question

Brain structure

answer

Mass of neurons developed into three main regions of the brain: hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain

question

Brain function

answer

Each structure has a specific function

question

Neural networks

answer

Large number of neurons working together to integrate incoming information and coordinate outgoing info via pathways

question

How do brain structures operate?

answer

They are connected in pathways and networks

question

Why is the cortex so wrinkly?

answer

As humans we are more intelligent which requires more space in the skull, so it's wrinkly to fit more mass

question

Why are patients with brain damage useful for studying the relationship between the brain structures and functions?

answer

To learn about what structures contribute to functions and why

question

Which techniques are used for studying brain structures?

answer

MRI, CAT

question

Which techniques are used for studying brain functions?

answer

PET, fMRI, EEG

question

What symptoms can be observed when somebody has damage to the prefrontal cortex?

answer

Difficulty in social context, cannot perform in relation to what is expected, doesn't connect emotionally

question

What are some key functions of the prefrontal cortex?

answer

Process reason and emotion, personality, social cues, moral compass, executive skills such as inhibition, planning, decisions, attention etc

question

When do the frontal lobes finish developing?

answer

In your twenties, in the formal operational stage

question

What is the key function of the motor cortex?

answer

Voluntary movement, which is reflected with a map of the body, and forms back border of frontal lobes

question

In terms of this proportion which parts of the body have the most space devoted to them in the motor cortex?

answer

Smaller more intricate areas of the body for fine movements

question

Explain cross over of motor information

answer

Left brain controls right side of the body, right brain controls left side of the body

question

What is the key function of the somatosensory cortex?

answer

Touch, located as the front border of parietal lobes

question

What is meant by: \"there is a map of the body in the brain\"?

answer

A portion of the cortex is dedicated to a part of the body (finer body parts get bigger section)

question

In terms of disproportion which parts of the body have the most cortex devoted to receiving their sensations?

answer

Most sensitive gets most space

question

What is meant by cross over of sensory information?

answer

Left hemisphere equals right body, right hemisphere equals left body

question

What are phantom limb patients?

answer

Sensations in limbs that are no longer there

question

Spinal cord

answer

Helps transmit messages from brain to body

question

Corpus callosum

answer

Large bundle of axons that connects the brain's two hemispheres, responsible for relaying info between the two sides

question

Medulla - part of the brain stem

answer

Responsible for breathing and reflexes, heart rate

question

Pons - part of brain stem

answer

Several clusters of fibers involved in sleep and arousal

question

Cerebellum - not in brain stem

answer

Responsible for motor coordination

question

Reticular formation - part of brain stem

answer

Responsible for diffused collection of neurons involved in stereotyped patterns of behavior such as walking, sleeping, turning to attend to a sudden noise

question

Amygdala - part of limbic system

answer

Responsible for discrimination of objects necessary for survival such as food, mates, social rivals

question

Hypothalamus

answer

Responsible for monitoring three pleasurable: activities eating, drinking, sex and emotion, stress, reward

question

Thalamus - on top of brainstem

answer

Functions as an essential relay station

question

What structures make up the hindbrain?

answer

Medulla, pons, cerebellum

question

What structure makes up the midbrain?

answer

Reticular formation

question

What structures make up the forebrain?

answer

Amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, thalamus

question

Occipital lobe

answer

Structure at the back of the head responding to visual stimuli

question

Temporal lobes

answer

Structure is located above ears for hearing, language processing, memory

question

Parietal lobes

answer

At the top and toward the rear registering spatial location, attention and motor control

question

Frontal lobes

answer

Behind the forehead for personality, intelligence, control of voluntary muscles

question

Somatosensory cortex

answer

Processes information about body sensations, located at the front of parietal lobes

question

Motor cortex

answer

Processes information about voluntary movement, located behind frontal lobes

question

Association areas

answer

Region of highest intellectual functions, such as thinking and problem solving

question

Prefrontal cortex

answer

Part of the forebrain, outer layer of brain, responsible for most complex mental functions such as thinking and planning

question

Central nervous system

answer

The body's electrochemical communication circuitry made up of the brain and spinal cord

question

Peripheral nervous system

answer

Network of nerves that connects the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body

question

Autonomic nervous system

answer

System that takes messages to and from internal organs, monitoring proceses like breathing, heart rate, digestion

question

Sympathetic nervous system - autonomy

answer

System that arouses the body to mobilize it for action, thus involved and experience of stress. Prepare your body for action - fight or flight

question

Parasympathetic nervous system - autonomatic

answer

Calms the body

question

Sensory nerves

answer

Nerves that convey information from skin and muscles to CNS

question

Motor nerves

answer

Tell muscles what to do

question

Neuron

answer

Cells that do communicating, send message, nerve cells that handle information processing function

question

Glial cells

answer

Nerve cells that provide support, nutritional benefits, keep neurons running smoothly

question

Dendrites

answer

Treelike fibers projecting from a neuron, which receive information and oriented toward the neurons cell body

question

Axon

answer

Part of the neuron that carries info away from the cell body toward other cells

question

Axon terminal

answer

Numerous fibrous structure is at the end of an axon

question

Axon terminal buttons

answer

Structures at the end of axon terminals

question

Myelin sheath

answer

Layer of fat cells that in case and insulates most axons

question

Soma, cell body

answer

The part of the neuron that contains the nucleus, which directs the manufacture of substances that the neuron needs for growth and maintenance

question

Which structure receives messages from surrounding cells?

answer

Dendrites

question

Which structure speeds up the transmission of impulses?

answer

Myelin sheath

question

Which structure transmits an electrical impulse?

answer

Axon

question

Where are neurotransmitters located?

answer

Terminal button

question

Synapse

answer

Gap in between cells where communication happens

question

What are the three keys for communication between neurons?

answer

Axon terminal buttons, dendrite of receiving cell, synaptic gap

question

Presynaptic neuron - sending

answer

Send electrical impulses through axon and fires neurotransmitters to receiving neuron

question

Postsynaptic neuron

answer

Neuron receiving signals - neurotransmitters - from sending neuron

question

Neuro transmitter

answer

Chemical substances stored within tiny sacs within terminal buttons and involved in transmitting information across the synaptic gap to the next neuron

question

Vesicles

answer

Tiny sacs within terminal button holding neurotransmitters

question

Receptors

answer

Structures receiving messages - neurotransmitters - in dendrite of receiving a neuron

question

Transporters - reuptake pumps

answer

Passageways and terminal button of sending neuron that takes back unused neurotransmitter from receiving cells - vacuum

question

Reuptake

answer

Reabsorption of neurotransmitters back into the sending neurons

question

Resting potential

answer

When neutron is ready to fire an electrical impulse

question

Action potential

answer

When neuron is firing an electrical impulse

question

All or nothing principle

answer

A neuron will fire when it reaches this threshold, it cannot change intensity. the impulse is what it is

question

Threshold

answer

When a neuron goes from not firing, to firing if it receives enough firing messages

question

Using the gun analogy explain how a neuron fires

answer

Once a neuron receive enough electrical impulses to tell the neuron to pull the trigger, it fires and sends neurotransmitter bullets

question

Which direction does a cell fire?

answer

From dendrite end of the cell toward the axon terminals

question

Excitatory neurotransmitters

answer

Tells the neuron to Fire

question

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

answer

Tells the neuron don't fire

question

What are some neurotransmitters?

answer

Endorphins, serotonin, dopamine

question

Can a neurotransmitter have multiple functions?

answer

Yes

question

Can one function be related to different neurotransmitters

answer

Yes

question

Do psychoactive drugs mimic natural neurotransmitters?

answer

Yes

question

Plasticity

answer

The brain's special capacity for change, change in response to . how cells wire together

question

Does plasticity involve forming a new synapses, pruning synapses or both?

answer

Both

question

Is plasticity involved in learning, recovery from injury, or both?

answer

Both

question

Chromosomes

answer

Strands of DNA

question

Genes

answer

Bits of DNA, lined up on chromosomes

question

DNA

answer

Chemical that makes up chromosomes

question

How many individual chromosomes does a normally developed person have?

answer

46

question

How many pairs of chromosomes does it normally developing person have?

answer

23

question

How many copies of each specific gene doesn't normally developing person have?

answer

2

question

Where do the copies of each specific gene for a normally developing person come from?

answer

Parents

question

Phenotype

answer

Observable characteristics - also based on environment and

question

Genotype

answer

Information in genes

question

Dominant allele

answer

Version of the gene that shows up in the phenotype regardless of what other parent gives

question

Recessive allele

answer

Only shows up when paired with another recessive

question

Polygenic inheritance

answer

Many genes

question

Carrier

answer

Healthy individual that carries the recessive gene and can pass it on to their child

question

Behavioral genetics

answer

Comparing different genetic components

question

Twin studies

answer

Identical versus fraternal - nature versus nurture of identical twins raised in same home versus different homes

question

Evolutionary psychology

answer

Why is this in our gene pool? Centered on evolutionary ideas: adaptation, reproduction & natural selection as the basis for exploring human behavior

question

Natural selection

answer

Darwin's principle of an evolutionary process in which organisms that are best adapted to their environment will survive and produce offspring. Moth example

question

Adaptation

answer

Being more likely to survive because you fit your environment

question

Epigenetics

answer

Above the genomes, switches that turn genes on and off

question

What are the key terms of behavior genetics?

answer

Genotype, phenotype

question

What are the key terms of evolutionary psychology?

answer

Why - survival, adaptation, natural selection

question

What are examples of topics of behavior genetics?

answer

Intelligence, disorders, personality

question

What are examples of topics of evolutionary psychology?

answer

Aggression, infant separation anxiety, play

question

Examples of research of behavior genetics?

answer

Biological versus adoptive? Twins?

question

Examples of research of evolutionary psychology?

answer

Universal across cultures? Similar species? Early ages?

question

Can epigenetic changes be passed to the next generation?

answer

Yes

question

Sensation

answer

The process of reaching stimulus energies from the external environment and transforming those energies into neural energy

question

Perception

answer

Process of organizing / interpreting sensory information so that it makes sense - select, organize, interpret, perception equals meaning

question

Bottom up processing

answer

Operation in sensation/ perception in which sensory receptors register info about the external environment and send it up to the brain for interpretation. Start with details, put them together, and then give meaning

question

Top-down processing

answer

Operation in sensation / perception, launched by cognitive processing at the brain's higher levels, that allows the organism to what is happening and to apply that framework to info from the world. When your mind imposes order on something

question

Where in your body does sensation happen?

answer

Sense organs

question

Where in your body does perception happen?

answer

Brain

question

Explain the active reading in terms of bottom up and top down processing?

answer

Learning to read is bottom up - c-a-t. After learning how to read, the brain imposes order on the word cat and you see the word as a whole, before you see the parts

question

Depth perception

answer

Ability to perceive objects three dimensionally

question

Monocular cues

answer

Powerful depth cues available from the image in one eye, either the right or the left. Convergence, texture gradient, are some examples

question

Binocular cues

answer

Depth cues that depend on the combination of the images in the left and right eyes and on the way the two eyes work together

question

What is the connection between depth perception and nature-nurture?

answer

Babies maybe pre-wired with depth perception but doesn't mean anything unless they have experience

question

Pupil

answer

opening in the center of the iris

question

Retina

answer

Multi layered light sensitive surface in the eye that record electro magnetic energy and convert it to neutral impulses for processing in the brain

question

Rods

answer

Receptor cells in the retina that are sensitive to light but not very useful for color vision. Dim light

question

Cones

answer

Receptor cells in retina that allow for color perception . Bright light and color

question

Blind spot

answer

The place where the retina contains neither rods nor cones, where the optic nerve leaves the eye on its way to the brain and there are no receptors

question

Which part of the brain is normally used for processing visual input?

answer

The visual cortex located in the occipital lobe

question

Before temporary blindness which part of the brain was busy when reading Braille?

answer

Somatosensory cortex

question

After temporary blindness which part of the brain started being used for reading Braille?

answer

Visual cortex

question

Connect this observation to the concept of plasticity discussed in previous classes?

answer

The brain has rewired itself to adapt to the new situation - blindness

question

Optic nerve

answer

Structure at the back of the eye made up of axons and ganglion cells that carry visual information to the brain for further processing

question

Optic chiasm

answer

The point in the brain where the optic nerve fibers divide and approximately half of nerve fibers cross over the midline of the brain

question

Thalamus

answer

Part of the forebrain that sits at the top of the brainstem in the brains central core and serves as an important relay station

question

Visual cortex

answer

Located in the occipital lobe the part of the cerebral cortex involved in vision

question

Parallel processing

answer

Simultaneous distribution of information across different neural pathways. Process many things at once

question

Binding

answer

Related to vision - The bringing together and integration of what is processed by different neural pathways or cells. Putting the parts together in a coherent whole

question

Split brain patient

answer

Corpus callosum severed medically usually a treatment for severe epilepsy

question

Where does input from the right visual field go?

answer

Left hemisphere

question

Where does input from the left visual field go?

answer

Right hemisphere

question

Which hemisphere is used for speech?

answer

Left hemisphere or Broca's area

question

Which hemisphere recognizes human faces as faces rather than a collection of lines and colors?

answer

Right hemisphere

question

Consciousness

answer

An individual's awareness of external events and internal sensations under a condition of arousal including awareness of the self and thoughts about one's experience

question

Controlled processes

answer

Most alert states of consciousness during which individuals actively focus their efforts toward a goal

question

Altered states of consciousness

answer

Mental states that are noticeably different from normal awareness. Can range from losing self consciousness to hallucination

question

Subconscious awareness

answer

Subconscious processing of information which can take place while we are awake or asleep. Awake - process ease going on just below the surface of our awareness. Sleep - low levels of consciousness

question

Psychoactive drugs

answer

Drugs that act on the nervous system to alter consciousness, modify perceptions , and change moods

question

use

answer

To alter consciousness, can carry a high price tag. Examples - lose track of responsibilities, drug dependence

question

Abuse

answer

Excessive use leading to dependence whether physical, psychological, as well as destroying one's body, career, and relationships

question

Addiction

answer

Either a physical or psychological dependence, or both, on a drug

question

Depressant

answer

Psychoactive drug that slows down mental and physical ability

question

Stimulant

answer

Psychoactive drug, including caffeine, nicotine, and feta means and cocaine, that increase the central nervous systems activity

question

Hallucinogen

answer

Psychoactive drugs that modify a person's perceptual experiences and produce visual images that are not real

question

What are some effects of alcohol on behavior?

answer

Reduced inhibitions, impaired judgment, impaired motor skills, loss of balance

question

What activities naturally stimulate the reward pathway?

answer

Food, sex

question

Which neurotransmitter is involved in reward?

answer

Dopamine

question

For pleasure, is dopamine increased or decreased?

answer

Increased dopamine in nucleus accumbens

question

Label the parts of the reward pathway?

answer

Prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, VTA

question

What is the way in which cocaine increases dopamine in the reward pathway?

answer

It blocks reuptake - clogs vacuum - causing your dopamine to stay and the synaptic gap longer

question

What are two ways in which nicotine increases dopamine in the reward pathway?

answer

It tells terminal button to release more dopamine than normal, and more frequent action potentials - to do it more frequently

question

Tolerance

answer

Resistance, takes more of the substance to get the same effect as before

question

Down regulation

answer

Brain fights back

question

Withdrawal

answer

Brain is no longer sensitive to regular amounts of release of dopamine and needs a higher amount

question

What two factors predict alcoholism?

answer

Low response to alcohol, family history of alcoholism

question

What are nervous system chemicals called?

answer

Neurotransmitters

question

What are endocrine system chemicals called?

answer

Hormones

question

What are nervous system chemicals released by?

answer

neurons

question

What are endocrine system chemicals released by?

answer

Glands

question

What are nervous system chemicals released into?

answer

Synapses

question

What are endocrine system chemicals released into?

answer

Bloodstream

question

What is the nervous system's speed of communication?

answer

Faster

question

What is the endocrine system speed of communication?

answer

Slower

question

What are some examples of nervous system neurotransmitters?

answer

Dopamine, serotonin

question

What are examples of endocrine system hormones?

answer

Melatonin, cortisol

question

Circadian rhythms

answer

Daily behavioral or physiological cycles that involve the sleep /wake cycle, body temperature, blood pressure and blood sugar level

question

What hormone is involved in sleep?

answer

Melatonin, highest at night

question

What hormone is involved in waking up?

answer

cortisol , highest in morning

question

Which hormone is associated with sleep?

answer

Melatonin

question

Hormone is associated with awaking/ stress?

answer

Cortisol

question

Which brain area is the biological clock that controls circadian rhythms?

answer

SCN

question

Which brain area responds to light and dark?

answer

SCN

question

Which brain area is involved in arousal - awake/ sleep?

answer

Pons

question

Brainwave in alert stage of sleep

answer

Beta

question

Brainwave in drowsiness

answer

Alpha

question

Brainwave in stage 1 of sleep

answer

Theta

question

Brainwave in stage 2 of sleep

answer

Sleep spindles

question

Brainwave in stage 3 of sleep

answer

Delta

question

Brainwave in stage 4 of sleep

answer

Delta

question

Brainwave in rem

answer

Beta

question

Approximately how many sleep cycles per night?

answer

4-5

question

In which sleep stage is a person most likely to dream?

answer

REM

question

In which sleep stage is a person most likely to have eye movement?

answer

REM

question

myoclonic jerk

answer

Muscle jerk occurring in light sleep

question

Which stages of non REM sleep are characterized as light sleep?

answer

Stages 1 & 2

question

Which stages of non REM sleep are characterized as deep sleep?

answer

Stages 3 & 4

question

What are some functions of deep sleep?

answer

Restorative, release of human growth hormone, neuron and immune function

question

In what type of sleep is it easier to wake someone?

answer

Light sleep

question

In which stages of sleep is someone most likely to sleepwalk or show other common sleep disorders?

answer

Deep sleep

question

REM

answer

Rapid eye movement, dreams, brain active like wakefulness, limbs inactive

question

During REM what are the brain waves like?

answer

Active like wakefulness

question

During REM what usually happens to your body muscles?

answer

Inactive

question

If you wake someone up during REM how likely are they to remember their dreams?

answer

More likely

question

Do all theories of dreaming of agree that there is deep hidden symbolism to dreams?

answer

No

question

According to the video does dreaming help in learning and memory?

answer

Yes

question

REM rebound

answer

When you go to sleep you jump into REM sleep sooner - when sleep deprived

question

Microsleeps

answer

Dosing and nodding off

question

Approximately how many hours of sleep does a teenager need per night?

answer

9+ hours

question

Are the natural sleep rhythms of teens a good fit for high school start times?

answer

No they are counter to adolescent rhythms because melatonin releases later

question

What are the structures involved in the limbic system?

answer

Hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala

question

In what direction does the reward pathway travel?

answer

VTA, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex

Psychology 101 Harper College Unit 2

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