PSYC 101 - Neurobiology

what does contralateral mean?

The side of the body opposite to the brain is effected (if functioning or damaged)

what is the difference between subcortical and cortical structures?

• Cortical = cerebral cortex, which is the outer layer of the brain in charge of high-level cognition, perception, and voluntary motor control.

• Subcortical = lies beneath the cortex and governs processes like emotion, memory, and autonomic functions

What is a part of the forebrain?

• Cortical structures

  • Frontal lobe

  • Parietal lobe

  • Temporal lobe

  • Occipital lobe

• Subcortical structures

  • Thalamus

  • Limbic System

structure(s) of the frontal lobe?

• Prefrontal cortex

• Broca’s area

• Orbitofrontal cortex

• Primary motor cortex

What is the function of the prefrontal cortex?

executive functioning (planning, judgement, focus, and logic)

what is the function of the orbitofrontal cortex?

controls social behaviors - impulse control (goal-oriented behaviour) and integrates emotional and sensory information

what is the function of Broca’s area?

speech production

what is the function of the primary motor cortex?

controls intentional movements

structure(s) of the parietal lobe?

• somatosensory cortex

what does the parietal lobe do?

processes sensory (touch, pain, temperature) and perceptual information topographically

function of the somatosensory cortex

processes where (topographically) sensory information (touch, pain, temperature) are coming from

structure(s) in the temporal lobe

• Wernicke’s area

• primary auditory cortex

what is the function of Wernicke’s area?

language comprehension - comprehending spoken, written, and sign languages

what is the function of the primary auditory cortex?

interprets sounds

structure(s) in occipital lobe

• primary visual cortex

function of primary visual cortex

decodes visual information (colors, edges, depth) retinotopically

where are signals sent after visual information is decoded (two paths)

• thalamus to parietal lobe (understand why you are getting signal and what to do)

• thalamus to temporal lobe (to comprehend and recognize what you are seeing)

what is the function of the limbic system?

used for emotion and memories

name the structure in the limbic system

• hippocampus

• hypothalamus

• amygdala

function of the hippocampus

“seahorse” - forms memories by creating engrams (new connections in brain)

function of the hypothalamus

controls biological motivational states (thirst, food, sex) and is linked to the endocrine and nervous system (controls metabolism, stress response, reproduction, and body temperature)

function of the amygdala

“almond” - pairs emotions (mainly fear, aggression, and anxiety) with memory

structure(s) in the hindbrain

• medulla (oblongata)

• cerebellum

• reticular formation

• pons

function of medulla

controls breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate

function of cerebellum

controls balance, coordination, muscle memory/learning, fine motor skills

function of reticular formation

regulates sleep wake cycles, alertness, and arousal

function of pons

“bridge” - connects brain and spinal cord, regulates brain activity during sleep

structure(s) of the midbrain

• raphe nuclei

• substantia nigra

• ventral tegmental area (VTA)

• locus coeruleus

function of raphe nuclei

synthesizes serotonin

function of substantia nigra

synthesizes dopamine

function of ventral tegmental area (VTA)

synthesizes dopamine

function of locus coeruleus

synthesizes norepinephrine

which brain imaging technique(s) shows the structure of the brain

• computerized tomography (CT) scans - x-ray

• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans - hydrogen atom release energy

which brain imaging technique(s) shows the function of the brain

• positron emission tomography (PET) scans - radioactive substance (tracer) in bloodstream

• functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan - oxygen (blood) atom release energy

• electrophotography - measures action potential activity (EEGs)

name all the excitatory neurotransmitters

1. dopamine

2. epinephrine/norepinephrine

3. glutamate

4. acetylcholine

name all the inhibitory neurotransmitters

1. serotonin

2. GABA

3. endorphins

what is the function of norepinephrine and epinephrine?

excitatory

epinephrine = fight or flight for body

norepinephrine = fight or flight for brain

function of dopamine

excitatory

the reward neurotransmitter = motivation, focus, and motor control

function of serotonin

inhibitory

regulates mood, sleep, appetite, digestion, and cognitive functions (less found in those who are depressed, 5-HTTLPR)

function of GABA

inhibitory

promotes relaxation/ sleep and eases anxiety

function of acetylcholine

allows for muscle memory and learning

function of glutamate

excitatory

promotes learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity

function of endorphins

inhibitory

“feel good” - natural pain reliever alleviating stress and boosting mood