Junk DNA
DNA that does not code for proteins; correlates with behavioral complexity of organisms and actually is very useful and controls the expression of other genes and controls their functions by accounting for translation of encoded information into the produ
Protein encoding DNA
3% of human DNA, about 21,000 genes; does not account for behavioral complexity
Vulnerability model
genes contribute to a predisposition for disorders such as schizophrenia, which may or may not exceed the threshold required to produce the disorder. Environmental challenges like neglect or trauma can combine with hereditary susceptibility to exceed this
4 principal structures of neuron
cell body, dendrites, axon, terminal buttons
Cell body
life support, regulation of chemical activity, collection and integration of information from dendrites to pass on info through the axon
Dendrites
branch out from cell body and function in reception to gather information from other neurons
Axon
extends from the cell body and carries and transmits information to the terminal buttons
Terminal buttons
rounded swellings at the end of the axon that synapse with another neuron; release neurotransmitters to communicate with other neurons, muscles, or organs
Action potential
neural impulse that abruptly depolarizes the cell membrane and allows the neuron to communicate over long distances; resting potential at -70mV with closed sodium and potassium channels, then local potential partially depolarizes membrane and only causes
All or none principle
action potentials occur at full strength or not at all
Corelease
neurotransmitters packaged in the same vesicles but can be released unequally through the partial opening of the fusion pores to allow smaller molecules to exit freely while impeding larger ones
Cotransmission
neurotransmitters are packaged in separate vesicles and have differing sensitivity to calcium, so low rate of neural impulses will trigger release of one of them, while high rate of neural impulses will release both; if the separate neurotransmitters are
8 structures of the subcortex
hypothalamus, thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, basal ganglia (caudate, putamen, global pallidus), corpus callosum, pituitary gland, ventricles
Subcortex
controls emotional responses as well as things such as fight or flight, desire, and addiction; cortex controls subcortex so that we are not always driven by these
Hypothalamus
ensures homeostasis and generates and regulates hormones, controlling emotion and motivated behaviors
Thalamus
receives information from all sensory systems except olfaction and relays it to respective cortical projection areas
Hippocampus
involved in the formation of memories as well as adult neurogenesis
Amygdala
associated with fear conditioning and negative emotions
Basal ganglia
functions in movement, habits, and addiction; caudate functions goal directed behavior, putamen functions sequence learning, global pallidus functions in controlling voluntary movements
Corpus callosum
consists of axons connecting the hemispheres and allowing them to communicate
Ventricles
contains cerebrospinal fluid that carries materials from blood vessels to the CNS and carries waste materials in the opposite direction
Pituitary gland
secretes hormones that control other glands in the body
Sympathetic nervous system
activates the body to help it cope in situations of emotional stress or physical emergencies; increases energy and fight or flight responses; sympathetic branch rises from the thoracic and lumbar areas of the spinal cord and most neurons pass through the
Parasympathetic nervous system
slows the activity of most organs to conserve energy but also activates digestion to renew energy (rest or digest); parasympathetic branch rises from cranial nerves and spinal nerves at the sacral end of the spinal cord; parasympathetic ganglia are not in
Why are locations of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems different?
they each serve their respective functions through their specific connectivity