Term
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Definition
| the study of the biological mechanisms of behavior and experience. |
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Term
| What else is biopsychology called? |
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Definition
| Behavioral Neuroscience, Behavioral Biology, Psychobiology |
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Term
| What did the accident of Phineas Gage imply? |
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Definition
| Phineas Gage: Gage’s story represented the historical beginning of the study of the biological basis of behavior. The story suggested that personality and emotion could be tied to a specific part of the brain. |
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Term
| How many neurons are in the brain? How many connections can they make? |
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Definition
The adult human brain contains approximately 100 billion neurons.
Each of these specialized cells makes from 1000 to 10,000 connections with other neurons of the brain. |
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Term
| What is trephination? (Trephining) |
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Definition
| a medical intervention in which a hole is drilled or scraped into the human skull, exposing the dura mater in order to treat health problems related to intracranial diseases. |
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Term
| What did Hippocrates say was the source of all intellect? Where was the intellect thought to be until that point? |
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Definition
| Hippocrates said that the brain is the source of all intellect. Intellect was thought to be located in the heart until this point. |
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Term
| What was the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus? |
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Definition
| part of an egyptian text book on trauma surgery |
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Term
| Where did the Egyptians think that the spirit was located? |
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Definition
| The Egyptians thought that the spirit and intellect were located in the heart. |
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Term
| Where did the Mesopotamians think that emotion was located? |
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Definition
| The Mesopotamians believed that emotion was mediated by the heart. |
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Term
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Definition
| Galen suggested that the mind/soul was located in the head but believed it to be located in the brain's cavities. |
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Term
| What is the mind/brain problem? |
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Definition
| The mind/brain problem is the unanswered question: What is the relationship between the mind and the brain? (The mind being something like the spirit) |
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Term
| What is the difference between monism and dualism? |
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Definition
Dualism- The mind and brain are made of different substances, and exist independently. (i.e. the mind is what we think of when we think of a soul or spirit, which exists independently of the physical brain)
Monism- The mind and brain are the same. |
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Term
| Was Descartes a monist or a dualist? How did he solve this problem? |
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Definition
| Descartes, a dualist, believed the mind communicated with the brain via the pineal gland |
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Term
| What is meant by materialism? |
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Definition
| everything that exists is physical. |
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Term
| Who invented phrenology? What important idea was introduced with phrenology? |
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Definition
| Franz Joseph Gall- phrenology introduced the very important idea that function is localized to different parts of the brain. |
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Term
| What did William James suggest? |
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Definition
| ‘Mind’ is a function of brain and all human cognition and behavior is the result of physiological processes. |
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Term
| What are some of the subdisciplines of biopsychology we discussed? |
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Definition
Physiological psychology – neural mechanisms of behavior.
Psychopharmacology – chemical mechanisms of behavior and the effects of drugs on behavior.
Cognitive neuroscience – neural mechanisms of ‘cognition’.
Comparative psychology – biology of behavior among species.
Behavioral genetics – genetic basis of behavior |
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Term
| Who practices neuroscience? |
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Definition
Neurological Surgeon: a physician who performs surgery on the nervous system.
Neurologist: a physician who diagnoses and treats disorders of the nervous system.
Physiological Psychologist: (also known as a Psychobiologist or Biological Psychologist) studies the neural basis of behavior.
Psychiatrist: a physician who diagnoses and treats mental disorders. |
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Term
| What are three important goals of biopsychology? |
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Definition
How does the brain function (testing theories and assumptions)?
Can we improve normal functioning?
What things can go wrong in the brain?
Can disease be prevented or cured? |
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Term
| How do biopsychologists achieve these goals? |
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Definition
“Observing” the brain in response to alterations in the environment and consequent changes in behavior.
Associating abnormal behavior with deficits in brain function .
Observing” the brain in response to alterations in the environment and consequent changes in behavior. |
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Term
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Definition
| is a loss of ability to recognize objects, persons, sounds, shapes or smells while the specific sense is not defective nor is there any significant memory loss. It is usually associated with brain injury or neurological illness, particularly after damage to the temporal lobe. |
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Term
| What is unilateral neglect? |
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Definition
| Patients with unilateral neglect often fail to see or respond to objects on the side opposite to their brain damage |
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Term
| What makes up the nervous system? Peripheral nervous system? Autonomic nervous system? |
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Definition
| The nervous system is composed of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). The CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The PNS is made up of the Somatic Nervous System (SMS) and the Autonomic Nervous System (AMS). The SMS contains afferent and efferent nerves. The AMS contains efferent nerves which make up the parasympathetic and the sympathetic nervous systems. |
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Term
| Where is "higher" functioning generally located, in the forebrain, the midbrain, or hindbrain? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are some important hindbrain nuclei and what do they do? |
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Definition
Reticular formation – a collection of about 100 groups of cells that participate in arousal and cardiac and respiratory reflexes. Loss of consciousness following brain injury is thought to generally be due to altered function in this region. Damage can produce irreversible coma.
Pons* – fibers connecting the hindbrain to midbrain and forebrain.
Cochlear nucleus – nucleus in the pons that receives auditory information.
Cerebellum* – sensorimotor structure involved in motor coordination…targeted by alcohol
Pons and cerebellar damage lead to disturbances in fine motor control, coordination and posture |
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Term
| What are some important nuclei in the forebrain and what do they do? |
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Definition
Thalamus: Medial Geniculate Nucleus – auditory function; Lateral Geniculate Nucleus– visual function
Hypothalamus – motivated behaviors; Homeostasis- maintaining a stable constant condition. Resistance to change. |
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Term
| What are some important nuclei in the midbrain and what do they do? |
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Definition
Tectum: Inferior colliculus – auditory function; Superior Colliculus – visual function
Tegmentum: Periaqueductal gray – pain and defense mechanisms
Substantia nigra – movement |
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Term
| What is the tectum? The tegmentum? |
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Definition
The tectum is the division of the midbrain that comprises the superior and inferior colliculi and receives auditory and visual information about spatial location.
The tegmentum is the ventral division of the midbrain and contains the substantia nigra which is involved in movement. |
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Term
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Definition
| maintaining a stable constant condition. Resistance to change |
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Term
| Name two divisions of the thalamus. What is the function of each? |
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Definition
Medial Geniculate Nucleus – auditory function
Lateral Geniculate Nucleus– visual function |
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Term
| What makes up the basal ganglia? What is the function of the basal ganglia? |
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Definition
| The basal ganglia is a group of subcoritcal telencephalon nuclei that are important components of the motor system. The basal ganglia is made up of the caudate, the putamen, and teh globus pallidus. |
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Term
| What makes up the limbic system? What is the function of the limbic system? |
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Definition
| The limbic system is a collection of interconnected nuclei and tracts that borders the thalamus and is widely assumed to play a role in emotion. The limbic system is made up of the amygdala, the hippocampus, the septum, and the cingulate. |
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Term
| What are some of the functions of the cortex? |
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Definition
| Thought, voluntary movement, language, reasoning, and perception. |
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Term
| What are the four lobes of the brain? What is an example of a function localized in each lobe? |
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Definition
Occipital lobe – vision
Temporal lobe – audition
Parietal lobe – touch
Frontal lobe – motor and executive function |
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Term
| What separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe? |
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Definition
| The central sulcus which is between the precentral gyrus and the postcentryal gyrus. |
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Term
| What separates the temporal lobe from the frontal lobe? |
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Definition
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Term
| Where is the precentral gyrus? Postcentral gyrus? What is the function of each? |
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Definition
The precentral gyrus, which may also be called the primary motor area or, most commonly, the motor strip is immediately anterior to the central sulcus. It controls the voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.
The postcentral gyrus is immediately anterior to the motor strip. It is responsible for the programming for motor movements. |
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Term
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Definition
| An impairment of the ability to use and comprehend words. |
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Term
| What layers of cortex have projection neurons? Interneurons? What is the difference between these two neuron types? |
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Definition
| Projection Neurons: layer 3 and layer 5 Interneurons: layer 2 and layer 4 Interneurons give off projections in the brain and project GABA. Projection neurons project out the the brain and project glutamate. |
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Term
| What and where are the three meninges? |
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Definition
| Meninges are layers of membranes that surround the nervous system tissues. The three meninges are the dura mater, which is located just below the bone of the skull, the arachnoid membrane, which is located between the dura mater and the subarachnoid space, and the pia mater which is located between the subarachnoid space and the brain. |
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Term
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Definition
| CSF is cerebrospinal fluid. CSF is produced by the chorid plexus, flows into the subarachnoid space, and is then reabsorbed by into the blood stream. |
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Term
| What is hydrocephalus? How is it caused? How can it be treated? |
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Definition
Hydrocephalus is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricular system, which causes potentially damaging increased pressure in the head.Hydrocephalus has two base causes:
the bloodstream is not fully absorbing the fluid due to a damaged filter in the brain
the flow of fluid within the ventricles is blocked. |
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Term
| What are the two main arteries that supply blood to the brain? |
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Definition
| The vertebral artery and the carotid artery. |
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Term
| How much oxygenated blood does the brain use? |
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Definition
| Brain requires 750 ml of oxygenated blood a minute (almost a quart), 20% of body’s oxygen. |
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Term
| What is a sinus in the brain? |
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Definition
| Large blood vessesls that collect deoxygenated blood and return it to heart through the jugular vein |
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Term
| What is the blood brain barrier and why do we need one? |
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Definition
| The blood brain barrier is the mechanism that keeps certain toxic substances in the blood from passing into brain tissues. We need it because it protects the brain from "foreign substances" in the blood that may injure the brain, protects the brain from hormones and neurotransmitters in the rest of the body, and maintains a constant environment for the brain. |
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Term
| What can break down the blood brain barrier? |
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Definition
Hypertension (high blood pressure): high blood pressure opens the BBB
Development: the BBB is not fully formed at birth.
Microwaves: exposure to microwaves can open the BBB.
Radiation: exposure to radiation can open the BBB.
Infection: exposure to infectious agents can open the BBB.
Trauma, Ischemia, Inflammation, Pressure: injury to the brain can open the BBB.
There are a few weak spots in the BBB, including the “chemical trigger zone”—the area that controls vomiting. |
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Term
| What do the dorsal and ventral horns of the spinal cord do? |
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Definition
| The dorsal horns bring sensory information to the spinal cord and the ventral horns bring motor information out of the spinal cord. |
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Term
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Definition
| An area of the body that is innervated by the left and right dorsal roots of one segment of the spinal cord. |
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Term
| How many neurons mediate the patellar reflex? |
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Definition
| sensory neuron and the alpha motor neuron |
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Term
| What kind of information can cranial nerves carry? |
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Definition
| Cranial nerves are the 12 pairs of nerves extending from the brain. They carry information to and regarding smell, vision, taste, balance, hearing, eyes movements, jaw muscles, face muscles, muscles of throat and larynx, internal organs, neck muscles, and tongue movements. |
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Term
| What did Cajal say that was so important? |
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Definition
| The nervous system was made up of separate cells. |
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Term
| What are the parts of a neuron? How is information carried through the nervous system? |
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Definition
| Parts of the neuron: cell body (soma) the membrane, axon, axon terminals, dendrites, and dentritic spines. |
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Term
| What is a dendritic spine? What is one reason some dendrites have spines? |
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Definition
| Protrusions in dendrites that make connections with other neurons. |
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Term
| What shapes can neurons have? |
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Definition
Neurons have 3 main shapes:
Unipolar neurons have the cell body protruding from the axon, Bipolar neurons have the cell body in the middle of the axon, and multipolar neurons have the cell body on the end of the neuron (most familiar type of neuron) |
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Term
| What are the types of glial cells and how do they differ? |
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Definition
Oligodendrocytes- Insulate axons (myelin sheaths) in the central nervous system
Schwann cells- Insulate axons (myelin sheaths) in the peripheral nervous system
Astrocytes- A variety of functions, passage of chemicals from blood to neurons…form BBB
Microglia- Immune cells of the nervous system |
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Term
| What ions are important for resting membrane potential? For action potentials? |
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Definition
Resting potential: Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Chloride (Cl-)
Action potential: Na+ rushes in through “voltage-gated” Na+ channels.
After a delay, K+ rushes out through “voltage gated” K+ channels. |
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Term
| Which ions are found in greater amounts outside the cell? Inside? What is the charge of each? |
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Definition
Outside the cell: Na+ and Cl-
Inside the cell: K+ and P- |
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Term
| What voltage levels do neurons usually rest at? |
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Definition
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Term
| What did Hodgkin and Huxley do that was so important? |
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Definition
| They used a squid axon to measure the voltage inside and outside the cell. |
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Term
| What forces move ions into or out of neurons? Which way do these forces move each ion? |
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Definition
| Electrostatic forces and Chemical concentration gradients more ions in and out of neurons. Electrostatic forces move opposite charges closer together and same parity charges farther away from each other. Chemical concentration gradients move ions away from each other because of diffusion. |
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Term
| What ion is most permeable at rest? |
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Definition
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Term
| What kinds of ion channels are there? What are ion channels? |
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Definition
| Ion channels are pores in the neural membrane through which specific ions pass. There are potassium and sodium ion channels. |
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Term
| What is an action potential and how does it work? |
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Definition
Action potential is a massive momentary reversal of a neurons membrane potential from about -70mV to about +50mV.
At rest some K+ moves across the membrane but movement of Na+ is blocked. However, a slight change in the membrane voltage opens “voltage gated” Na+ channels. Na+ rushes in through “voltage-gated” Na+ channels.
After a delay, K+ rushes out through “voltage gated” K+ channels. |
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Term
| What ions mediate each type of refractory period? What is the difference between the two? |
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Definition
Absolute refractory period: stimulation cannot elicit another action potential, because Na channels are still inactivated.
Relative Refractory Period: stimulation can elicit another action potential but it is harder because the membrane is hyperpolarized. |
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Term
| Which way does the sodium-potassium pump pump ions? |
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Definition
| Sodium is pumped out and potassium is pumped in. |
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Term
| How is an action potential propagated down an axon? Why doesn’t it go backwards? |
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Definition
propagates down the axon passively or via
saltatory conduction |
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Term
| What kind of axon propagates action potentials the fastest? Slowest? |
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Definition
| Big, myelinated axons propagate action potentials faster than smaller unmyelinated axons. |
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Term
| What is saltatory conduction? |
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Definition
| Conduction of an action potential from one node of Ranvier to the next along a myelinated axon. |
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Term
| What are EPSPs and IPSPs, and how do they summate? |
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Definition
EPSP- excitatory postsynaptic potential- depolarizing
IPSP- inhibitory postsynaptic potential- hyperpolarizing
Two simultaneous EPSP's sum to produce a greater EPSP; Two simultaneous IPSPs sum to produce a greater IPSP; a simultaneous IPSP and EPSP cancel each other out. |
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Term
| What did Otto Loewi discover? |
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Definition
| Vagusstoff (substance released by the vagus nerve) turned out to be the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Otto Loewi was actually stimulating the parasympathetic branch (rest and digest) of the autonomic nervous system, to slow the heart down. |
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Term
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Definition
| The gap between one neuron and another where neurotransmitter is released and bound |
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Term
| What is exocytosis? What ion causes exocytosis of neurotransmitter? |
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Definition
| The action potential triggers voltage gated Ca++ channels. Ca++ signals synaptic vesicles to fuse with the membrane. |
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Term
| What happens to a neurotransmitter after it is released? How is it deactivated? |
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Definition
| After a neurotransmitter is released, it binds to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane. It is deactivated by deactivated enzymed and then goes through the process of reuptake. |
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Term
| Which is faster, an electrical or chemical synapse? |
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Definition
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Term
| What kinds of receptors are there and how do they differ? |
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Definition
Iontropic: neurotransmitter molecules bind to an ion channel which then opens and the ions pass through.
Metaobotropic: a neurotransmitter binds to a receptor which releases a G protein, which then binds to an ion channel causing it to open and the ions pass through. |
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