brain and behavior general

BnB general

What does the brain consist of?

Nervous tissue, with cells called nerve cells. Neurons and glial cells are the two halves.

What are mentalism and dualism theories?

Mentalism is the philosophical position that a person’s mind is responsible for behaviour. Dualism is the idea that behaviour is controlled by two entities: the material body and the immaterial mind.

What is materialism?

Materialism proposes behaviour can be explained as a function of the nervous system without recourse to the mind.

What are hominins?

Humans are the only surviving hominin species. Hominin refers to species in the group Homini, including modern humans, our extinct ancestors, and our closest evolutionary relatives after the split from the chimpanzee lineage.

What is the formula for Encephalisation quotient (EQ)?

EQ = actual brain size / expected brain size (relative to body weight)

What three factors caused brain evolution in hominins?

Lifestyle adjustments (social group size, eating fruit, use of fire), efficient brain cooling, and neoteny.

What is Neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity is the nervous system’s potential to physically or chemically modify itself in response to a changing environment, age-related changes, or injury.

What are Brain-body orientation terms?

Dorsal= back, Ventral= belly, Medial= middle, Lateral= side, Anterior= in front of, Posterior= behind

What are Spatial orientation terms?

Rostral= beak, Caudal= tail, Superior= above, Inferior= below

What are Anatomical orientation sections?

Coronal section= vertical plane, frontal view; Horizontal section= along the horizon, dorsal view; Saggital section= cut lengthways, medial view

What are the three layers of meninges that protect the brain?

Dura matter (hard mother), Arachnoid layer (spider web), and Pia matter (soft mother).

What is CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid)?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a colourless solution containing sodium, chloride, and other ions, cushions the brain in the subarachnoid space.

What are the three major arteries that send blood to the cerebrum?

Anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, and posterior cerebral artery.

What are the two types of Cerebrovascular accident (CVA, stroke)?

Ischemic CVA (blockage) and Hemorrhagic CVA (bleeding)

What are the Main structures visible from the outside of the brain?

Cerebrum, Cerebellum (little brain), and Brain stem

What does the inside of the brain consist of?

Grey matter (cell bodies and capillary blood vessels) and White matter (nerve fibres covered in myelin sheaths).

What is the composition of the nervous system?

Central nervous system (CNS) and Peripheral nervous system (PNS).

What four-part system does the functional standpoint of the nervous system consist of?

CNS (brain and spinal cord), Somatic nervous system (SNS), Autonomic nervous system, and Enteric nervous system

What three regions does the vertebrate embryo's nervous system develop into?

Prosencephalon (forebrain), Mesencephalon (midbrain), and Rhombencephalon (hindbrain)

What two types of nerve cells does brain tissue consist of?

Neurons (major brain functions) and Glia (support cells).

What are the five anatomical regions of the spinal column?

Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral, and Coccygeal

What are the two types of nerves within a dermatome?

Afferent (sensory) and Efferent (motor)

What is the law of Bell and Magendie?

Posterior/dorsal root = sensory (afferent); Ventral/anterior root = motor (efferent)

What does bell's palsy cause and consist of?

Bell palsy is inflammation of the facial (7th) nerve, causing unilateral weakness or paralysis of facial muscles.

What are the two Autonomic nervous system divisions?

Sympathetic division (arousing) and Parasympathetic division (calming)

What does the Brainstem include?

Hindbrain (mainly motor), Midbrain (sensory), and Between brain (integrative sensorimotor)

What are the two principal structures of the diencephalon?

Thalamus (organising sensory information) and Hypothalamus (controlling body’s hormone production)

What are the two types of cortex in the forebrain?

Allocortex (motivational and emotional states; memory) and Neocortex (perceptual world construction).

What are the ten principles of nervous system function?

1. The nervous system produces movement in a perceptual world the brain constructs. 2. Neuroplasticity is the hallmark of nervous system functioning. 3. Many brain circuits are crossed. 4. The CNS functions on multiple levels. 5. The brain is symmetrical and asymmetrical. 6. Brain systems are organized hierarchically and in parallel. 7. Sensory and motor divisions permeate the nervous system. 8. The brain divides sensory input for object recognition and motor control. 9. Brain functions are localized and distributed. 10. The nervous system works by juxtaposing excitation and inhibition

What are the three specialized function-shaped neuron types?

Sensory neurons (input, afferent), Interneurons (association), and Motor neurons (output, efferent)

What are the 5 major types of glia?

Ependymal cells, Astrocytes, Microglia, Oligodendroglia, and Schwann cells

What are the internal structures of a typical cell?

Cell membrane, Nucleus, Nuclear membrane, Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, and Microtubules

What are the three types of proteins in the cell membrane?

Channel, Gate, and Pump

What are the four nitrogen bases for DNA?

Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Thymine

What are steps in making proteins?

Transcription, translation, protein folding and transport.

What are the steps of Synaptic transmission?

Synthesis, Release, Receptor action, Inactivation