PSY 150 - Biopsychology

Where is the adrenal gland located?

On top of kidneys

What kinds of hormones does the adrenal gland secrete?

Stress response hormones(epinephrine/adrenaline, norepinephrine/noradrenaline)

What system is the adrenal gland a part of?

Endocrine System

What is the all or none phenomenon?

A nerve or muscle cell will respond with maximum energy to incoming neuron signal if it reaches threshold of excitation, or it will not respond at all

Allele

Specific version of a gene

What are the three most significant parts of the limbic system?

Hippocampus, Amygdala, Hypothalamus

Primary function of amygdala

experience of emotion, attaching emotional meaning to memories

Where is the auditory cortex located?

Temporal lobe

What is the peripheral nervous system?

Bundles of axons/nerves linking central nervous system to rest of body

Parts of the Peripheral nervous system

Somatic and Autonomic nervous systems

Function of the Autonomic nervous system

Controls our inner organs and glands. Out of control.

Parts of the Autonomic nervous system

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous systems

Function of Sympathetic nervous system

Preparing the body for stress. Fight or flight response.

Function of parasympathetic nervous system

Day to day operations, maintaining homeostasis. Calming body down after fight or flight response.

Parts of Somatic nervous system

Motor and Sensory neurons

Function of Somatic nervous system

Conscious and voluntary activities, relaying information to and from central nervous system.

Function of motor neurons

Carrying instructions from central nervous system to muscles. Efferent.

What does efferent mean?

“away from”

What does afferent mean?

“moving towards”

Function of sensory neurons

Carry sensory information to central nervous system. Afferent

Axon

Major extension off soma

Where does the axon of a neuron end?

At the terminal buttons

What is the biological perspective?

Theory that mental disorders are caused by neurotransmitter imbalances

Function of Brocas area

Essential to language

Where is Brocas area located?

In the left hemisphere

What is the central nervous system?

The brain and spinal cord

Structures in the hindbrain

Medulla, Pons, Cerebellum

Function of the Cerebellum

Balance and coordination, procedural memory(learning task performance)

What is the cerebral cortex?

Surface of the brain, highest mental capabilities

What is a chromosome?

Long strand of genetic information

Computerized Tomography Scan(CT)

Computer takes multiple x rays of a given area, coordinating and integrating. Brain structure.

Corpus callousum

Thick band of neural fibers connecting brains hemispheres

Why is the corpus callousum severed?

Prevent the spread of seizures

What is split brain?

Severance of corpus callousum. Unable to name picture shown to left side of brain(information stored in right side)

Dendrite

Extension of soma, recieves incoming signals from other neurons

Soma

Nucleus of neurons. Information processor.

Semipermeable Membrane

Allows smaller/less charge molecules to pass, blocking bigger/higher charge ones

Types of cells in the nervous system

Glial cells and neurons

Glial cells

Support neurons, scaffold on which nervous system is built.

Myelin Sheath

Fatty substance. Insulator increasing signal travel speed across cell. Not continuous(leapfrog)

How is the Myelin Sheath formed?

Glial cell activity

What is the shape of DNA?

Helix

What is DNA made of?

Nucleotide base pairs

What causes diabetes?

Insufficient insulin production

Role of Insulin

Lower blood sugar

Role of glucagon

Increase blood sugar

Role of Pancreas

Secrete blood sugar regulation hormones

What system is the pancreas a part of?

Endocrine system

Electroencephalography(EEG)

Monitoring of electrical activity in brain, brainwaves(electrodes placed on head). Sleep disorders

Positron Emission Tomography(PET)

Individual drinks radioactive tracer. Amount of tracer in different brain regions monitored. Often replaced by fMRI.

What is the Forebrain?

Largest part of the brain

Structures of the forebrain

Cerebral cortex, thalamus, limbic system, etc

Lobes of the cerebral cortex

Frontal, Temporal, Occipital, Parietal

Frontal lobe role

Reasoning, motor control, emotion, language

Parts of the Frontal lobe

Brocas Area, Motor cortex, prefrontal cortex

Role of the Prefrontal cortex

Higher level cognition

Role of Motor cortex

Planning/coordinating movement

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging(fMRI)

MRI showing metabolic changes in brain.

Gene

Sequence of DNA

Genetic Environmental Correlation

View that genes affect our environment, environment influences makeup of our genes

Epigenetics

Study of how same genotype can be expressed in different ways

Parts of the Temporal Lobe

Auditory Cortex, Wernickes Area, Limbic system

Function of Wernickes Area

Speech comprehension(not understanding, only speaking)

Function of hippocampus

Learning and memory

Function of Hypothalamus

Sexual motivation and homeostatic processes. Interface between nervous and endocrine systems.

Lateralization

Concept that each brain structure is associated with a special function

Longitudinal Fissure

Deep groove in brains cortex. Most prominent sulcus

Function of Medulla

Automated processes. Breathing, blood pressure, heart rate.

Membrane Potential

Difference in charge across the neuronal membrane. Provides energy for the signal

Resting Potential

Between signals. Membrane potential is at readiness.(like a rubber band, ions line up ready to rush across)

Structures of the midbrain

Reticular Formation, Substantia Nigra, Vental Tegmental area

Function of the Reticular Formation

Sleep and wake cycle, arousal, alertness and motor skills

Function of the Substantia Nigra

Dopamine production, mood, reward, addiction

Function of the Vental Tegmental Area

Reward and motivation

Location of the Reticular Formation

Centered in midbrain, extends into fore and hind brain

Where is the Motor Cortex located?

Frontal lobe

Motor Cortex

Strip of cortex, planning and coordination of movement

Nodes of Ranvier

Gaps in the Myelin Sheath

Where is the Occipital lobe located?

Cerebral cortex, very back of brain

Most important part of Occipital lobe

Primary visual cortex(Brodmann area 17)

Where is the Parietal Lobe located?

Right behind the frontal lobe

Function of the Parietal Lobe

Processing sensory information

Most important structure of Parietal lobe

Somatosensory Cortex

Function of Somatosensory Cortex

Processing sensory information(touch, temperature, etc)

Location of Pituitary Gland

Right below hypothalamus at brain base

What is the “master gland” of the endocrine system?

Pituitary gland

Function of the Pituitary Gland

Carry out messages from hypothalamus to body, secrete growth hormone, fluid regulation and endorphins(pain relief)

Polygenic

Multiple genes affecting a trait

Function of Pons

Regulation of brain activity during sleep, connects brain and spinal cord

What disease is degeneration of Midbrain structures most commonly linked to?

Parkinsons disease

Psychotropic Medication

Treats disorders by regulating neurotransmitter balance

Range of Reaction(theory)

Genes set the boundaries in which we can operate, and environment interacts with genes to determine where in that range we will fall

Receptor

Protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach

Reuptake

Neurotransmitter pumped back into neuron that released it

Sulcus(plural = Sulci)

Depressions or grooves in cerebral cortex

Gyrus(plural = Gyri)

Folds/bumps on cerebral cortex

Synaptic Cleft

Small gap between two neurons where communication happens(receptors and neurotransmitter binding)

Synaptic Vesicle

Storage site for neurotransmitters

Function of Temporal Lobe

Hearing, memory, emotion and some language

Terminal Button

Axon terminal containing Synaptic Vesicles