Psychology Unit 2: Part 1 - Biological Bases of Behavior

dendrites

receive messages form other cells

axon

passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

neurotransmitter

a signaling molecule secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a synapse

synapse

the junction between two neurons or between a neuron and a muscle

myelin sheath

covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

neural impulse

electrical signal traveling down the axon

chemical messengers

Serotonin, Dopamine, Acetylcholine, Endorphins

serotonin

affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

dopamine

influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

acetylcholine

enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Electrode Recording

Insert an electrode into a part of the brain and record neural firing

EEG

Measure overall brain electrical activity (measured in waves)

CT Scan

X-ray of the brain

MRI

Uses magnetic technology to get a picture of the brain’s soft tissue

fMRI

Uses magnetic technology and measures blood flow to active areas

PET Scan

Insert glucose into the patient, glucose goes to active areas of the brain (the brighter the color, the more neural activity)

stimulation

Using electrodes, magnets, or chemicals, you induce firing in a certain part of the brain

lesion

Cutting or burning of neural connections

cerebral cortex

the thin layer on the top of your brain

Frontal Lobe

Speech, muscle movement, planning, personality

Temporal Lobe

Primarily auditory

Parietal Lobe

Primarily movement and sensations

Occipital Lobe

Primarily sight

Brocas Area (Left Frontal Lobe)

Someone with damage to this area will not be able to speak

Wernickes Area (Left Temporal Lobe)

Someone with damage will not be able to understand/comprehend speech

hemispheres

The two halves of the brain are known as __________

corpus callosum

a large bundle of nerve fibers that connect the two brain hemispheres, permitting communication between the right and left sides of the brain

Left Brain

logic, problem-solving, math, language, etc.

Right Brain

emotions, art, music, creativity, facial recognition

plasticity

the brains ability to change and take over functions of damaged parts

Phineas Gage

he survived a traumatic brain injury caused by an iron rod that shot through his skull and obliterated the greater part of his left frontal lobe

central nervous system

the primary connection between the brain and the body (consists of the brain and the spinal cord)

peripheral nervous system

nerves extending from the CNS to the muscles, glands, and senses

somatic nervous system

controls movements of skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system

controls gland and internal organs

sympathetic nervous system

prepares (arouses) us for defensive action

parasympathetic nervous system

conserves energy

norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal

GABA

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter

glutamate

a major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

hypothalamus

regulates hunger, thirst, temperature, sexual behavior (reward centers)

hippocampus

learning and memory

amygdala

associated with aggression and fear

cerebellum

coordinates voluntary movements

thalamus

receives info from senses (except smell)

reticular formation

helps with stimulus filtration and communication between hemispheres (within the medulla)

medulla

helps regulate heartbeat and breathing