PSYCH 111 Biology of the Mind

Chapter 2 modules 4-7

Biological psychology

scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage and building new pathways based on experience

cultural neuroscience

explores how cultural values, practices, and beliefs shape brain function and neurobiology, and how those neural processes in turn sustain culture

neurons

nerve cells, building blocks of nervous system that transmit information throughout the body.

dendrite fibers

branching extensions that receive and integrate messages from axons

axons

neuron extension that passes messages to other neurons, muscles, or glands

dendrites listen, axons speak

myelin sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons. Help with thinking, learning, memory

action potential

neural impulse. brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

mylenation

process of forming myelin sheath

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger neural impulse

refractory period

brief rest after a neuron fires

synapse

meeting point between neurons

synaptic gap

tiny gap between neurons

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps

endorphins

natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

agonist

molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action by increasing production, blocking reuptake, or mimicking its effects by binding

antagonists

molecule that inhibits or blocks neurotransmitter action by blocking production or release or occupying receptor site

nervous system

the body's electrochemical communication network

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

gathering information and transmitting decisions

somatic nervous system

part of peripheral - voluntary control of skeletal muscles

automatic nervous system 2 parts

part of peripheral - controls glands and internal organ

sympathetic nervous system: arouses body, mobilizes energy

parasympathetic nervous system: calms body, conserves energy

endocrine system

slower chemical communication system, glands and fat tissues that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

hormones

chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, take longer but also last longer

pituitary gland

controls hormone production throughout the body

optogenetics

uses a mix of genetic engineering and light to control the activity of individual neurons

electroencephalogram (EEG)

amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity across brain’s surface measured by electrodes placed on scalp

magnetoencephalography (MEG)

brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from natural electrical activity

postion emission tomography (PET)

detects brain activity by displaying where a radioactive for of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task (active neurons use glucose)

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

produces images of soft tissue, reveals brain anatomy

fMRI

function MRI reveals blood flow, thus brain activity. Compare successive scans to show brain function, brain goes where brain is especially active

Hindbrain

brainstem structures

brainstem

brain’s innermost region

medulla

slight swelling in spinal cord when it enters the skull

thalamus

pair of egg-shaped structures atop the brainstem. Brain’s sensory control center, receives information from all senses except smell

reticular formation

inside brainstem between ears. Nerve network from spinal cord to thalamus, relays important information to other brain areas, controls arousal

cerebellum

rear of brainstem, nonverbal learning and skill memory, helps coordinate voluntary movement, operates just outside our consciousness

midbrain

connects hindbrain with forebrain, controls some movement and transmits information

forebrain

manages complex cognitive, sensory, and voluntary motor activies

limbic system

associated with emotions and drives, contains amygdala, hypothalamus, thalamus, and hippocampus

amygdala

enables fear and aggression

hypothalamus

governs bodily maintenance- thirst, hunger, body temperature, sexual behavior. Helps maintain homeostasis. Also linked to emotion and reward, rewards activities essential to survival

reward deficiency syndrome

crave things like aggression, fattening foods, drugs, or alcohol to provide the missing pleasure

hippocampus

processes conscious memories, damage to hippocampus and age decrease function

cerebrum

the brain’s two hemispheres

cerebral cortex

fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebrum. body’s ultimate control and information-processing center. High capacity for learning, thinking, adapting

frontal lobes

behind forehead. speaking, muscle movements, plans, and judgement

motor cortex

rear of frontal love. controls voluntary movement

parietal lobes

top and toward rear. sensory input and mathematical and spacial reasoning

somatosensory complex

front of parietal lobes, registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

occipital lobes

back of the head. receives information from visual fields

temporal lobes

above ears. auditory areas, receive information primarily from opposite ear

cognitive neural prosthetics

record and translate mental activity into digital commands to operate an external device such as a computer screen or robotic limb

association areas

the rest of the cerebral cortex, involved in higher mental functions like learning, remembering, thinking, speaking. Cannot be mapped because they do not respond to electrical probing

prefrontal cortex

forward thinking- planning, judgement, social interactions, processing new memories. Damage causes altered personality, poor planning and judgement, less inhibition and moral restraint

functional connectivity

communication among distinct brain areas and neural networks

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons through stem cells

lateralization

specialization of brain function/body sides to right or left hemispheres of the brain

split brain

surgery that separates the hemispheres by cutting the fibers of the corpus callosum that connects them. Healthy and functioning but no communication between hemispheres

right brain

perceptual tasks- inferences, self-awareness, speech modulation

left brain

language, logic, and analytical tasks

afferent neurons

sensory neurons, carry messages inward

efferent neurons

motor neurons, carry ongoing information outward