Chapter 2 Psych

What is Neuroscience?

the study of the brain and other parts of the nervous system

What is Biological psychology?

A subfield of psychology focusing on how the brain and other biological systems influence behavior.

electroencephalogram (EEG)

detects electrical impulses in the brain

tomography (CT)

X-rays to create many cross-sectional images of the brain.

Positron emission tomography (PET)

uses radioactivity to track glucose consumption to construct an image of the brain.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

captures changes in brain activity by tracking patterns of blood flow.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

produces more detailed cross-sectional images with the help of magnetic fields; both MRI and CT scans only reveal the structure of the brain.

What are the parts of a neuron?

a cell body, dendrites, and an axon

What do the dendrites do?

receive messages from other neurons

What do axon terminals do?

deliver messages to neighboring neurons.

What is an action potential?

the electrical signal that moves down the axon, causing a neuron to send chemical messages across the synapse. Action potentials are all-or-none, meaning they either occur or don’t occur.

How do neurons communicate with each other?

Neurons communicate with each other via chemicals called neurotransmitters. An action potential moves down the axon to the axon terminal, where neurotransmitters are released. Most of the neurotransmitters released into the synapse drift across the gap and come into contact with receptor sites of the receiving neuron’s dendrites.

What are neurotransmitters?

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that neurons use to communicate.

What are the types of neurotransmitters?

acetylcholine, glutamate, GABA, norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins,Neurotransmitters can influence mood, cognition, behavior, and many other processes.

central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system (CNS), which communicates with the rest of the body through the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

The peripheral nervous system

divided into two branches: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

How do the CNS and PNS connect?

There are three types of neurons participating in this back-and-forth communication: Motor neurons carry information from the CNS to various parts of the body, including muscles and glands; sensory neurons relay data from the sensory systems (for example, eyes and ears) to the CNS for processing; and interneurons, which reside exclusively in the CNS, act as bridges connecting sensory and motor neurons. Interneurons mediate the nervous system’s most complex operations.

The somatic nervous system

controls the skeletal muscles that enable voluntary movement.

The autonomic nervous system

regulates the body’s involuntary processes and has two divisions: the sympathetic nervous system, which initiates the fight-or-flight response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which oversees the rest-and-digest processes.

The somatic nervous system

controls the skeletal muscles that enable voluntary movement.

the endocrine system

uses glands to send messages throughout the body. These messages are conveyed by hormones—chemicals released into the bloodstream that can cause aggression and mood swings, and influence growth and alertness, among other things.

What is the Cerebrum ?

includes virtually all parts of the brain except for the brainstem structures.

How is. the cerebrum divided and how do the two sides communicate?

It is divided into two hemispheres: the right cerebral hemisphere and the left cerebral hemisphere. The left hemisphere controls most of the movement and sensation on the right side of the body. The right hemisphere controls most of the movement and sensation on the left side of the body. Connecting the two hemispheres is the corpus callosum, a band of nerve fibers that enables them to communicate.

What is lateralization?

Under certain experimental conditions, people who have had the split-brain operation act as if they have two separate brains. By observing the brain hemispheres operating independently of one another, researchers have discovered that each hemisphere excels in certain activities

What is Brocas area?

located on the left frontal of the brain, responsible for speech production

what is Wernicke’s area?

left temporal lobe, responsible for language comprehension.

What is the Neuroplasticity?

the ability of the brain to form new connections between neurons and adapt to changing circumstances. Works better in young people

What is The outermost layer of the cerebrum?

cerebral cortex

How is the cortex divided?

Lobes

What are the frontal lobes responsible for?

responsible for higher-level cognitive functions, such as language, emotions, control of social behavior, and decision making.

What are the parietal lobes responsible for

receive and process sensory information such as touch, pressure, temperature, and spatial orientation.

occipital lobes

visual info

The temporal lobes

primarily responsible for hearing and language comprehension.

What are the association areas ?

integrate information from all over the brain, allowing us to learn, have abstract thoughts, and carry out complex behaviors.

What is the limbic system?

group of interconnected structures that play an important role in our emotions and memories. The most basic drives, such as hunger, sex, and aggression.

What does the limbic system include?

he hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, and hypothalamus.

What does the brainstem include?

midbrain, pons, and medulla

What does the mid brain do?

most agree plays a role in arousal levels

What does the hind brain do?

areas responsible for fundamental life-sustaining processes

What does the cerebellum do?

responsible for muscle coordination and balance.