Mcat Behavioral Sciences

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phrenology

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earliest theory in behavior intellect and personality linked to brain anatomy

---eventually proved false

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pierre flourens

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first to study the function of the major sections of the brain by extiraption on rabitts and pigeons

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William James

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known as father of American psych

formed theory of functionalism a system of though in psych that studied how mental processes help individuals adapt to environment

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John dewey

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important in functionalism, his article is seen as its inception even though after William James

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Paul Broca

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demonstrated for the first time that specific functional impairments linked with specific brain lessions

-Broca's area associated with language (found from a man who couldn't talk)

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Hermann von Helmholtz

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first to measure speed of nerve impuse

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Sr Charles Sherrington

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first inferred existence of synapses

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3 major reasons of the brain and their functions

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Forebrain: complex perceptual, cognitive and behavioral processes

Midbrain: sensiomotor reflexes, superior and inferior colliculous

Hindbrain: balance, motor, breathing, digestion

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Cerebellum

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Ballance

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Pons:

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we sleep "pon" the bed, associated with sleep

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3 kinds of nerve cells in nervous system

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sensory neurons, motor neutorns, and interneurons

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sensory neurons

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(afferent neurons) transmit sensory info from receptors to spinal chord and brain

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Motor neurons

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(efferent neurons) tranmit motor info from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands

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interneurons

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found between other neurons and are the most numerous of the three types of neurons

-located mainly between the brain and spinal cord, often linked to reflexes

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central nervous system

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composed of brain and spinal cord

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peripheral nervous system

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is made up of nerve tissue and fibers outside the brain and spinal chord, including all 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 10 of 12 cranial nerves (not olfactory or optic nerves)

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somatic nervous system

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sensory and motor neurons distributed throughout the skin joints and muscles

sensory neurons transmit info through afferent fibers

motor impluses travel along efferent fibers

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autonomic nervous system

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regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion and glandular secreations--- all involuntary muscles

also regulates temp

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subdivisions of autonomic nervous system

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sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system

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parasympathetic nervous system

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conserves energy

associated with resting and sleeping

acts to reduce heart rate and constrict bronchi

responsible for digestion by increasing peristalsis and exocrine secretion

-constricts pupils, stimulates flow of saliva, constricts bronchi, slows heart beat, stimulates peristalsis, stimulates bile release

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sympathetic nervous system

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activated by stress

increases heart rate, increases blood glucose concentration, dilates pubils, inhibits salivation, relaxes bronchi, stimulates sweating, inhibits peristalsis, inhibits bladder contraction, stimulates orgasm

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meninges

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thick sheath of connective tissue that covers the brain

-protects and keeps it anchored within the skull, resorb cerebrospinal fluid

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3 layers of meninges

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dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia matter

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cerebrospinal fluid

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aqueous solution in which the brain and spinal chord rest

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the Forebrain contains which structures

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cerebral cortex

basal ganglia

limbic system

thalamus

hypothalmus

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cerebral cortex

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part of forebrain

complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral proccesses

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basal ganglia

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movement

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limbic system

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emotion and memory

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thalamus

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sensory relay station

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hypothalamus

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hunger and thirst, emotions

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midbrain consists of

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superior (visual) and inferior (auditory) colliculi----sensorimotor reflexes

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hindbrain consists of

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cerebellum, medulla oblongata, reticular formation

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cerebellum

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balance

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medulla oblongata

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vital functioning (breathing digestion)

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reticular formation

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arousal and alertness

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EEG

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electroencephalogram

noninvasive, places electrodes on the scalp, records electrical activity of neurons

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rCBF

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regional cerebral blood flow

noninvasive mapping procedure which detects broad patterns of neural activity based on increased blood flow to the brain

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hippocampus

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plays vital role in learning and memorizing

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frontal lobe

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regions prefrontal cortex/ motor cortex/ + Broca's area

prefrontal cortex: manages executive functions by supervising and directing the operation of other brain regions

primary motor: located on the precentral gyrus and initiates voluntary motor movements

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acetylcholine

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neutrotransmitter found in central and peripheral nervous system

in PNS- used to transmit nerves impulses to muscles

in CNS- linked to attention and arousal

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epinephrine and norepinephrine

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catecholamines-- play an important role in experience of emotions

involved in controlling alertness and wakefulness

-low norepinephrine = depression

-high norepinephrine = mania

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dopamine

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catecholamine -- important for movement and posture

imbalances in dopamine play role in schizophrenia and Parkinsons

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parkinson's disease

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associated with loss of dopamineric neurons in basal ganglia

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Serotonin

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monoamine or biogenic amine neutrotransmitter

Thought to play role in regulating mood, eating, sleeping, dreaming

may play role in depression and mania

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GABA

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produces inhibitory post-synaptic potentials important to stabilizing neutral brain activity

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glycine

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an amino acid that also serves as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in central nervous system by increasing chloride influx to neuron

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glutamate

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an amino acid, acts as excitatory neurotransmitter in CNS

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endorphins

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natural pain killers

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pituitary gland

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2 parts anterior ("master"), and posterior

anterior-releases hormones and regulates activity of endocrine glands

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adrenal glands

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located on top of kidneys divided into adrenal medulla and adrenal cortex

medulla- releases epinephrine and norepinephrine as part of SNS

cortex- produces stress hormone cortisol and sex hormone testosterone and estrogen

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gonads

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sex glands of the body ovaries in females and testes in males

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concordance rate

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the likelihood of two twins exhibiting the same trait

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thalidomide

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prescribed in 1950s-60s to relieve morning system but caused extreme birth defects due to steroisomerism

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rooting reflex

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a baby reflex to turn its head in the directoon of a stimulus that touches the check, like a nipple during feeding

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moro reflex

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infant reacts to abrubt movements of their head by flinging out arms then retracting and crying

assymetry of moro reflex may hint at underlying neruomuscular problems

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Babinski reflex

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causes toes to spread apart automatically when sole of foot is stimulated

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grasping reflex

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when infant closes his or her fingers around an object placed in hand

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motor skills

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gross -- require whole body sitting/walking/ crawling

fine-- involve small muscles of fingers toes and eyes drawing/catching/waving

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stranger anxiety and separation anxiety develops how old

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7 mo-1 year

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parallel play

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happens around 2 years old where children play alongside one another

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right hemisphere

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part of brain associated with direction