(0) 🧠 Chapter 4: The Biological Mind

What does the monistic approach say about the mind and brain?

The mind is what the brain does — mental activity arises from brain processes.

What is biological psychology?

The study of how the brain, nervous system, and biology influence behavior and mental processes.

What was phrenology?

A pseudoscientific theory that linked skull bumps to personality traits.

What does histology study?

Microscopic structure of nervous system tissue.

What does an EEG measure?

Electrical activity of the brain using scalp electrodes.

What's an event-related potential (ERP)?

An averaged EEG response to a specific stimulus.

What is a PET scan used for?

Measuring brain activity using radioactively tagged glucose or oxygen.

What does an fMRI do?

Identifies active brain regions by tracking oxygen flow.

What is optogenetics?

Uses light to control genetically modified neurons.

What does TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) do?

Applies magnetic fields to stimulate or inhibit brain activity.

What connects the brain to the body?

The spinal cord.

What does the brainstem include?

Medulla, pons, and midbrain.

Function of the medulla?

Controls vital life functions (breathing, heart rate).

Function of the pons?

Connects cerebellum to brain; aids sleep & arousal.

Function of the cerebellum?

Balance, coordination, and skilled movement.

What does the reticular formation do?

Controls mood, arousal, and sleep.

What is the thalamus known as?

The "gateway to the cortex" — relays sensory info.

What do the basal ganglia control?

Movement and reward.

Function of the hypothalamus?

Regulates hunger, thirst, sex, aggression, and temperature.

What is the hippocampus involved in?

Memory formation.

What does the amygdala do?

Processes emotion (especially fear).

What is the nucleus accumbens linked to?

Reward and addiction.

What connects the two hemispheres of the brain?

The corpus callosum.

Function of the frontal lobe?

Motor control, reasoning, decision-making.

What does the prefrontal cortex do?

Planning, attention, and judgment.

Function of the parietal lobe?

Processes touch, pain, and body position.

Function of the occipital lobe?

Vision (primary visual cortex).

Function of the temporal lobe?

Hearing, language, and memory.

What is lateralization?

The localization of certain functions to one hemisphere of the brain.

What is typically lateralized to the left hemisphere?

Language, math, and logical reasoning.

What is typically lateralized to the right hemisphere?

Emotion, creativity, and spatial awareness.

What does the somatic nervous system control?

Voluntary movement and sensory input to the CNS.

What does the autonomic nervous system control?

Involuntary functions (organs, glands, smooth muscles).

What does the sympathetic nervous system do?

Triggers "fight-or-flight" responses.

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Promotes "rest-and-digest" functions.

What does the enteric nervous system control?

Digestion through neurons in the gut.

What does the endocrine system do?

Releases hormones into the bloodstream to regulate body functions.

Why is the pituitary gland called the "master gland"?

It controls other glands and regulates the hypothalamus.

What does the pineal gland release?

Melatonin — controls sleep-wake cycles.

What do adrenal glands release?

Stress hormones (like adrenaline).

What are neurons?

Nerve cells that send and receive electrical and chemical signals.

What are glia?

Support cells that protect neurons and form myelin & the blood-brain barrier.

What do dendrites do?

Receive signals from other neurons.

What does the axon do?

Sends electrical signals away from the cell body.

What does myelin do?

Insulates axons to speed up communication.

What do glia form that protects the brain from toxins?

The blood-brain barrier.

What is resting potential?

The neuron's stable negative charge when inactive.

What is an action potential?

An electrical impulse that travels down the axon.

What is a synapse?

The gap where neurons communicate.

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemicals that transmit messages between neurons.

What is reuptake?

The process of neurotransmitters being reabsorbed by the sending neuron.

What does acetylcholine (ACh) do?

Movement, memory, and autonomic function.

What does dopamine control?

Movement, reward, and planning.

What does serotonin affect?

Mood, appetite, and sleep.

What does norepinephrine do?

Arousal and alertness.

What does epinephrine (adrenaline) do?

Increases arousal and energy.

What does glutamate do?

Excites brain activity, learning, and memory.