Psychology Test 2, (Physiological Psychology)

Front 1

The Neuron
- 2 things

Back 1

-The basic Building Block of the nervous system

-Functions to transmit neural impulses from one place to another

Front 2

Neurogenesis

Back 2

-The production of new brain cells

Front 3

Parts of the Neuron include:
(5 parts)

Back 3

-The Dendrites
-The Cell body
-The Axon
-Myelin
-The Terminal Buttons

Front 4

The Dendrites

Back 4

part of neuron that functions to RECIEVE THE INCOMING MESSAGES from other neurons.

tree-like structures

Front 5

The Cell Body
aka SOMA

(2 things)

Back 5

-the largest part of the neuron

-Function: controls maintenance and metabolism of the cell

Front 6

The Axon

Back 6

part of neuron,
function: carries the message AWAY FROM the cell body toward the next nerve cell with which it will communicate

Front 7

Myelin
(4 things)

Back 7

-a fatty substance which functions to:

a.INSULATE the axon
b.prevents the scrambling of messages

Thus, myelinated fibers are more effective/efficient conductors of nerve impulses

Front 8

What happens in Multiple Sclerosis?

Back 8

-the immune system attacts the central nervous system leading to demyelination.

Front 9

Nodes of Ranvier

Back 9

the Gaps in the myelin sheaths covering the nerves

Front 10

Terminal Buttons
(2 things)

Back 10

aka- the synaptic knobs, the axon terminals

-the roots that extended from the axon

-Functions to hold the synaptic vesicles which contain the transmitter substances (the neurotransmitters)

Front 11

How are messages from one neuron to the next conveyed?

Back 11

By a chemical

Front 12

Afferent Neurons
(2 things)

Back 12

aka -sensory neurons

-Functions: Convey impulses from the sensory receptor cells TO the rest of the central nervous system

i.e. Conveys the incoming info towards the brain and spinal cord

Front 13

Transductions
(3 things)

Back 13

-The process by which a sensory receptor translates some phsyical stimulus (into an electrical form) to give rise to an action potential in another neuron

-i.e. We are simply changing one form of energy (physical) into another (electrical)

Transduction is performed by a SENSORY RECEPTOR CELL and not by and afferent neuron

Front 14

Efferent Neurons
2 things

Back 14

aka Motor neurons

-Function: Conduct messages from the Central Nervous System TO the effectors

-that is organs of action(muscles, glands)

Thus, they handle the OUTGOING message FROM the brain, TO the body

Front 15

Interneurons
(3 things)

Back 15

aka conector neurons

-represent the vast majority of the nerve cells

-located within the central nervous system

-FUNCTION: both RECIEVE and TRANSMIT messages

Front 16

The Resting Potential

Back 16

-refers to the difference in electrical potental maintained between the outside and the inside of a resting cell.

-Cell membrane is polarized
-positive Charges outside
-Negative Charges Inside

Front 17

Threshold

Back 17

-The value a stimulus must reach to produce an impluse (response) from within a neuron

Front 18

Action Potential

Back 18

-refers to changes in electrical potential along a nerve fiber which accompany the conduction of an impulse

Front 19

Acetylcholine

Back 19

A drug that activates muscles. messes with neurotransmitters

Front 20

The All-Or None Law

Back 20

aka: All or nothing event

-states that once a stimulus exceeds threshold, further increases do not increase the amplitude of the action potential.

Front 21

The Spinal Cord
(CNS)
(3 things)

Back 21

- a mass of interconnected neurons within the spine that conveys impulses to and from the brain and is involved in some reflex behavior.

-Resposiblities/FUNCTIONS:
a.)ROUTING COMMANDS- between the brain and body

b.)PROTECTING THE BODY- from tissue damage (via reflexes)

Front 22

Reflex

Back 22

-a simple, stereotyped reaction in response to soe stimulus

Front 23

Reflex Arc
(4 things)

Back 23

-the simples behavior pattern
-can be performed without any direct participaton from the brain
-Possesses survival value
(protects the body)
-INVOLVES: sensory neuron, Interneuron, motor neuron

Front 24

Medulla
(3 things)

brainstem

Back 24

-Function: Controls vital life functions (recieves sensory information)

-influenced by the hypothalamus

-here, nerve fibers from the brain cross over from left to right and vice versa

-in the brain stem

Front 25

The Pons

brainstem

Back 25

Functions: a rely station: Bridge

-sorts and relays sensory messages from the spinal cord and face up to higher brain centers and reverses the relay for motor impulses going down from higher centers

-in the brain stem

Front 26

The Cerebellum
(3 things)

hindbrain

Back 26

aka the little brain

Function: responsible for motor control and balance

-damage would:disrupt fine movements, efect walking, results in slurred speech

-area directly and most noticeably effected by alcohol

Front 27

The Reticular Formation (RF)
(3 things)

the midbrain

Back 27

-an information "clearing house"

-influences motor responses and sensory info

-all incoming sensory info is routed through here

-Function: Alter, or focus, the attention of the organism

Front 28

Reticular Activating System
(RAS)

midbrain

Back 28

Function: Arouses the brain

Front 29

The Thalamus
(3 things)

the forebrain

Back 29

All incoming sensory info goes through the RF to here (EXCEPT smell)

-FUnCtiONS:
a.) performs preliminary processing of sensory information

b.)a final relay station for sending sensory information to the appropriate areas of the cortex

Front 30

The Hypothalamus

-the forebrain

Back 30

-function: considered the functional "center of the brain"

-final path for behaviors leaving the brain

-If Deprived of it, organism dies

Front 31

The Limbic System

the forebrain

Back 31

-a collection of many individual structures thought to operate as one

Functions: appears to be involved in emotions, motivations, and perhaps memory

Front 32

The Amygdala

Back 32

-a close neighbor of the hypothalamus and a part of the limbic system

-appears to play a strong role in activating the emotions of fear and rage

Front 33

What curious problem does a brain injury that results in SPATIAL NEGLECT cause?

Back 33

Affected patients pay no attention to the left side of visual space.

Front 34

The Occipital Lobes

Back 34

Function: the PRIMARY VISUAL AREA of the cortex.

(from the eye)

Front 35

The Parietal Lobes
(2 things)

Back 35

Function: represent the SOMATOSENSORY areay (bodyily area)

-correspondence of area based on sensitivity NOT size (ex. touch, temp, pressure)

Front 36

The Temporal Lobes

Back 36

Function: all AUDITORY INFO is projected here (hearing & language)

Front 37

The Frontal Lobes
(2 things)

Back 37

Function: Olfactory Info registers here (underside of the lobe)

-Motor Functions: are located here (arc of tissue running over top of brain)

Front 38

Phineas Gage

Back 38

An accidental frontal labotomay changed his entire personality. Once an honest dependable, he changed to a surly, foul-mouthed liar.

Front 39

The Association Cortex
(2 things)

Back 39

Function responsible for all higher mental functions

-processes and combines info form the various lobes.

Front 40

Autonomous Nervous System (ANS)

Back 40

-serves the visceral structures

-autonomic means "self governing"

Front 41

Sympathetic Branch
(3 things)
(ANS)

Back 41

Function: concerned with the expenditure of energy

-serves and activating function

-"fight or flight"

Front 42

Parasympathetic Branch
(2 things)
(ANS)

Back 42

Function: controls the storing of energy
-i.e. conserves resources

-operates at times of rest or peace

Front 43

The Pituitary
(4 things)

Back 43

Function: Regulates the other endocrine glands

-referred to as the "Master Gland" of the body

-is under control of the Hypothalamus

-The Pitutary/Hypothalamus relationship represents the major link between the brain (Hypothalamus) and the glandular (Pituitary)

Front 44

The Pineal Gland
(2 things)

Back 44

-is a gland in the brain that helps to regulate body rythms and sleep cycles

-secretes Melatonin which appears to be important in the regulation of biological rythms... (i.e. sleep & wakefulness).

Front 45

CT Brain Scan

Back 45

Computed Tomographic Scanning
-specialized x-ray that makes the brain visible

Front 46

MRI Brain Scan

Back 46

Magnetic Resonance Imaging- uses a strong magnetic field to produce an image of the body's interior.

Front 47

PET Brain scan

Back 47

Position Emission Tomography

-detects positrons emitted by weakly radioactive glucose (sugar) as it is consume by the brain.
shows which areas of the brain are using energy.

Front 48

What curious problem does a brain injury that results in SPATIAL NEGLECT cause?

Back 48

Affected patients pay no attention to the left side of visual space.

Front 49

The Frontal Lobes
(2 things)

Back 49

Function: Olfactory Info registers here (underside of the lobe)

-Motor Functions: are located here (arc of tissue running over top of brain)

Front 50

Phineas Gage

Back 50

An accidental frontal labotomay changed his entire personality. Once an honest dependable, he changed to a surly, foul-mouthed liar.

Front 51

The Corpus Callosum
(2 things)

Back 51

A massive bundle of nerves that interconnects the two hemispheres

Function: allows the pooling of information so that the brain functions as a unit