Biopsychology Mid term

What is biopsychology?

Examines how brain structures, chemicals, and electrical activity influence behavior and cognition.

Dendrites function

receive signals

Myelin sheath

insulation for faster conduction

Synapse

the gap for neurotransmitter communication

axon

transmits impulses

Sensory neuron

afferent neuron that relys sensory information to the brain

Motor neuron

efferent neuron

interneurons

relay between sensory and motor

Action potential

brief change in the voltage across the axon membrane due to the flow of certain ions into and out of the neuron.

Resting potential

The membrane potential of a neuron when it is at rest, and not being altered by excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. The charge is around -70 mV

what causes resting and action potential?

The sodium-potassium pump maintains resting potential and the depolarization and repolarization process in action potential transmission.

Depolarization

•brief change in the voltage across the axon membrane due to the flow of certain ions into and out of the neuron.

Axon hillock

if the voltage at this site is increased to reach its threshold value of −55 mV, then a rapid sequence of events occurs that causes an action potential, or nerve impulse, to be produced and move down the axon.•

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter, function: reward, motivation and movement

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter, function: mood, appetite, sleep

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter, function: learning, memory, muscle contraction

DABA

Neurotransmitter, function: inhibitory neurotransmitter, reduces excitability

Glutamate

Neurotransmitter, function: excitatory NT, learning, memory

Synaptic Transmission

Release of neurotransmitters, role of receptors in excitatory (EPSPs) and inhibitory (IPSPs) signals.

Inhibitory signals (ISPS)

If the internal voltage of the cell becomes more negative it is called

excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

If the summation causes the voltage inside the cell to become more positive it produces what is known as

What is the cornea

This is the clear front surface of the eye that allows light in.

Pupil

This regulates light entry through expansion and dilate.

Lens

is the adjustable focusing element of the eye. It is located just behind the iris.

Renta

The paper-thin layer of cells at the back of the eye where transduction takes place. Hold receptors that transform light into neural signals

optic chasm

Crossing of some nerve fibers for binocular vision, where the optic nerve from each eye splits in half

Lateral Geniculate nucleus (LGN)

A bilateral structure in the thalamus that relays information from the optic nerve to the visual cortex.

Ventral pathway

often called the “what” pathway, as it codes for object identification as well as color vision

Dorsal pathway

often called the “where” pathway, as it codes for the locations of objects and their movement

Trichromatic Theory

three cones types for red, green and blue

Opponent- Process theory

colors perceived in opposing pairs (red-green, blue-yellow)

Agnosia

disorder that causes the inability to recognize objects

Prosopagnosia

disorders that causes face blindness

Sound waves

waves of pressure changes that occur in the air as a function of the vibration of a source.

Hair cells

transduce the sound from physical sound energy into a neural impulse

Cochlea

the snail-shaped structure of the inner ear that houses the hair cells that transduce sound into a neural signal.

Has THREE liquid filled chambers = the tympanic canal, the middle canal (also called the cochlear duct), the vestibular canal.

sound localization

mechanism for _ are based on differences in timing and loudness between the left and right ears.

mechanoreceptors

sensory receptors in the skin are responsible for transducing physical movement on the skin into neural signals.

The slow-adapting mechanoreceptors

produce a steady stream of neural response when the skin is deformed, that is, a sustained response that continues for as long as the skin is stimulated.

The fast-adapting mechanoreceptors

respond vigorously when the skin is first touched and then again when the stimulus ends

Proprioception

the perception of the movements and position of our limbs.

Thermoreceptors

the sensory receptors in the skin that signal information about the temperature as measured on the skin.

Nociceptors

sensory receptors in the epidermis and dermis that, when activated, cause us to feel pain.

Olfaction

this is strongly connected to the limbic system, which is linked to memory and emotions

Gustation

Five primary tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami), tongue’s taste bud function

Semicircular Canals

three tiny, fluid-filled tubes in the inner ear that help you keep your balance

Otolith Organs

organs in your inner ear detect head tilt, gravity, and linear acceleration. They help you maintain balance and spatial orientation

Alpha motor neuron

gives rise to hundreds of tiny multi-branching axonal endings that innervate a large number of muscle fibers.

Neuromuscular junction

synapse lying between the axon endings of the motor neuron and muscle fiber

Sarcoplasmic reticulum

intricate network of tubes and sacs that extend through each individual muscle fiber, wrapping around the myofibrils.

Cerebellum

controls fine motor coordination and balance.

Basal Ganglia

Regulate movement initiation and suppress unwanted movements

Primary Motor Cortex

Initiates voluntary movement.

Coriticospinal tract

sometimes called the great voluntary motor pathway, has direct control of limb movement