Biological Psychology Test 1

Describe significant contributions to neuroscience in ancient Egypt and Greece,

Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus (text)

-Dated to 1700 BC, Egyptian text

-First recorded writing about the brain

-Egyptians thought the brain was less important than other organs.

-Greeks started seeing the importance of the brain

Renaissance

-Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo began depicting the brain and nervous system in art.

-Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) created detailed anatomy books

Age of Enlightenment

-René Descartes (1596-1650)

-The nervous system worked like a machine

-dualism: The mind and brain are separate

-monism: The mind is what the brain does. They are one.

1800s-1900s

1800s-1900s

-Time of great advancements in research methods, theories, and staining techniques

-Charles Darwin

-Wilhelm Wundt - father of modern psychology

-Santiago Ramón y Cajal - father of modern neuroscience

Describe the historical connection between artists and neuroanatomy by providing some examples.

-Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo began depicting the brain and nervous system in art.

-Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564)created detailed anatomy books

Explain the difference between dualism and monism. Which of these philosophies is the way we address neuroscience today, and why?

Most researchers today are in favor of monism since it's accepted that the mind is a function of the brain's processes

Dualism

The mind and Brain are 2 separate Entities.

Monism

The mind is what the brain does, they are one in the same

an applied approach to neuroscience.

-focus on creating solutions or remedies for problems

-Creating psychoactive drugs

-Clinical psychology

What is the Basic Approach to neuroscience

Discovery

-Theory building

-Understanding fundamental principles

Diagram and label a typical neuron (standard multipolar neuron)

Dendrite, cell body, axon, axon terminal

Dendrites

structure of neuron- receive information from other neurons and send electrical information to the cell body

cell body (soma)

structure of neuron- the region where inputs are integrated

Axon (nerve fiber)

structure of neuron- conducts output information away from the cell body as an electrical impulse. and action potentials are propagated along the length of axons and are the electrical signal that carries information from one place to another in the nervous system

axon hillock

structure of neuron- place where electrical signal is initiated

Axon terminals

structure of neuron- at the end of the axon, they release chemicals to communicate with other cells

synapse

structure of neuron- place where one neuron communicates with another

Cell membrane and ion channels

structure of neuron- Ion channels are large proteins in the cell membrane of neurons that selectively permit the flow of specific ions into and out of a neuron

Diagram types of neurons and how they differ from each other.

multipolar, bipolar, unipolar

Diagram the different lobes of the cerebral cortex

frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe and occipital lobe.

Glial Cells

non- neuronal cells in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system that do not produce electrical impulses.

Astrocytes

glial cell in the CNS

nutrients

Repair

help in signals

protect the blood-brain barrier

Microglia

glial cell in the CNS

immune function

removal of dead neurons

Oligodendrocytes

glial cell

CNS

creates myelin for axons

aids in development

Schwann cells

glial cells in the peripheral nervous system

creates myelin for neurons in PNS

creates pathway for regrowing axons after injury

Coronal Plane

divides the brain into front (anterior) and back (posterior) regions

Medial

going inwards to the center of the brain

Lateral

going out towards your ears

Sagittal plane

Divides the brain into right and left halves

Horizontal Plane

Divides brain horizontally into a top part and a bottom part

Dorsal

towards the dome of the head

Ventral

towards v

anterior, and posterior.

The front of the brain toward your forehead is anterior

Posterior

Towards the back of your head

Be able to identify the three different planes (cuts) of the brain.

Horizontal, Sagittal, Coronal

Describe the basic divisions of the nervous system.

-central nervous system (CNS):

Brain and spinal cord

-Peripheral nervous system (PNS): Nerves outside the CNS throughout the body

PNS has 2 divisions: Somatic and Autonomic

Peripheral nervous system (PNS): Somatic Division

Spinal nerves (31 pairs) connect to the spinal cord

• The nerves of the somatic nervous system form two anatomical groups:

• Cranial nerves (12) innervate the head, neck, and visceral organs directly from the brain

Peripheral nervous system (PNS) : Autonomic Division

the main system for controlling the body's organs.

The ANS has two divisions:

Sympathetic & Parasympathetic

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems have different effects on organs due to different neurotransmitters.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

helps the body relax and recuperate. ("rest & digest")

Sympathetic Nervous System

prepares the body for action—the"fight-or-flight" response.

Diagram and label the basic anatomy of the spinal cord.

The nerves of the somatic nervous system form two anatomical groups:

• Cranial nerves (12) innervate the head, neck, and visceral organs directly from the brain

Be able to identify the different ventricles in the brain and the function of the cerebral spinal fluid.

Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF): clear liquid made by the choroid plexus

Found in ventricles

Removes waste

Also found in the spinal cord and around the brain

-Ventricles

Spaces within the brain

Two lateral ventricles

Third ventricle

Fourth ventricle

Describe the five major embryological divisions of the brain

Telencephalon-

--limbic system emotions, learning, motivation, sexual behavior

--basal ganglia

coordinated smooth muscle movement motivation

--cerebral cortex (see other flashcard)

Diencephalon-

Mesencephalon-

Cerebellum (Metencephalon)-

Means "little brain"Motor control, balance, coordination, learning, and memory

Pons (Metencephalon)-

Sleep, arousal, breathing, eye movements, and facial expressions

Medulla (Myelencephalon)-

Breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, vomiting

Telencephalon parts

(know functions, see other flashcards)

limbic system, basal ganglia, and cerebral cortex

Be able to identify the different layers of the meninges.

-dura mater: thick outer meninges layer against the skull

-pia mater: thin membrane following the contours of the cerebral cortex

-arachnoid:

web-like membrane between the dura and pia mater

contains CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) and blood vessels

Limbic system functions and what it is a part of

Part of Telencephalon

emotions, learning, motivation, sexual behavior,

amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate cortex, fornix, septumhalamus• relay for sensory information

Basal ganglia functions and what it is a part of

Part of Telencephalon

primarily concerned with coordinating smooth muscle movement

Has influence in motivation

Structures:

striatum

globus pallidus

nucleus accumbens

Striatum

Made up of Caudate and Putamen

Important for smooth muscle movement

Globus Pallidus

Works with other structures in the basal ganglia to keep movement smooth and deliberate

Nucleus Accumbens

Motivated behaviors including addictions

Cerebral cortex functions and what it is a part of

Part of Telencephalon

frontal lobe: decision making, motivation, attention, higher cognitive reasoning

parietal lobe: integration of sensory

information, specifically touch

occipital lobe: basic visual processing

temporal lobe: language, detailed visual and auditory perception

Diencephalon functions and parts

thalamus- relay for sensory information

hypothalamus

mammillary bodies: connect to

thalamus and plays a role in memory

Hypothalamus

Regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.

Mesencephalon parts

Tectum

Tegmentum

Substantia nigra

ventral tegmentum or ventral tegmental area (VTA)

Tectum

superior colliculus

-eye tracking and visual reflexes

Inferior colliculus

-auditory reflexes

Tegmentum

periaqueductal gray (PAG)

Receives information from amygdala about fear

Affects pain perception

Substantia nigra

Sends tracts to striatum for smooth muscle movement

Uses the neurotransmitter dopamine

ventral tegmentum or ventral tegmental area (VTA)

Sends projections to cortex and nucleus accumbens

Important in motivation and addiction

Cerebellum functions and what it is a part of

Part of Metencephalon

Means "little brain"

Motor control, balance, coordination, learning, and memory

Medulla functions and what it is a part of

part of Myelencephalon

Breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, vomiting

Label the four lobes of the cerebral cortex and be able to discuss each lobe's basic function.

-frontal lobe: decision making, motivation, attention, higher cognitive reasoning

-parietal lobe: integration of sensory information

-occipital lobe: visual processing

-temporal lobe: language, visual and auditory perception

Describe the functions of the basal ganglia and identify its major structures.

coordinated smooth muscle movement, motivation

-striatum:

caudate

putamen

globus pallidus

nucleus accumbens

Pons functions and what it is a part of

Part of Metencephalon

Sleep, arousal, breathing, eye movements, and facial expressions

List the five stages of the scientific method and give examples of what happens at each stage.

1. empiricism

All knowledge comes from our sensesof the natural world.

Begins with observation

2. hypothesis

Statement of prediction of howsomething in nature works

Comes from empirical observation

Is testable

3. experimentation

Independent variable (the manipulation)• Dependent variable (the measurement)• Control groups• Quantification and statistics

4. theory• Use the results to create or modify theories• Good theories create new questions

5. replication• Repeat experiment• Conducts meta-analysis of similar research

reticular formation functions and what it is a part of

Myelencephalon

Part of Arousal, sleep, and attention, respiration, heart rate

Describe the difference between a hypothesis and a theory.

hypothesis•

Statement of prediction of how something in nature works

• Comes from empirical observation

• Is testable

theory•

Use the results of a study to create or modify theories• Good theories create new questions

Provide reasons why animals are used in research in psychology and neuroscience.

Fundamental principles of genetics, physiology, learning, and neuroscience are similar across species of animals

• The underlying mechanisms of behavior are similar across species and often easier to study in nonhuman species

• We are interested in animals for their own sake.

• What we learn about animals sheds light on human evolution.

• Some experiments cannot use humans because of legal or ethical reasons.

List the types of animals most often used in research

Rodents and pigeons most often used in psychology

• Rodents and in rare circumstances, monkeys, are most often used in neuroscience

Bees, sea slugs, flies, flat worms because of simple nervous system

Nissl Staining

Staining purple areas of protein synthesis in the cell body• Stains areas of dense cell bodies• Image shows density of neurons in the cortex.

neurohistology

Study of the tissue of the nervous system

Golgi staining method

Method of neurohistology

Potassium dichromate and silver nitrate

Taken up randomly by neurons turning them black (entire neuron is stained- but NOT all neurons are stained

green fluorescent proteins (GFP)

Method of neurohistology

Gene isolated from a bioluminescent jellyfish or coral

• The GFP can be spliced into markers found in neurons, making them glow green.

Differentiate immunostaining from other types of neuron staining methods.

Method of neurohistology

Antibodies identify and attach to specific antigens (proteins).• Antibodies can be used to attach fluorescent dyes or radio active elements to specific proteins.• Good for identifying different types of neurons

Describe the difference between anterograde and retrograde tracing and techniques used for neuron tracing.

Tracing is determining the location of where axons project to and were they come from

anterograde tracing

Injecting tracer molecules at the cell body

Molecules are transported to the terminal ends where they are found.

retrograde tracing

Injecting at the terminal ends and searching for the tracers in the cell body

Example: Horseradish peroxidase

Dendrites

Branch-like structures on a neuron that receive signals from other neurons and transmit them towards the cell body.

Soma (Cell Body)

The main part of a neuron that contains the nucleus and other cellular organelles. It integrates incoming signals from dendrites and generates electrical impulses to transmit information along the axon.

Axon

Long fiber that transmits electrical impulses away from the cell body of a neuron.

Synapse

A junction where two neurons communicate, allowing the transmission of electrical or chemical signals between them.

Types of neurons : Anaxonic

A neuron where no axons are able to be differentiated from the dendrites

Most Critical Ions in Neuron Communication

Sodium (Na+)Potassium (K+)Chloride (Cl-)Calcium (Ca+)

Ions outside the Cell at Rest

Chloride (Cl-) and Sodium(Na+) more positive outside the cell at rest

Resting Membrane Potential RMP

-70 mV

Ions mostly inside the cell at rest

Potassium (K+) and Negatively charged Anions

TO Forces that contribute to RMP

Diffusion (Osmotic Pressure)andElectrostatic Pressure

Osmotic Pressure (Diffusion)

Causes ions to spread TOWARDS A UNIFORM CONCENTRATION(The same) along a concentration gradienthigh to low

Electrostatic Pressure

Causes Ions to flow towards oppositely charged areas.

Threshold Potential

A specific membrane polarity that opens voltage-gated ion channels.

Action Potential

-Disproportionally large depolarization

Threshold of Excitement

a level above which any stimulation produces a massive depolarization

All or None Property

all action potentials are all or none

Graded Potentials

not an all-or-none polarity change like an action potential but has levels of strength that can ultimately influence the production of an action potential.

Where and How is Action Potential Created at

Axon Hillock or Axon Initial Segment (AIS) This is an area that contains a high density of ion channels

Depolarization

The Neuron membrane becomes less polarized (more positive) -Caused by Na+ ions entering inside the neuron

Hyperpolarization

Neuron becomes more polarized (more negative than at RMP)

Absolute Refractory Period

1-2 ms during action potential when no other action potentials can be produced

Relative Refractory period

short time where the neuron membrane is hyperpolarized (more negative than at resting potential) Difficult but not impossible to create another action potential (but will need powerful stimulation)

Sodium Potassium Pump

After an Action Potential Na+ and K+ must be pumped against the gradient back to their original locationUses ATPPumps out 3 Na+ for every 2 K+ it pulls in (pulling against the gradient)

Saltatory Conduction

jumping of action potentials from node to nodeincreasing the speed of the action potential propagating down the axon.

Synapse

a site of functional contact between two neurons where an electrical impulse is transmitted from one to another neuron.

Synaptic Cleft

the space between neurons at the nerve synapse across which a nerve impulse is transmitted by neurotransmitters.