Psych/Soc

• Neurons are the basic working unit of the brain; a specialized cell designed to transmit information to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells
• Reflex arcs are when interneurons in the spinal cord relay info to the source of stimuli while simultaneously routing it to the brain
• The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord
• The peripheral nervous system consists of nervous tissue and fibers outside the CNS
• The part of the nervous system that is responsible for fight / flight is the sympathetic nervous system
• The part of the nervous system that is responsible for rest / digest is the parasympathetic nervous system "Remember P for Parasympathetic: ""Relaxing and having a Piña colada on beach"" Khan Academy Link"
• Neurotransmitters are released by neurons to carry a signal
• Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter used to move muscles
• Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in focus and motivation as well as maintaining smooth movements and steady posture
• Endorphins & Enkephalins are neurotransmitters that are used as pain killers
• Epinephrine & Norepinephrine maintain wakefulness and mediate the fight / flight responses
• γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is an inhibiting neurotransmitter Glycine serves a similar function
• Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter
• Serotonin modulates mood, sleep, eating, and dreaming
• Cortisol is a stress hormone released by the adrenal cortex
• Testosterone and estrogen are hormones that mediate libido among other functions Testosterone is also associated with aggressive behavior Khan Academy Link - Estrogen Khan Academy Link - Testosterone
• The hindbrain includes the cerebellum, the medulla oblongata, and the reticular formation
• The midbrain includes the colliculi, the tegmentum, and the cerebral peduncles
• The forebrain includes the thalamus, the hypothalamus, the basal ganglia, the limbic system, and the cerebral cortex
• The thalamus is the relay station for sensory information Part of the forebrain
• The hypothalamus regulates homeostasis and is in charge of the 4 F's Integrates with the endocrine system Part of the forebrain
• The basal ganglia controls smooths movements and helps postural stability Part of the forebrain
• The limbic system deals with emotions, memories, and arousal (or stimulation) Part of the forebrain
• The amygdala is in charge of fear and aggression
• The hippocampus regulates emotions
• The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of neural tissue of the cerebrum Four lobes: Frontal Parietal Temporal Occipital
• The parietal lobe is associated with touch, pressure, temp, pain, and spatial processing
• The frontal lobe is associated with executive function, impulse control, speech, and motor
• The occipital lobe is associated with vision
• The temporal lobe is associated with sound, speech perception, memory, and emotion
• The left cerebral hemisphere is associated with analytic thinking, language, logic, and math
• The right cerebral hemisphere is associated with intuition, creativity, and spatial processing
• The rooting, moro, babinski, and grasping reflexes are examples of primitive reflexes They exist in infants and should disappear with age
• The rooting reflex is when an infant turns his or her head toward a stimulus
• The moro reflex is when an infant extends his or her arms in response to a falling sensation
• The babinski reflex is when an infant's big toe is extended and other toes fan out in response to brushing on sole of foot
• The grasping reflex is when an infant grabs anything put into hands
• Sensory receptors are sensory nerves that respond to stimuli
• Sensory ganglia are enlargements along peripheral nerves that transmit signals to the CNS
• Projection areas are areas in the four lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital) of the brain where sensory processing occurs