PSYC 110 B&B EXAM 1

what is the brain?

the organ that serves as the center of the nervous system

what is behavior?

an organism’s response to internal or external stimuli

what did Aristotle believe about behavior and emotion?

they came from the heart

what did galen believe about behavior and emotion?

the brain is responsible for behavior and emotions

what question does the computational level answer?

what problem is being solved and why

what is an example of computational level?

vision: turning light patterns into recognizable objects

what question does the algorithmic level answer?

how the problem is solved (process and rules)

what is an example of algorithmic level?

edge detection, motion detection

what questions does the implementational level answer?

how the solution is physically carried out in the brain

what is an example of the implementational level?

retina —> LGN —> V1 pathway

what does localization of function mean?

different brain areas have specific functions

what do lesion studies show?

damage to specific brain areas causes specific deficits

function of broca’s area?

speech production (fluid speech)

where is the broca’s area located in the brain?

frontal lobe

function of wernicke’s area?

language comprehension

where is the location of the wenicke’s area in the brain?

temporal lobe

what did phineas gage case demostrate?

frontal lobe controls executive function (decision-making, impulse control)

what happened to patient h.m. after hippocampus was removed?

could not form new memories

what is the central nervous system (CNS)?

brain and spinal cord

what is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

all nerves outside CNS

is sensory afferent or efferent?

afferent

sensory produces?

information going to the brain

is motor afferent or efferent?

efferent

motor produces?

commands from the brain to the muscles

what does the autonomic nervous system control?

involuntary functions (organs, glands)

what is the sympathetic system function?

fight or flight (arousal)

what are the effects of sympathetic system?

increased HR, dilated pupils, etc

what is parasympathetic system functions?

rest and digest

what are the effects of parasympathetic system?

slower HR, constricted pupils, etc

what is somatic nervous system function?

voluntary movement

what does crossing over in the brain mean?

left brain controls right body and vice verse

what does the brainstem control?

breathing, HR, sleep, temperature, etc

where is the brainstem located?

between spinal cord and brain, base of brain

what is the short loop pathway?

reflex (spinal cord)

what is long loop pathway?

conscious processing (brain/cortex)

what causes a stroke?

loss of blood flow —> neuron death

what does epidural anesthesia do?

blocks sensory signals (pain)

what is a neuron main function?

long distance communication

what is the functional unit of the nervous system?

the neuron

what did golgi believe?

brain is a continuous network (reticular theory)

what did cajal believe?

neurons are separate individual cells

what is the neuron doctrine?

neurons are the basic structural and functional units

how does information travel?

dendrites —> soma —> axon

what do dendrites do?

receive information

what does the soma do?

process information

what does the axon do?

send information

is the axon pre or post synaptic?

presynaptic (sending signal)

what are glial cells functions?

support, protect and nourish neurons

is dendrites and soma pre or post synpatic?

postsynaptic (receiving information)

excitatory nuerons

increase the probability that a neuron will fire (promote signlaing)

inhibitory neuron

decrease the probability that a neuron will fire(reduce signaling)

excitatory neuron function

spread signals over long distances for communication and cognition

inhibitory neuron function

regulate and fine-tune neural activity- prevent overfiring

neurotransmitters

chemical messangers released by neurons to communicate

glutamate

main excitatory neurotransmitter

GABA

main inhibitory neurotransmitter

acetylcholine

neurotransmitter involved in muscle movement and cognition

sertonin

neurotransmitter involved in mood and emotion

dopamine

neurotransmitter involved in reward and motivation

glial cells

support cells in the nervous system with local functions

astrocyte

glial cell that transfers nutrients from blood to neurons and supports blood flow

astrocyte function

provides glucose and oxygen to neurons and helps regulate environment

end feet

Astrocyte structures that wrap around blood vessels

blood brain barrier BBB

protective barrier formed by astrocytes that blocks harmful substances

BBB function

prevents toxins, viruses and bacteria from entering the brain

microglia

immune cells of the brain

microglia function

defend against infection, prune synapses and remove damaged cells

oligodendrocyte

glial cell that produces myelin to insulate axons

myelin

insulating layer around axons that speeds up signal transmission

oligodendrocyte function

enhances speed and efficiency of neural communication

nodes of ranvier

gaps in the myelin that allows signal regeneration along the axon

loss of myelin

disrupts communication between neurons

multiple sclerosis (MS)

autoimmune disease that destroys myelin in the CNS

MS symptoms

fatigue, numbness, vision problems, weakness, difficulty walking

neuron

cell responsible for long distance communication

neuron function

transmit information via electrical and chemical signals