MCAT Psychology Chapter 1 Biology and Behavior

Neuropsychology

Study of the connection between the nervous system and Behavior.

Focus on Functions of brain regions

Three Types of Nervous System

Sensory
Motor
Interneurons

CNS

Central Nervous System
Brain and spinal cord

PNS

Peripheral Nervous System

Cranial and Spinal Nerves

Divided into Somatic and Autonomic region

Autonomic region is divided further into what regions

Parasympathetic(Rest and Digest) and Sympathetic(fight or flight) branches

Subdivisions of the of the Brain

Hindbrain
Midbrain
Forebrain

Hindbrain contains the \____, \_____, and \_____.

Cerebellum
Medulla oblongata
Reticular Formation

Midbrain contains the \___ and \___ \____.

Inferior and Superior colliculi

Forebrain contains \___ , \___, \____ \____, \___ \___, and \_____ \____.

Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Basal ganglia
Limbic system
Cerebral Cortex

Methods of Studying the brain

animal and human brain studies
- lesions
- electrical stimulation
- activity recording
\----- EEG and Regional Cerebral Blood Flow

thalamus

relation station for sensory information

hypothalamus

Maintains homeostasis and integrates with the endocrine system through the hypophyseal portal system that connects it to the anterior pituitary

Basal ganglic

smoothen movements and help maintain postural stabilit

Limbic System: components and function

Contains the septal nuclei, amygdala and Hypocampus
Controls emotion and memory

Septal Nuclei

involved with feelings of pleasure, pleasure seeking behavior and addiction.

Amygdala

Controls fear and aggression

Hippocampus

Consolidates memories and communicates with other parts of the limbic system through an extension called the Fornix

Four lobes of the Cerebral Cortex

Frontal
Occipital
Parietal
Temporal

Frontal Lobe

Controls executive function, impulse control, long term planning, motor function and speech production

Parietal lobe

controls sensations of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain.
Spatial processing, orientation, and manipulation

Occipital Lobe

contros the visual processing

Temporal Lobe

controls sound processing, speech, perception, memory, and emotion

The brain is divided into two \___ \___. In most, the \___ is dominant hemisphere for \____.

Two Cerebral hemispheres (left and right)
The Left hemisphere dominant for language.

Neurotransmitter

released by neurons to carry signals to another neuron or effector (ex: muscle fiber or gland)

Acetylcholine

is used by the SOMATIC Nervous system to move muscles, parasympathetic NS and CNS for alertness.

Dopamine

maintains smooth movements and steady posture

Endorphins and enkephalins

act as natural painkillers

Epinehrine and norepinephrine

maintain wakefulness and alertness .
Mediates fight-or-flight
Epinephrine tends to act as a hormone
Norepinephrine usually a classic neurotransmitter

GABA

brain stabilizer

Serotonin

modulates mood, sleep patterns, eating patters, and dreaming

How is the endocrine system tied to the NS?

Through the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary and other hormones

Cortisol ( what is it and what is it released by?)

Stress hormone released by adrenal cortex

Testosterone and estrogen

mediate libido
Testosterone increases aggressive behavior
Both are released by the adrenal cortex. In males Testosterone is also released by the testes
In females, the ovaries also produce estrogen

Epinephrine and norepinephrine

released by adrenal medulla and cause physiological changes associated with Sympathetic Nervous System

Nature vs. nurture

genetics vs environment
can be studied/ examined through family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies.

Family Studies

looks at the relative frequency of a trait within a family compared to the general population

Twin studies

compare concordance rates between identical/ fraternal twins

Adoption studies

Looks at the similarities between adopted children and their adoptive parents, relative similarities with their biological parents

The nervous system develops through \____. The \___ stimulates overlaying \____ to fold over, creating the \___ \____ topped with \___ \___ cells

The Nervous system develops through NEURULATION in which the NOTOCHROD stimulates overlaying ECTODERM to fold over, creating a NEURAL TUBE topped with NEURAL CREST cells

Neural Tube becomes?

becomes the CNS

Neural Crest

Cells spread out throughout the body to differentiate into different tissues

Primitive reflexes

Exist in infants and disappears with age.
Protective role

rooting reflex

Infant turns head toward anything that brushes the cheek

moro reflex

Infant extends arms and slowly retract them and cries in response to the feeling of falling

Babinski reflex

Infant's big toe extends and the other toes fan out in response to the brushing of the sole of the foot