Chap 7

• Physiological psychology


  study of behavior as influenced by biology
• Imaging techniques


  allow researchers to map the structure and/or activity of the brain and correlate this data with behavior
• EEG


  Electroencephalogram. measures changes in brain electrical activity through electrodes placed on head. Especially useful in sleep studies, since different brain wave patterns are indicative of different stages of sleep
• CAT scans


  Computerized axial tomography scans. generate cross-sectional images of brain using a series of X-ray pictures taken from different angles
• MRI


  magnetic resonance imaging. Uses extremely powerful electromagnets and radio waves to get 3D structural information from the brain. But does not allow observation of brain in action over time
• fMRI


  Functional MRI. allow scientists to view the brain as it is working, by rapid sequencing of MRI images
• PET scans


  Positron Emission Tomography. provide images via diffusion of radioactive glucose being used in a given brain area. This procedure allows psychologists to observe what brain areas are at work during various tasks and psychological events
• Two subsystems of the nervous system (alphabet only)

  CNS and PNS
• CNS


  Central nervous system. brain and spinal cord
• PNS


  Peripheral nervous system. all other nerves in the body
• Neurons


  Make up the brain and the nervous system. Form a network that extends to the spinal cord (vertebrae).
• Both the brain and the spinal cord are bathed in a protective liquid called

  Cerebrospinal fluid
• In the spinal cord, the neurons are bundled into strands of interconnected neurons known as

  nerves
• Nerves sending information to the brain are called

  sensory (afferent) neurons
• Nerves conveying information from the brain are called

  motor (efferent) neurons
• Movement controlled by direct transmission from afferent to efferent cells at the level of the spinal chord are known as

  reflexes. A quick and evolutionary response to environmental stimuli. the path of the reflex arc goes from sensory (afferent) neurons to motor (efferent) neurons
• PNS can be subdivided into

  somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
• Somatic nervous system


  responsible for voluntary movement of large skeletal muscles
• Autonomic nervous system


  controls the nonskeletal or smooth muscles, for example the heart and digestive tract
• The Autonomic nervous system can be divided into

  Sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system
• Sympathetic nervous system


  associated with the processes that burn energy. Responsible for the fight-or-flight reaction (an increase in heart rate and respiration, accompanied by a decrease in digestion and salivation)
• Parasympathetic nervous system


  complementary system responsible for conserving energy. When the fight ends, this system becomes active, sending blood to the stomach for digestion, slowing heart rate, and conserving energy. This returns the body to homeostasis.
• 3 distinct regions of the brain

  hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain
• Hindbrain


  Oldest in evolutionary terms. Composed of the cerebellum, medulla oblongata, reticular activating system (RAS), and pons

  
• Cerebellum


  Controls muscle tone and balance

  
• Medulla oblongata


  controls involuntary actions such as breathing, digestion, heart rate, and swallowing (basic life functions)

  
• Reticular activating system (RAS)


  controls arousal (wakefulness and alertness). Within reticular formation
• Pons


  latin for "bridge". Passes neural information from one brain region to another. Also implicated in REM sleep

  
• Midbrain


  Major components: Tectum (roof) and Tegmentum (floor). Governs visual and auditory reflexes, such as orienting to a sight or sound

  
• Forebrain


  Contains limbic system and cerebral cortex

  
• Limbic system


  emotional center of the brain. Composed of the thalamus, hippocampus, and hypothalamus.
• Thalamus


  receives and directs sensory information from visual and auditory systems

  
• Hippocampus


  Involved in processing and integrating memories.

  
• Damage to the hippocampus does not eliminate existing memories, because memories are stored in the neocortex, but it prevents the formation of new memories. This condition is known as

  Anterograde amnesia
• Amygdala


  implicated in the expression of anger, frustration, and fear

  
• Hypothalamus


  Within Limbic system in forebrain. controls temperature and water balance of the body, controls hunger drives, and orchestrates the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system.
• The hypothalamus can be divided into

  the Lateral hypothalamus and ventromedial hypothalamus
• Lateral hypothalamus


  "on switch" for eating. A lesion to this part would lead to a decreased hunger drive and even self-starvation.
• Ventromedial hypothalamus


  "off switch" for eating. A lesion here would cause obesity and even death from overeating
• Cerebral cortex


  Within limbic system in forebrain. The outer wrinkly layer. Involved in higher cognitive functions such as thinking, planning, language use, and fine motor control.