Name: Chapter 2 The Biology of the Mind 1. Define the following: Phrenology Period: Biological psychologists 2. Explain the function of each Dendrites Nucleus Cell Body Myelin Sheath Axon Terminal Branches 3. Explain the role of each in the transmission of neural impulses. Sensory Neurons Motor Neurons Interneurons Sometimes SENSORY NEURONS are called AFFERENT neurons and MOTOR NEURONS are called EFFERENT neurons. Here s a simple memory mnemonic to help you remember these terms. SAME (Sensory =Afferent Motor = Efferent) AFFERENT = IN EFFERENT = OUT 4. Why is the MYELIN SHEATH so important? 5. What disorder results from the degeneration of the myelin sheath? 6. What is an ACTION POTENTIAL? 1
****You will need the internet for this section of the reading guide! Go to GOOGLE: Type in Neuroscience for Kids. In the left side column, click on Explore Scroll down to The Neuron and click on Lights, Camera, Action Potential. Answer the following questions based on your reading. 1. Neurons send messages electrochemically. What does this mean? 2. When chemicals in the body are electrically-charged they are called. 3. The important ions in the nervous system are and. 4. Nerve cells are surrounded by a membrane that allows some ions to pass through and blocks the passage of other ions. This type of membrane is called. 5. When a neuron is at rest, the inside of the neuron is relative to the outside. 6. The resting membrane potential of a neuron is about mv (mv=millivolt.) 7. At rest, there are relatively more ions outside the neuron and more ions inside the neuron. 8. An occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon, away from the cell body. 9. An is an explosion of electrical activity that is created by a. This means that some event (stimulus) causes the resting potential to move toward mv. 10. When the depolarization reaches about mv a neuron will fire an. This is the threshold. 11. Explain the All or None principle. 12. When the potassium channels open, potassium rushes out of the cell, reversing the. Also at about this time, channels start to close. This causes the action potential to go back toward a mv (a repolarization). 2
Return to Page 50 of your text for more information on Neurons. 1. Explain the difference between an excitatory and inhibitory signal. 2. What is a synapse? (Also known as a synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.) 3. What is a neurotransmitter? 4. Explain the process of reuptake. 7. Neurotransmitters are the chemical molecules that bind to the receptor sites. For each neurotransmitters listed below, explain its function. Also, list what diseases are associated with each neurotransmitter. (Table 2.1 Neurotransmitters and Their Functions) Acetylcholine Dopamine Serotonin Norepinephrine GABA Glutamate 8. What are endorphins? 9. What is an agonist? (Figure 2.6 is especially helpful.) Agonist example: 10. What is an antagonist? Antagonist example: 3
The Nervous System 1. What are nerves? Sensory Neuron: Motor Neuron: Interneurons: 2. Complete the diagram below with definitions of each part of the nervous system. If you want, you may recreate this chart on a separate sheet of paper. Nervous System Peripheral Nervous System Central Nervous System Somatic Nervous System Autonomic Nervous System Sympathetic Nervous System Parasympathetic Nervous System Fight or flight response 3. Summarize the importance of neural networks. 4. Define reflex. What controls general reflexes and pain reflexes? Why do you think your brain does not control those? 4
The Endocrine System 5. Define the following terms: Endocrine system Hormones Adrenal glands 6. Why is the pituitary gland often referred to as the master gland? 7. Describe the parts of the endocrine system on the following diagram: 5
Studying the Brain 1. Neuroscientists study the brain functioning in a variety of ways. For each of the research methods listed below, summarize briefly how it works and what it tells scientists about the brain. Lesion Electroencephalograph (EEG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan Functional MRI (fmri) Older Brain Structures: 2) Beside or under each brain part, describe its function: 2. What are the functions of the cerebellum? 3. Describe the role that the hippocampus plays in the limbic system. 4. Describe the role that the amygdala plays in the limbic system. 5. Where is the hypothalamus located? What does hypo mean? 6. Describe Olds & Milner s research. What did Olds & Milner discover? 6
The Cerebral Cortex 1. What is the cerebrum? 2. What is the cerebral cortex? 3. What are glial cells? 4. What are the functions of the four lobes? Out to the side, describe the function of each lobe. 5. What are the functions of the following? Motor Cortex Sensory Cortex Association Areas 1) Outline the motor area (also referred to as the motor cortex) with blue. The motor area is located within the frontal lobe. 2) Outline the sensory area (also referred to as the somatosensory cortex) with red. The sensory area is located within the parietal lobe. 3. What happened to Phineas Gage? How did it help us understand the brain? 7
The Brain s Plasticity 1. What is plasticity in the brain? When are brains most plastic? 2. What is neurogenesis? 3. What are stem cells? Our Divided Brain 1. What is the corpus callosum? 2. What did Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga do? 3. What happens in split-brain surgery? 4. What functions are mainly controlled by the left hemisphere? 5. What functions are mainly controlled by the right hemisphere? 6. An image is flashed on the left side of a screen. On the right side there is nothing. A split-brain patient is asked to identify the object. What will likely happen? a) The patient will not be able to name the object. b) The patient will be able to name the object. 7. Two different images are flashed on a screen. On the left side, a football is flashed. On the right side a baseball is flashed. When asked what he/she saw, what will likely happen? a) The patient will not be able to name either object. b) The patient will be able to name both objects. c) The patient will say football. d) The patient will say baseball. 8. A banana is flashed on the left side of a screen. On the right side there is nothing. A split-brain patient likely a) will not be able to banana, but will be able to draw banana with their left hand. b) will not be able to say banana, but will be able to draw a banana with their right hand. c) will easily be able to say banana. d) will be able to say banana and draw a banana with the right han 8
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