Spinal Cord Anatomy

Goals and Explanations

• The goal of Biological Psychology is to understand the neural mechanisms underlying behavior and mental processes.
• An evolutionary explanation describes why a structure or behavior evolved as it did.

Research Methods

• Animals are used in research in Biological Psychology to better understand human behavior and mental processes.
• One reason for studying animals is to gain insights into human psychological processes.
• Ablation involves examining the effects of brain damage to understand brain function.
• Lesioning involves intentionally damaging a specific area of the brain to study its function.
• Sham Lesion is a control procedure where a fake lesion is created to compare with a real lesion.

Brain Imaging and Stimulation

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique that stimulates specific brain areas.
• Electroencephalography (EEG) records changes in brain processes.
• Positron-Emission Tomography (PET) is a neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity.
• Magnetoencephalography (MEG) measures the magnetic fields generated by electrical activity in the brain.

Brain Structure and Function

• Heschl's gyrus is involved in auditory processing.
• The hindbrain consists of the cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata.
• The gray matter in the spinal cord is densely packed with cell bodies and dendrites.
• The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response.
• The parasympathetic nervous system promotes relaxation and reduces stress.
• The white matter in the spinal cord is primarily composed of myelinated axons.
• The basal ganglia are a group of structures involved in movement control.
• The Substantia Nigra is involved in motor control and dopamine production.
• The Thalamus is a relay station for sensory information in the brain.
• The Corpus Callosum connects the two hemispheres of the brain and facilitates inter-hemispheric communication.
• The Frontal Lobe is responsible for executive functions, decision-making, and motor control.
• The Hippocampus is primarily responsible for storing certain kinds of memories.
• The Tectum in the midbrain serves as a relay station for sensory information.