Intro to Biopsychology

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of the body's energy does the brain consume?

10%

25% (correct)

20%

30%

How do neurons communicate in the brain?

Through mechanical signals

Through chemical signals only

Through electrical and chemical signals (correct)

Through electrical signals only

What is the primary focus of biopsychology?

The study of behavior and cognitive functions

The study of psychology and biology

The study of the biology of behavior (correct)

The study of brain structure and function

Who is credited with influencing the field of biopsychology with his book 'The Organization of Behaviour'?

Dr. D.O. Hebb Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the study of the biology of behavior?

Biopsychology Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the scientific study of the nervous system?

Neuroscience Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following divisions of biopsychology is concerned with the study of the effects of drugs on behavior?

Psychopharmacology Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the divisions of biopsychology?

They often have overlap Signup and view all the answers

What type of neurons are located close to the spinal cord?

First stage neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of sympathetic neurons in threatening situations?

To stimulate, organize, and mobilize energy resources Signup and view all the answers

Where do parasympathetic neurons leave the CNS from?

From the brain and the bottom level of the spinal cord Signup and view all the answers

What type of neurons travel longer distances before contacting second stage neurons?

First stage parasympathetic neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of sympathetic neurons in the body?

To stimulate and mobilize energy resources Signup and view all the answers

Where do sympathetic neurons leave the spinal cord from?

Lumbar and thoracic spinal levels Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of second stage neurons in the sympathetic nervous system?

They travel longer distances before contacting internal organs Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons?

Sympathetic neurons are involved in arousal, while parasympathetic neurons are involved in relaxation Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the afferent nerves in the somatic nervous system?

To bring in sensory information from the outside to the CNS Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system?

The CNS is housed in protective bony structures, while the PNS is outside the cranium and vertebrae column Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the efferent nerves in the autonomic nervous system?

To take out signals from the CNS to the internal organs Signup and view all the answers

Which nervous system is responsible for regulating the body's internal functions, such as heart rate and digestion?

Autonomic nervous system Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the sympathetic nerves in the autonomic nervous system?

To take out signals from the CNS to the internal organs to increase heart rate Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for increasing heart rate, while the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for decreasing heart rate Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the somatic nervous system?

To interact with the external environment Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the central nervous system?

To house and protect the brain and spinal cord Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the barrier in the blood vessels of the CNS?

To prevent the flow of toxic substances from the blood to the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is the outer layer of a neuron made up of?

Two layers of fat molecules Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum in a neuron?

Site of protein synthesis Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the railroad tracks used to transport vesicles in a neuron?

Microtubules Signup and view all the answers

What type of neuron has a single extension from the cell body?

Unipolar neuron Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the group of cell bodies in the CNS?

Nuclei Signup and view all the answers

What type of glial cell is responsible for myelination in the CNS?

Oligodendrocyte Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of astrocytes in the nervous system?

To cover blood vessels that supply the CNS Signup and view all the answers

What type of glial cell is responsible for responding to injury or disease?

Microglial Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the group of axons in the CNS?

Tracts Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic shape of parametal cells in the neocortex?

Multipolar with a parameter shape Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the hippocampus in the 'old cortex' structure?

Memory function Signup and view all the answers

Why does the cerebral cortex have a wrinkled structure?

To increase the cortical area without increasing the size of the bony cranium Signup and view all the answers

What type of neurons are stellate cells primarily composed of?

Interneurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the columnar organization of the neocortex?

Vertical connections across layers Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the bumps on the surface of the cerebral cortex?

Gyri Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic difference between the layers of the cerebral cortex?

Size of the cell bodies of neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the type of cortex that has folds, such as the human cerebral cortex?

Gyrencephalic cortex Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Biopsychology

The brain consumes 25% of the body's energy despite only making up 2% of its weight.
The brain communicates through neurons using electrical and chemical signals, with an infinite number of possible signal paths.
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system, and biopsychology is a field that focuses on how the brain generates behavior and cognitive functions.

The Brain and Behavior

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior, while bio refers to the scientific study of biology.
Biopsychology is a rapidly growing field that combines these two disciplines to study the biology of behavior.
Dr. D.O. Hebb's work, "The Organization of Behaviour" (1949), was influential in establishing biopsychology as an integrative discipline.
Biopsychology considers various subfields, including neuropharmacology, neuropathology, neurochemistry, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, and neuroendocrinology.

Divisions of Biopsychology

Physiological psychology
Psychopharmacology
Neuropsychology
Psychophysiology
Cognitive neuroscience
Comparative psychology

Divisions of the Nervous System

Central nervous system (CNS): brain and spinal cord, housed in protective bony structures
Peripheral nervous system (PNS): outside the cranium and vertebrae column
- Somatic nervous system: interacts with external environment
  - Afferent nerves: bring in sensory information from outside to the CNS
  - Efferent nerves: take out signals from the CNS to the external environment
- Autonomic nervous system: interacts with internal environment, regulates body internally
  - Afferent nerves: bring in signals from internal organs to the CNS
  - Efferent nerves: take out signals from the CNS to internal organs

Neurons and Glial Cells

Neurons: cells of the nervous system, with a membrane and embedded proteins
External features of neurons:
- Dendrites: receive signals from other cells
- Axon: carries signals to the end of the neuron
- Synaptic vesicles: contain neurotransmitters
Internal features of neurons:
- Nucleus: contains genetic material
- Mitochondria: site of aerobic energy release
- Rough endoplasmic reticulum: site of protein synthesis
- Fluid endoplasmic reticulum: site of fat synthesis
- Cytoplasm: internal environment of the cell
Glial cells:
- Oligodendrocytes: CNS only, myelinate axons
- Schwann cells: PNS only, myelinate axons
- Microglial cells: respond to injury or disease
- Astrocytes: largest glial cells, cover blood vessels that supply the CNS

Neocortex Organization

Different types of cells located in the layers of the neocortex
- Parametal cells: multipolar neurons with a parameter shape
- Stellate cells: shaped like stars, short axons, mainly interneurons
Differences in the layers of the cerebral cortex
- Size of cell bodies
- Density of cell bodies
- Relative proportions of parametal and stellate cells
Columnar organization of the neocortex
- Vertical connections across layers due to dendrites of parametal cells
- Neurons in a given column form a mini-circuit
Thickness of the different layers may vary

Old Cortex Structure

Hippocampus: located on the medial edge of the cerebral cortex, has 3 layers, and is involved in memory function
Wrinkled structure: cerebral cortex has folds, increasing cortical area without increasing the size of the cranium

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Description

Explore the basics of biopsychology, including the brain's energy consumption, neural communication, and the study of neuroscience and its relation to behavior and cognitive functions.