Psychology Test 2

Whats the cerebellum?

(little brain) controls balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills.

What is the Pons?

(means bridge) serves to connect the brain and spinal cord and involved in regulating brain activity during sleep.

Describe the Cell Body of the Neuron

Cell Body is called the Soma •Largest part of neuron •Contains nucleus •Contains structures that handle metabolic function •Can receive impulses from other neurons but is not the primary receptor

Describe the two hemispheres of the brain.

Cerebral cortex: uneven surface of the brain •Gyri: patterns of folds or bumps •Sulci: grooves •Right & Left hemisphere: the two halves of the brain, indicated by the longitudinal fissure •Corpus Callosum: thick band of neural fibers that connects the two hemispheres and allows them to communicate Lateralization: specialized function in each hemisphere •Language ability •Left controls right side of body and right controls left side of body

What is Membrane potential?

Difference in charge across the membrane & provides energy for the signal.

Describe Axons

Extension of a neuron that transmits an impulse from the cell body to the terminal buttons on the tip of the axon May be myelinated or unmyelinated

What are the name of the two cells our nervous system is composed of?

Glial Cells: Supporting role to neurons (Physical and Metabolic) Neurons: Central building blocks of the nervous system and serve as interconnected information processors

What is the Hind Brain?

Located at the back of the head and looks like an extension of the spinal cord.

What is the Neuronal Membrane?

Neuron surrounded by extracellular fluid and contains intracellular fluid (cytoplasm). Neuronal membrane keeps the two separated.

What is the outer structure of a neuron made of?

Semi Permeable Membrane

What are the two parts of the Peripheral Nervous System?

Somatic nervous system • Voluntary Autonomic nervous system • Visceral/Involuntary • Sympathetic - (Fight/Flight) • Parasympathetic - (Rest/Digest) • Homeostasis: state of equilibrium in which biological conditions (such as body temp) are maintained at optimal levels.

How many cells is our nervous system composed of?

Two Cells

What is the Nervous System?

a network of specialized cells that coordinate action & transmit signals between different parts of the body •Consists of: •Central nervous system (CNS): brain & spinal cord •Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

What is Biological perspective?

belief that psychological disorders (depression, schizophrenia) are associated with imbalances in neurotransmitter systems.

What is Resting potential?

between signals, when the neurons membrane potential is held in a state of readiness •Sodium is at a higher concentration outside the cell so it will move into the cell, while potassium is more concentrated inside and it will tend to move outside.

What are Antagonists?

block/impede the normal activity of neurotransmitters at the receptor

What are Agonists?

chemicals that mimic a neurotransmitter at the receptor site and strengthen its effects

What is the Medulla?

controls automatic processes of the autonomic nervous system (breathing, BP, HR).

What are Psychotropic medications?

drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance.

What is Action Potential?

electrical signal that moves from the cell body down the axon to the axon terminals •All-or-none phenomenon

Describe Myerlin

it's a type of glial cell that wraps around the axon. •Fatty white fiber •Serves to insulate the axon •Increases the speed of neural transmission

What are Reputake inhibitors?

prevent unused neurotransmitters from being transported back to the neuron

What does the Frontal Lobe do?

reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language • Phineas Gage

What is a Neurotransmitter?

• Neurotransmitters enable nerve impulses to cross from one neuron to adjacent neurons • Contained within tiny sacs (synaptic vesicles) in the axon terminal button

What are the ways of brain imaging?

•Brain Imaging •Radiation •Computerized tomography (CT) •Positron emission tomography (PET) •Magnetic Field •Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) •Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) •Electrical Activity •Electrocenpholography (EEG)

Describe Dendrites of a Neuron

•Branch-like projections from the neuron with specialized functions of receiving messages from surrounding neurons •May receive information from a few to thousands of surroundingneurons •More extensive the network, the more connections can be made •Signals received by dendrites are passed on to cell body, which in turn passes them through the axon

What are the Forebrain structures?

•Frontal Lobe: reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language • Motor Cortex: planning/ coordinating movement • Pre-frontal Cortex: higher-level cognitive functioning • Broca's Area: language production •Temporal Lobe: hearing, memory, emotion and some aspects of language • Auditory Cortex: auditory information • Wernicke's Area: speech comprehension •Occipital Lobe: Primary visual cortex - interpreting incoming visual information

Describe the Midbrain structures:

•Midbrain: structures between forebrain and hindbrain •Reticular formation: centered in the midbrain but extends to the forebrain & down to hindbrain - regulates sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity •Substantia nigra/ ventral tegmental area (VTA): contain cell bodies that produce dopamine & are critical for movement

How do signals happen in neurons?

•Neurons receive signals from dendrites causing small pores open on the neuronal membrane allowing sodium ions to move into the cell. •The internal change of the cell becomes more positive •If the charge reaches a certain level (threshold of excitation), the neuron becomes active and the action potential begins

What is the spinal chord?

•Routes messages to and from the brain and has its own set of automatic processes called reflexes •Protected by vertebrae and cushioned in cerebrospinal fluid

What is a synapse?

•Small space between two neurons (where communication between two neurons occurs) •Made up of presynaptic / post synaptic membrane & the synaptic gap

Describe the Terminal

•Swollen bulb-like structures on the end of a neuron's axon that store and release chemical substances known as neurotransmitters

What are the additional Forebrain structures

•Thalamus: sensory relay for the brain •Limbic System: processing emotion and memory • Hippocampus: learning & memory • Amygdala: experience of emotion & tying emotional meaning to our memories • Hypothalamus: regulates homeostatic process (body temp, appetite, blood pressure)