Ch 2
Psychology 1300 with Hornstein at Southern Methodist University
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What are neurons?
The building blocks of our nervous system.
In other words, nerve cells
What are the 2 types of Neurons?
Sensory
Motor
Sensory Neurons
Carry messages FROM the body's tissues and organs TO the brain
Motor Neurons
Brain-----> Body
What are interneurons?
Connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons.
Dendrite (neuron component)
Bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon (neuron component)
the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or muscles/glands
Axon/Dendrite Saying
Axons speak
Dendrite listen
Myelin Sheath
Insulates the axons of neurons and helps speed their impulses up.
Action Potential
neural impulse that travels down an axon
What happens when a neuron fires? Sequence
The first bit of the axon opens its gates, and the positively charged sodium ions flood through the membrane. This depolarizes that section, causing the next channel to open, and so on.
Threshold
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
Synapse
The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite/cell body of the receiving neuron.
How do neurons send info across the synaptic gap?
By excreting neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse
Various Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholene
Dopamine
Seratonin
Norepinephrine
GABA
Glutamate
Acetylcholine (Function/Malfunction)
Function: Enables muscle action, learning, and memory.
Malfunction:
Undersupply= Alzheimer's
Dopamine (Function/Malfunction)
Function: Movement, learning, attention, emotion
Malfunction:
Excess: Schizophrenia
Under: Parkinson's
Serotonin (Function/Malfunction)
Function: Mood, hunger, sleep, arousal
Malfunction:
Under: Depression
Norepinephrine (Function/Malfunction)
Function: arousal/alertness
Malfunction:
Under: Depression
GABA (Function/Malfunction)
Function: Inhibitory neurotransmitter
Malfunction:
Under: seizures, tremors, insomnia
Glutamate (Function/Malfunction)
Function: Major excitatory neurotransmitter, memory.
Malfunction:
Over: migraines, seizures
Nervous System
The body's speedy network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Central Nervous System
Brain/Spinal Cord
Nerves
Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and organs
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
Records the electrical activity in your brain (through electrodes taped to scalp)
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
Measures brain function/activity
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.
CAT Scan
X-ray of the Brain
The Brainstem
The oldest, innermost region of the brain.
Responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla
The base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat/breathing
Reticular Formation
Nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in arousal, sleep, and attention.
Thalamus
The brain's "sensory relay station"
AKA Grand Central Station
Sends info to correct part of the brain.
The 3 parts of the brain
Brainstem, Cerebral Cortex, Limbic System
Limbic System
Only fully developed in mammals
Helps control instincts/behavior
Comprised of: Amygdala, Hippocampus, Hypothalamus.
Amygdala (Limbic System)
"Agression Center"
Stimulation of the amygdala can cause extreme violence
Hypothalamus (Limbic System)
Emotion, basic drives, REWARD CENTER.
Hunger, thirst, sex drive.
When stimulated, pleasure
Rat exp. (rats shown a bar that when pressed stimulates Hypo, they pressed that fucker hard)
Hippocampus (Limbic System)
Plays a role in forming new memories.
NOT WHERE MEMORIES ARE STORED
Hippo is the place that allows you to LEARN.
Limbic System (3 components)
Amygdala (agression)
Hippocampus (emotion)
Hypothalamus (forming of new memories)
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center
The 4 lobes of each hemisphere
Frontal (forehead)
Parietal (upper back)
Occipital (lower back)
Temporal (above ears)
Frontal Lobes
Motor cortex (rear of frontal) controls voluntary movement (sends info out)
Prefrontal Cortex (Judgement, last part to develop)
Broca's Area- language production
Controls: Movement, Judgement
temporal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.
Wernicke's Area: Language comprehension
Parietal lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
SENSORY CORTEX (touch)
The more sensitive the body area, the larger area in the sensory cortex
occipital lobes
includes the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
Phineas Gage (example)
Pipe went through frontal lobe. Personality/judgment changed. Became an asshole.
neural plasticity
the ability of the nervous system to change in response to experience or the environment
corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Severed Hemisphere Experiment Results
HE.ART shown on screen.
When asked to say what they saw, they replied ART (because their left hemisphere is responsible for reading, speaking).
When asked to point to what they saw, the their left hand pointed to HE (because the left hand is controlled by the right hemisphere, and the right hemisphere controls imagery, spatial tasks)
Left Hemisphere Controls:
Reading, writing, speaking
Trauma to the left is horrible
Right Hemisphere controls:
Imagery, Spatial Tasks, ability to recognize faces, ability to detect emotion.
Trauma to the right hemisphere is not life destroying.
Aphasias
Severe language impairment (damage to the left hemi)
agnosia
loss of ability to recognize familiar objects
Prosopagnosia
An inability to recognize faces
Left side neglect
Results in disruption in attention, spatial awareness.
People loose the ability to pay attention to anything on their left side at all (they're not blind, but just can't focus on the left side)
Occurs as right side neglect very very rarely.
About this deck
About StudyBlue
STUDYBLUE makes things that make you better at school.
Things like online flashcards with photos and audio.
Things like personalized quizzes and friendly reminders about when (and what) to study next.
Think of it as a digital backpack™: access to all of your study materials online and on your phone.
STUDYBLUE exists to make studying efficient and effective for every student, for free. Join us.
“I have used this website for three exams, and I see a huge difference in my test results.”
Naj
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