Biological psych test 1 dr Mann

hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

pons

a structure that links your brain to your spinal cord. It handles unconscious processes and jobs, such as your sleep-wake cycle and breathing.

medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing. responsible for sneezing and coughing too

thalamus

where all of your senses are sent EXCEPT FOR SMELL. it decides whether or not to focus on the senses.

cerebellum

the "little brain" known for coordinated movements

how might the cerebellum affect you while driving?

it affects your motor functions; steering, turning your head, pressing the gas/breaks

how might the medulla affect you while driving?

it regulates your heart rate and breathing. Any sneeze or couch comes from here

how might the pons affect you while driving?

staying alert and aware. All your nerves flip from one side of the body within this part of your brain.

how might the thalamus affect you while driving?

keeping you awake, activating your senses. You might notice you're too close to another car because of this part of your brain

how might the hypothalamus affect you while driving?

regulating your body temperature, telling you when to stop for food or drink

how might the amygdala affect you while driving?

road rage, fear responses, someone slams on brakes in front of you and this part of your brain activates

how might the hippocampus affect you while driving?

memorizing routes

how might the frontal lobe affect you while driving?

it will help with problem-solving such as instantly finding another route before even thinking about it. Reading road signs, judging, making decisions, regulating emotions, and short-term memory. (all Working memory)

how might the parietal lobe affect you while driving?

sensory cortex: all sensory information comes here from touch, pressure, pain, etc. This part of your brain sends messages to voluntary muscle groups

how might the occipital lobe affect you while driving?

visual cortex: this part of your brain notices anything visually around you

how might the temporal lobe affect you while driving?

auditory cortex: this part of your brain helps with listening and understanding music and signs. Hearing sirens, making sense of language, etc. are all things this part of the brain does.

first step of neurotransmission

calcium flows in when neurotransmitter is stimulated

second step of neurotransmission

vesicles fuse to axon wall when calcium flows in

third step of neurotransmission

neurotransmitters are released after the vesicles fuse to the axon wall

fourth step of neurotransmission

the neurotransmitters either go out as waste or are taken back up

Neurons

Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate and transmit information.

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Nucleus function and structure

control center, contains DNA

mitochondrion function

The site of cellular respiration produces chemical energy in the form of ATP by breaking down glucose.

chromosome function

stored genetic information

ribosome function

Makes proteins

motor neuron

a neuron that sends an impulse to a muscle or gland, causing the muscle or gland to react

sensory neuron

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

dendrite function

collect signals from other cells

dendrite spine

Protrusion from a dendrite that greatly increases the dendrite's surface area and is the usual point of dendritic contact with the axons of other cells.

axon function

send signal from the neuron to the next cell

myelin sheath function

Protect and electrically insulate the axon

Increase speed of nerve impulse transmission

nodes of ranvier function

allow nutrients in, waste out

presynaptic terminal

(end bulb or bouton) point where an axon releases chemicals. the end of the axon

due to their varying functions

why do neurons vary in shape and size?

resting potential of a neuron

its stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive

acting potential in a neuron

the brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the axon

Sequence of chemical events at a synapse

synthesis, transport, release, reuptake

The major sequence of events allowing communication between neurons across the synapse

-The neuron synthesizes chemicals that serve as neurotransmitters

-Action potentials travel down the axon

-Released molecules diffuse across the cleft, attach to receptors, and alter the activity of the postsynaptic neuron

-The neurotransmitter molecules separate from their receptors

-The neurotransmitters may be taken back into the presynaptic neuron for recycling or diffuse away

-Some postsynaptic cells may send reverse messages to slow the release of further neurotransmitters by presynaptic cells

presynaptic terminal

(end bulb or bouton) point where an axon releases chemicals

postsynaptic terminal

membrane region of the receiving cell

vesicles

small membrane sacs that specialize in moving products into, out of, and within a cell

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

receptors

In neurons, specialized protein molecules on the postsynaptic membrane; neurotransmitters bind to these molecules after passing across the synaptic cleft.

serotonin

affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

an undersupply linked to depression; some antidepressants raise levels of this neurotransmitter

dopamine

influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

an oversupply of this is linked to schizophrenia; an undersupply is linked to tremors and decreased mobility in Parkinson's disease and ADHD

acetylcholine (ACh)

enables muscle action, learning, and memory

The neurons producing this neurotransmitter deteriorate as Alzheimer's disease progresses

Norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal

undersupply can depress mood and cause ADHD-like attention problems

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter

undersupply is linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia

glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

oversupply can overstimulate the brain, producing migraines or seizures; this is why some people avoid MSG in food

antagonist neurotransmitter

a compound that blocks or inhibits the action of a neurotransmitter

agonist neurotransmitter

excites neurons & increases firing by mimicking a neurotransmitter or blocking reuptake

nucleus accumbent

the area of the brain where the release of dopamine happens. the reason for addiction

endorphins

"the morphine within"--natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

central nervous system

consists of the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

white matter

largely composed of axons, serves to transmit signals to other regions of the brain, spinal cord, and body.

Gray matter

largely functions to receive information and regulate outgoing information, as it contains the cell bodies of neurons.

What is grey matter composed of?

neuron cell bodies

What is white matter composed of?

myelinated axons

autonomic nervous system

A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system. Controls INVOLUNTARY, automatic activity of visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations (FIGHT/FLIGHT)

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy (RELAXED)