PSYCH 130 Midterm: Mind-Brain & Neuroscience

Idealism posits that reality is fundamentally mental, dualism separates mind and brain, and materialism views the mind as a product of the brain's physical processes.

Resting potential is the stable, negative charge of a neuron when inactive; action potential is a rapid, temporary reversal of this charge, allowing neural communication.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals released at synapses to transmit signals between neurons, influencing behavior and cognition.

EPSPs are excitatory, depolarizing the neuron and increasing the likelihood of an action potential. IPSPs are inhibitory, hyperpolarizing the neuron and decreasing the likelihood of an action potential.

Temporal summation involves multiple signals arriving at one neuron over time. Spatial summation involves multiple signals arriving at different locations on the neuron at the same time.

Myelin is a fatty substance that insulates axons, increasing the speed of electrical signal transmission.

An agonist mimics or enhances the effects of a neurotransmitter, while an antagonist blocks or reduces its effects.

VTA produces neurotransmitters like dopamine, is involved in reward and motivation, and projects to the nucleus accumbens.

Ghrelin is a hormone produced in the stomach that stimulates hunger and increases food intake.

Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells that signals satiety and helps regulate energy balance.

David Chalmers distinguishes between easy questions (neural mechanisms) and hard questions (subjective experience) in neuroscience.

Early scientists discovered that nerves use electrical signals to transmit information.

A "localized" system means specific brain regions are responsible for particular functions.

Broca linked speech production to a specific brain area; Gage's accident revealed personality changes from brain damage.

Phrenology incorrectly linked skull shape to personality traits, but accurately suggested functional specialization in the brain.

Cajal established the neuron doctrine: the nervous system is made of discrete cells.

Dendrites receive signals; axons transmit signals.

The neuron's membrane regulates ion flow, controlling electrical potential using protein channels.

The sodium-potassium pump maintains ion gradients by pumping 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in, requiring ATP.

Central nervous system (CNS) comprises the brain and spinal cord.

The brainstem includes the medulla, pons, and midbrain, controlling basic life functions.

Somatic controls voluntary movements; autonomic regulates involuntary functions.

Correlational studies observe relationships; experiments manipulate variables to determine cause and effect.

The clinicoanatomical method correlates clinical symptoms with post-mortem examination results.

Lesioning uses targeted damage; ablation removes tissue; aspiration suctions tissue.

Functional imaging (fMRI, PET) shows brain activity; EEG measures electrical activity with electrodes.

Psychoactive substances alter brain activity by affecting neurotransmitter systems.

Neurons downregulate activity through receptor desensitization, reuptake, and enzymatic degradation.

Hypofrontality is reduced activity in the frontal cortex, associated with impaired decision-making in addiction.

Dopamine and glutamate are produced by VTA and involved in addiction and learning.

Drives are internal states that motivate behavior to fulfill physiological needs.

The hypothalamus regulates survival functions via endocrine and autonomic nervous systems.

Humans naturally like sweet, salty, and fatty tastes; dislike bitter and sour tastes due to evolutionary survival needs.

Sensory- specific satiety reduces desire for a specific food after consuming it, promoting varied nutrient intake.

The hypothalamus controls eating behavior through lateral hypothalamus (hunger) and ventromedial hypothalamus (satiety).

NPY and AgRP (stimulated by ghrelin) in the hypothalamus stimulate hunger and decrease metabolism.

Modern food has made it easier to overeat due to high calorie density (easy to acquire energy) leading to obesity.