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Behavioral Neuroscience

Terms in this set (57)

Alcmaeon of Croton (500 BCE)
Re-estbalished the idea of there being a connecton between the brain and sensory organs
Leonardo de Vinci
Drew an earlier photo of a brain based off of old beliefs and then created another one after using the brain cast of a calf.
-Unable to dissect humans due to the church's view on it being sinful.
Andreas Veselius
Wrote De Humanica Corporis Fabrica, a book that pointed out the importance of the heart in all manners not relating to the soul. The heart was at the time still believed to house the spirit and be related to all things spiritual in nature.
Rene Descartes (1650)
The french philosopher that believed the mind and soul were both controlled by the pineal gland, famous for believing it to be the "seat of the soul" due to its asymmetry.

Also famous for his "error", that being his belief in dualism.
Phrenology
A pseudo-science that believed the shape and size of cranial bumps were an indication of character and mental abilities.

Example: head-shape could be used to show if a Mother would be compassionate or apathetic, due to a bump relating to empathy.
Somatic Intervention
A type of experiment that involves messing with the body to look for changes

Example: Stimulating with electricity and watching the resulting reaction
Example 2: Give them testosterone dose, see how they react.
Behavioral Intervention
A type of experiment that involves changing the testee's behavior (ex: changing environment, training) and looking for physical changes.
Correlation
A behavioral neuroscience approach which is essentially measuring the relation between two variables.

It is important to note that correlation and causation are extremely different.
White Matter
Made of axons with white myelin sheaths
Gray Matter
Made mostly of cell bodies and dendrites (which lacks myelin)
Neuroplasticity
Ability of brain to be changed by environment/experiences
Electrical Synapse
A synapse more needed for extremely fast reaction, such as instantaneous movement to avoid a poor stimuli. The neurons are basically up against each other. Involves NO neurotransmitters
Chemical Synapse
A synapse that uses neurotransmitters to pass info
Paul Broca
This neurologist discovered that language ability (production) was restricted to a specific area through a patient with that area damaged
Astrocytes
Forms the blood brain barrier for the CNS, also provides support for neurons.
Blood Brain Barrier
A selectively permeable membrane that separates blood from cerebral spinal fluid. Allows specific molecules (water, some liquids)in.
Ogliodendrocytes
Used to coat axons via myelin, specific to CNS.
Schwann Cells
Myelinates axons in the PNS, also only covers just one axon.
Microglia
The CNS's janitor cell. It removes debris, maintains homeostasis, takes care of inflammation, and helps repair synapses
Neuron Doctrine
After the golgi's stain technique came to be, Cajal figured out that the brain was a collection of cells and that these cells communicated through the synapse
Input Zone
Where a neuron receives information from other cells
(Dendrites)
Integration Zone
Inputs are combined and transformed
(Axon Hillock)
Conduction Zone
The information is transmitted through an electrical impulse
(Axon)
Output Zone
At the end of the axon, this is the final step where the information from the axon is communicated to other cells
(terminal button)
Multipolar Neurons
Neuron with one axon, many dendrites.
Most commonly seen type.
Bipolar Neurons
Neuron with one axon, one dendrite
Unipolar Neuron
A single extension branches in two directions. A neuron with one process extending from its cell body
Motor neurons
Neurons responsible for movement
Sensory Neurons
Neurons responsible for carrying sensory information
Interneurons
A neuron that receives input from and send input to other neurons
Presynaptic Membrane
At the terminal button of the sending neuron. Before the synapse.
Postsynaptic Membrane
At the dendrite of the receiving neuron. After the synapse.
Synapse
Gap between neurons
Axonal Transport
Movement of materials within an axon
Gross (Big) Neuroanatomy
Features of the nervous system that are view-able with an eye alone
CNS
The brain and spinal cord. The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the cerebral hemispheres.
Gyrus
A raised convolution on the surface of the brain
Sulcus
A shallow groove on the surface of the brain
Sagittal Cut
Divides brain into right and left portions.
Horizontal Cut
Divides brain into upper and lower half.
Coronal Cut
Divides brain into front and back regions.
Afferent Neurons
(sensory neurons) Carry information into a related area.
Efferent Neurons
Carries information away from a related area.
Example: Motor neurons
Brain Parts
• the forebrain (prosencephalon)
• the midbrain (mesencephalon)
• the hindbrain (rhombencephalon)
Neocortex
Called the Isocortex, this has 6 distinct layers.
Action Potential
An electrical signal that travels through a neuron's axon
Depolarized
Becomes less polarized, so closer to 0. (less neg)
Hyperpolarized
Becomes more polarized, more negative.
Electrostatic Pressure
This type of pressure causes ions to flow to oppositely charged areas
Diffusion
Causes ions to move from high to low concentration
Ionotropic receptor
Fast, this receptor is for where a transmitter molecule binds to a channel
Metabotropic receptor
Slow, when activated this receptor generally changes some chemical property (G protein) and gets it to open the ion channel
Dopamine
NT related to happiness, reinforcement.

Found in the midbrain.
Ligand
Agonist- has receptor work as normal
Antagonist- blocks receptor
Inverse agonist- has receptor work opposite of normal
Norepinephrine
A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood regulation. Released in pons, midbrain, and medulla.
Seratonin
NT related to sleep, mood, sexual behavior, and anxiety
Refractory
Absolute- No action potentials produced
Relative- Can only send AP with strong stimulation
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