neurons send communication to the next neuron?

Through action potentials which are an electrical message sent down the axon that tells the terminal branches to release certain neurotransmitters. This signal terminates in the synapse triggering the release of a neurotransmitter.

What is the function of an excitatory neurotransmitter?

Makes the receiving neuron more likely to fire an action potential.

What is the function of an inhibitory neurotransmitter?

Makes the receiving neuron less likely to fire an action potential.

What are the parts of the neuron?

Dendrites, Cell body, Axon, Myelin sheath, Terminal branches

What is the function of Dendrites?

They receive messages from other cells

What is the function of Cell body?

Center of decision making for the neuron. Decides what kind of message to send.

What is the function of Axon?

Messenger service.

• Cell body of neuron has information to pass to other neurons – axon carries that message.

What is the function of Myelin sheath?

It is an insulation.

• Makes the axon more efficient at carrying messages!

What is the function of Terminal branches

Terminal branches talk.

• Sends a message to the next neuron

• Receives the electrical message sent along the axon, determines how to communicate with next neuron.

What are the functions of the somatic nervous system?

Sensation input: Sensation happens in the peripheral nervous system. Information sent to CNS for perception.

Motor output goes from plan in CNS to action in peripheral nervous system

What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?

Controls self-regulated action of internal organs and glands

What are the roles of the sympathetic nervous system?

“Fight or flight”

• Raises blood pressure and heart rate, increases lung capacity

• Increases sweating

• Dilates pupils, enhances distant vision

• Decreases motility of digestive system

What are the roles of the parasympathetic nervous system?

“Rest and Digest”

• Lowers heart rate and reduces capacity of lungs

• Constricts pupils, enhances close-up vision

• Increases rate of digestion and waste removal