Physiological Psychology

presynaptic neuron

sends information

autoreceptors

special proteins in the presynaptic membrane - sense the amount of neurotransmitter in the cleft

Neurons

specialized cells that receive information and send it to other cells carry info within the brain and throughout the rest of the body -about 86 billion neurons in the human brain

Localization

specific areas of the brain carry out specific functions

Grade(local) potential

• can occur in axon, dendrites and soma • its strength depends on the intensity of the stimulus • it decays as it propagates (decremental)

mind-brain problem

-What is the nature of the mind and the brain? -What is the relationship between the mind and the brain?

Biopsychology/ Physiological Psychology

Branch of psychology thatstudies the relationshipbetween behavior and thebody (brain)

What are the three types of Neurons

motor, sensory, interneurons

Nature vs. Nurture

name for a controversy in which it is debated whether genetics or environment is responsible for driving behavior

spontaneous activity

nerve firing that occurs in the absence of environmental stimulation

post-synaptic neuron

receiving information

chemical signals

How does communication happen between two neurons during synapses?

presynaptic excitation

Increase in the release of neurotransmitter by the presynaptic neuron

ionotropic receptors

form the ion channel and open quickly to produce the immediate reactions required for muscle activity and sensory processing.

inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane • makes an action potential less likely to occur in the post-synaptic neuron

Hyperpolarization

increase of polarization

types of glial cells

oligodendrocytes and schwann cells

metabotropic receptors

open channels indirectly through a second messenger; they act slowly and produce longer-lasting effects.

excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

partial depolarization (hypopolarization) of the postsynaptic membrane • makes an action potential more likely to occur in the post-synaptic neuron

recessive allele

produces its effects only when paired with the samerecessive allele on the other chromosome (unless X-linked)

dominant allele

produces its effects regardless of which allele it is paired with

model

proposed mechanism for how something works

Phineas Gage

railroad worker who survived a severe brain injury that dramatically changed his personality and behavior; case played a role in the development of the understanding of the localization of brain function

Synapse

connection between two neurons

Sulcus

Another word for groves in the cortex

Exocytosis

What process happens during chemical synapse?

Neuroscience

the multidisciplinary study of the nervous system

axodendritic synapse

Between terminal button ofone neuron and dendrite ofanother neuron

Dualism Approach of the mind-brain problem

- mind and brain belong to different worlds(non-physical world vs. physical world) - the mind controls the brain by "interacting" with it

Monism Approach of the mind-brain problem

- mind and brain belong to the same world(physical world = Materialism) - the mind is the "product" of physical processes in thebrain

neural membrane

-Critical for the neuron's ability to carry information -Phospholipid (fat derivatives) molecules ~phosphate group "heads" are attracted to water (orient toward it) ~fatty acid "tails" are repelled by water (orient away from it) -Protein molecules- ~Channels ~Pumps

Rene Descartes(17th century philosopher)

-Dualist: mind (non-physical) body (physical) -Body of every organism (human too) is a machine- Can discover how the machine is built and how it works -In humans, the mind interacts with the body at a single point in the brain(Pineal gland)

Descrates' Hydraulic Model

-Nerves are hollow tubes where a fluid ("animal spirit")flows -Pineal gland pumps the fluid through brain and nerves -Mind (soul) tilts the Pineal gland to direct fluid to specific nerves specific muscles inflate (move)

Antagonist

A chemical that blocks the effect of a neurotransmitter Ex: Curare block acetylcholine receptors at muscles -> paralysis

axosomatic synapse

Between terminal button of one neuron and soma of another neuron

axoaxonic synapse

Between terminal button of one neuron and terminal button of another neuron

nueraxis

An imaginary line drawn through the center of the CNS, from the bottom of the spinal cord to the front of the forebrain

gyrus

Another word for ridges in the cortex

Depolarization

Decrease in polarization

presynaptic inhibition

Decrease in the release of neurotransmitter by the presynaptic neuron

absolute refractory period

Na+ channels cannot reopen which mean it cannot produce other action potentials

Endorphins

Neuromodulators that reduce pain

relative refractory period

Only stimuli stronger than usual can produce action potentials which means Intensity of a stimulus is encoded by the rate of action potentials (rate law)

Cortex

Outer surface of Cerebral Hemispheres

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

The predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter. Its receptors respond to alcohol and the class of tranquilizers called benzodiazepines. Deficiency in GABA or receptors is one cause of epilepsy.

Glutamate

The principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and spinal cord. Vitally involved in learning; glutamate dysfunction is implicated in schizophrenia

Schwann cells

Type glial cell in the Peripheral system that wrap axons is a myelin sheath

Oligodendrocytes

Type of glial cell in the CNS that wrap axons in a myelin sheath.

ionotropic and metabotropic

What are the two type of Receptor sites?

Axoaxonic, Axosomatic, Axodendritic

What are the types of Synapses?

Anterior and Posterior

What directions can u not see in Coronal section of the brain

Ventral and dorsal

What directions can u not see in Horizontal section of the brain

Medial and Lateral

What directions can u not see in Sagittal section of the brain

K+ ions: attracted inside by Electrical Gradient, outside by Concentration Gradient which means for K+ the two gradients are almost in balance

What happens to K+ ions during resting potential?

Na+ ions: attracted inside by both Electrical Gradient and Concentration Gradient which means Na+ would rush inside if Na+ channels were open...

What happens to Na+ ions during resting potential?

- molecules are reabsorbed by transporters in the terminal and repackaged into vesicles (reuptake) - in some cases they are first broken down into simpler components by enzymes (inactivation)- In other cases they are first absorbed by glial cells

What happens to neurotransmitters left in the synaptic cleft ?

-Na+ channels (closed at rest), K+ channels (slightly leaky at rest) -Na+/K+ Pump: repeatedly moves 3 Na+ out of the neuron and 2K+ inside the neuron at rest

What happens to the molecules during resting potential

selectively permeable: some chemicals can passthrough it more freely than others

What is the membrane of a Neuron?

Agonist

a chemical that mimics or increases the effect of a neurotransmitter Ex: Morphine activates that receptors for Endorphines

sensory neurons

a) receives a particular type of sensory info b) carries information to other neuron(s)

motor neurons

a) receives information from other neuron(s) b) carries information to muscle or gland cells"Output"(soma)

action potential

abrupt depolarization and temporary reversal of the usual polarization of the membrane -Allows the neuron to send signals over long distances

spatial summation

combines PSPs occurring simultaneously at different locations on dendrites & soma

Interneurons

connect one neuron to another in a particularpart of the Central Nervous System (CNS)

Co-dominance

blending of the effects of both alleles (ex.Blood type)

glial cells

cells that provide structural and functional support to Neurons

Receptors in postsynaptic membrane

change insensitivity or in number to compensate for unusual increases or decreases of neurotransmitter in the cleft

temporal summation

combines PSPs arriving a short time apart

Polarization

difference in electrical charge (voltage)between the inside and outside of the cell

Resting Potential

difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of the membrane of a neuron at rest

Alleles

different versions of a gene

Gene

unit of heredity

their permeability depends on the voltage (potential) across the membrane

what does it mean if you was to say Na+ and K+ channels are voltage-activated?

action potential

• occurs only in axons (not in dendrites or soma) • its strength is independent of the intensity of the stimulus (all-or-none law) • it does not decay as it travels down an axon(nondecremental)

Atoms or molecules that are + or - charged that are used with neutrons

• organic anions (A-), Chloride anions (Cl-) •Sodium cations (Na+), Potassium cations (K+)*