Spinal Cord and Reflex Arc: Structure and Function

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the thyroid gland?

Producing human growth hormone

Regulating blood sugar levels

Secretion of melatonin

Regulating metabolism (correct)

Which type of explanation in physiological psychology focuses on how behavior relates to the physiology of the brain and other organs?

Biological explanation

Ontogenetic explanation

Physiological explanation (correct)

Genetic explanation

What is the name of the gland that secretes melatonin?

Pineal gland (correct)

Adrenal gland

Pituitary gland

Thyroid gland

Which glands are responsible for regulating sexual development and behavior?

Gonads Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the explanation of how behavior develops over a lifetime?

Ontogenetic explanation Signup and view all the answers

What type of genes focus on the genetic history of a behavior?

Sex-limited genes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the association areas of the cortex?

To coordinate and interpret information Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of a person with Broca's aphasia?

Inability to speak fluently Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the right hemisphere of the brain?

To recognize faces and patterns Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of damage to the association areas of the right hemisphere?

Spatial neglect Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the endocrine glands?

To secrete hormones into the bloodstream Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the left side of the brain?

It processes information sequentially Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the spinal cord?

To carry messages to and from the body to the brain Signup and view all the answers

What type of neuron carries information from the senses to the central nervous system?

Sensory neuron Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of an excitatory neurotransmitter?

To cause the receiving cell to fire Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of an interneuron in the reflex arc?

To receive information from sensory neurons and send commands to motor neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of an agonist on neuronal communication?

It mimics or enhances the effects of a neurotransmitter Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles?

Reuptake Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the mechanism of passing the message of inheritance from one generation to the next?

Heredity Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of a single egg fertilized by a single sperm splitting into two after fertilization?

Monzygotic twins Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the measure of how well differences in people's genes account for differences in their traits?

Heritability Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a protein that provides structural support for a chromosome?

Histone protein Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of two eggs fertilized by two different sperms?

Fraternal twins Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for an inherited disorder that increases the levels of a substance called phenylalanine in the blood?

Phenylketonuria Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the myelin sheath in nerve cells?

To allow electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the decrease in polarization towards zero?

Depolarization Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the synapse in the transmission of nerve impulses?

To relay nerve impulses from the axon of a presynaptic neuron to the dendrite of a postsynaptic neuron Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells?

To build the myelin sheaths that surround and insulate certain vertebrate axons Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of microglia in the brain?

To remove viruses and fungi from the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the mechanism that excludes most chemicals from entering the brain?

Blood-brain barrier Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Association Areas of Cortex

Association areas are regions within each lobe of the cortex responsible for coordinating and interpreting information and facilitating higher mental processing.

Aphasia

Broca's aphasia: a condition resulting from damage to Broca's area (usually in the left frontal lobe), causing difficulties with fluent speech, mispronunciation, and halting speech.
Wernicke's aphasia: a condition resulting from damage to Wernicke's area (usually in the left temporal lobe), causing difficulties with understanding and producing meaningful language.

Spatial Neglect

Spatial neglect: a condition produced by damage to the association areas of the right hemisphere, resulting in an inability to recognize objects or body parts in the left visual field.

Split Brain Research

Split brain research: a study of patients with severed corpus callosum, involving sending messages to only one side of the brain.
The research demonstrates right and left-brain specialization.

Results of Split Brain Research

Left side of the brain: controls language, writing, logical thought, analysis, and mathematical abilities, and processes information sequentially.
Right side of the brain: controls emotional expression, spatial perception, recognition of faces, patterns, melodies, and emotions, and processes information globally.

The Endocrine Glands

Endocrine glands: glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.
Hormones: chemicals released into the bloodstream by endocrine glands.

Heredity and Environment

Heredity: the mechanism used to pass on inheritance from one generation to the next.
Heritability: a measure of how well differences in people's genes account for differences in their traits.
Monozygotic (MZ) twins: conceived when a single egg fertilized by a single sperm splits into two after fertilization, also known as identical twins.
Dizygotic twins: conceived when two eggs are fertilized by two different sperms, also known as fraternal twins.

Evolution and Behavior

Evolution: the process of adapting to ensure survival and procreation.
Survival of the fittest: the survival of the best adapted to procreate.

The Pituitary Gland

Pituitary gland: a gland located in the brain that secretes human growth hormone and influences all other hormone-secreting glands, also known as the master gland.

Other Endocrine Glands

Pineal gland: an endocrine gland located near the base of the cerebrum that secretes melatonin.
Thyroid gland: an endocrine gland found in the neck that regulates metabolism.
Pancreas: an endocrine gland that controls the levels of sugar in the blood.
Gonads: the sex glands that secrete hormones that regulate sexual development and behavior as well as reproduction.
Adrenal glands: endocrine glands located on top of each kidney that secrete over 30 different hormones to deal with stress, regulate salt intake, and provide a secondary source of sex hormones.

Physiological and Biological Psychology

Physiological explanation: an explanation of how a person's physiology functions and how those functions affect a person's behavior.
Ontogenetic explanation: a description of how behavior develops over a lifetime, including the genes, nutrition, and experiences of a person.

The Spinal Cord

Spinal cord: a long bundle of neurons that carries messages to and from the body to the brain, responsible for very fast, lifesaving reflexes.

The Reflex Arc

Sensory neuron: a neuron that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system.
Motor neuron: a neuron that carries messages from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body.
Interneuron: a neuron found in the center of the spinal cord that receives information from sensory neurons and sends commands to the muscles through motor neurons.

Neuronal Communication

Chemical substances can affect neuronal communication through agonists and antagonists.
Agonists: mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell.
Antagonists: block or reduce a cell's response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters.

The Synapse

Synapse: a small gap between two neurons, where nerve impulses are relayed by a neurotransmitter from the axon of a presynaptic (sending) neuron to the dendrite of a postsynaptic (receiving) neuron.

Glial Cells

Microglia: removes viruses and fungi from the brain.
Astrocytes: star-shaped glial cells that provide nutrient support to neurons.
Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells: build the myelin sheaths that surround and insulate certain vertebrate axons.
Radial glia: guide the migration of neurons and their axons and dendrites during embryonic development.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the spinal cord, its role in transmitting messages between the body and brain, and the reflex arc, including the types of neurons involved and how they communicate. Learn about sensory and motor neurons, excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, and more!