biopsych unit 1

phrenology

“faculties” of emotion and intellect were located in precise areas of the brain and could be assessed by bumps on the skull

modularity theory

the mind and brain contain specialized regions or modules for particular function

distributed processing theory

cognition emerges from patterns of activity across interacting brain regions

info processing theory

info moves through stages such as perception, attention, encoding, storage, retrieval, and response

dual-process theory

some processing is fast and automatic or slow and deliberate depending on neural load

embodied cog/systems/dynamic systems theories

cognition is influenced by interactions among the brain, body, actions, and environment

neuroplasticity

the brain can change structure, connectivity, and function in response to experience, learning, development, and injury

hebbian learning

repeatedly activating neurons together can strengthen the connections between them

connectcome theory

brain function depends heavily on the connections among different regions

human connectome project

trying to map human brains globally to create a database to predict behavior

global workspace theory

conscious experience occurs when info becomes globally available across multiple brain systems through a shared workspace

integrated info theory

consciousness is related to the degree to which info is integrated within a system

dynamic systems theory

behavior emerges from interactions among the brain, body, experiences, environment, and time

nativism

some neural structures, biases, or abilities are biologically prepared rather than learned

neonativism

genetic programming

obligatory firing

modules operate reflexively, providing predetermined outputs for predetermined inputs regardless of the context

ontogenetic universals

modules development in a characteristic sequence

localization

modules are mediated by dedicated neural systems

neuron theory

neurons are discrete, autonomous cells that interact but are not physically connected

motor neuron

conducts messages from brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs

sensory neurons

carries info from body to brain and spinal cord

interneuron

all connecting neuron; conducts info between neurons in same area

polarity

number of major neuronal processes that come directly off the somatic nervous system

dendrites

branched extensions that receive incoming signals

axon

conducts signals

saltatory conduction

myelin speeds conduction by allowing the AP to jump from node to node

afferent nerve

send sensory nerves to brain

efferent nerve

receiving signals from brain

compensatory responding

the brain mobilizes resources to restore function

glial cells

maintain the environment necessary for neuronal signaling

astrocytes

interface cells aiding in BBB support and glutamate balancing

oligodendrocytes

one cell can myelinate segments of multiple axons

schwann cells

myelinates one segment of one axon

radial

developmental scaffolding for migration and neural progenitor cells

ependymal

line ventricles and aid CSF movement

satellite

regulate the chemical and metabolic environment

GABA

regulates neural circuits, sleep, anxiety, motor control

what type of signaling is GABA?

primary inhibitory

glutamatate

learning, memory, plasticity, processing, cognition

what type of signaling is glutamate?

primary excitatory signaling

dopamine

reward, motivation, reinforcement learning, movement, attention, and cognition

serotonin

mood, sleep, appetite, arousal, pain, impulsivity, and emotional regulation

norepinephrine

arousal, attention, vigilance, learning, memory, and stress responses

acetylcholine

attention, learning, memory, arousal, motor signaling

corpus callosum

the largest of the groups of neurons connecting the two hemispheres with connective tissue

gray matter

nerve cell bodies and brancing dendrites

what is gray matter for?

learning, memory, decision-making

white matter

nerve fibers and myelin sheaths (CNS tracks)

frontal lobe

decision making, personality, most complex processing, executive functioning, control of movement

brocas area

speech production

temporal lobe

auditory input, processing hearing, language

wernicke’s area

language comprehension

parietal lobe

motor movements leading to attention when mapping things in space

occipital

visual, flexible

motor cortex

voluntary body movements

ventricles

where CSF is made preventing brain damage and transporting waste

synaptic pruning

severing synapses in response to learning and plasticity potential

compensation

uninjured tissue takes over function of lost neurons

hypothalamus

hunger + thirst; pitutary gland

thalamus

sensory relay

sulci

groove or space between two gyri

gyri

each ridge

midbrain

secondary roles, vision, hearing, movement

superior collilculi

eye movements and fixation of gaze

inferior colliculi

locate direction of sounds

autonomic

internal organs and glands

parasympathetic nervous system

rest and digest back to baseline

sympathetic nervous system

arousing, stress in moment; fight/flight

somatic nervous system

reflex responses

hindbrain

controls visceral functions

medulla

controlling essential life processes

reticular formation

reflexes and muscle tone

pons

bridge for neural signals between the CC and cerebellum

cerebellum

motor and procedural learning, emotion