Biology of Psychology Exam Review

Parts of the Brain

• Nine parts of the brain include:
  • Cerebrum
  • Cerebellum
  • Brain Stem
  • Thalamus
  • Hypothalamus
  • Amygdala
  • Hippocampus
  • Broca's Area
  • Wernicke's Area

Neurotransmitters

• Key neurotransmitters:
  • Dopamine: involvement in reward and pleasure;
  • Serotonin: helps regulate mood, sleep, and appetite;
  • GABA: primary inhibitory neurotransmitter;
  • Norepinephrine: affects attention and responding actions.

Amygdala Hijack

• Amygdala hijack can result in:
  • Aggression: emotional responses triggered without rational thought.

Agonists vs Antagonists

• Agonists:

  • Mimic neurotransmitters; enhance their effect.
  • Example: Morphine mimics endorphins.

• Antagonists:

  • Block neurotransmitters; inhibit their effect.
  • Example: Naloxone blocks effects of opioids.

Aphasia

• After a stroke, a condition known as Aphasia may occur.
  • It represents the inability to make sense of language or the parts of speech.

Prefrontal Cortex Functions

• Functions of the prefrontal cortex include:
  • Involvement in complex cognitive behaviors.
  • Regulation of personality and emotional expression.
  • Crucial for decision-making processes.

Strengthening Neural Pathways

• Neural pathways can be strengthened by:
  • Practicing an idea or action repeatedly.

Synaptic Cleft

• The synaptic cleft is:
  • The area between the dendrite of one neuron and the terminal buttons of another neuron.

Purpose of Glial Cells

• Glial cells have various purposes, including:
  • Cleaning toxins out of the brain, supporting and protecting neurons.

Soma as a Transformer

• The soma (cell body) is similar to a transformer because:
  • It transforms chemicals received from the dendrites into electrical impulses for the axon.

Hypothalamus

• The hypothalamus is vital for maintaining:
  • Homeostasis; regulates bodily functions such as temperature and hunger.

Multiple Sclerosis

• Multiple Sclerosis is the disease that results in:
  • The immune system attacking the myelin sheath around neurons, affecting communication.

Broca's Area vs Wernicke's Area

• Broca's Area:

  • Involved in the production of speech.

• Wernicke's Area:

  • Involved in understanding language.

Brain Lobes

• Each hemisphere of the brain consists of four lobes:
  • Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, and Occipital lobes.

Corpus Callosum

• Severing the corpus callosum will:
  • Prevent communication between the two hemispheres of the brain.

Thalamus as a Gatekeeper

• The thalamus functions as a gatekeeper by:
  • Deciding whether to send incoming information to the cerebral cortex or directly to the amygdala in emergencies.