Back to AI Flashcard MakerPsychology /GRE® Psychology Biological: Physiological/Behavioral Neuroscience Part 6
GRE® Psychology Biological: Physiological/Behavioral Neuroscience Part 6
This deck covers key concepts in physiological and behavioral neuroscience, focusing on neurotransmitters, hormones, sleep stages, and developmental biology.
What do agonists do?
Agonists act like neurotransmitters, binding to receptor cells, increasing that neurotransmitter's effect. Xanax is a GABA agonist
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Key Terms
Term
Definition
What do agonists do?
Agonists act like neurotransmitters, binding to receptor cells, increasing that neurotransmitter's effect. Xanax is a GABA agonist
What do antagonists do?
Antagonists prevent the action of a neurotransmitter, decreasing its effect. Botox is an acetylcholine antagonist
Fill in the blanks: A fetus will develop into a male if the __-__ _______ is present.
H-Y antigen
Fill in the blanks: During puberty, males release _________ and females release _______ to cause genital maturation and development of secondary sex characteristics.
androgens; estrogen
What is the beginning of the menstrual cycle, occurring during puberty, referred to as?
menarche
The menstrual cycle is moderated by changes in which hormone levels?
• estriadol • progesterone • luteinizing hormone (LH) • follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What do agonists do? | Agonists act like neurotransmitters, binding to receptor cells, increasing that neurotransmitter's effect. Xanax is a GABA agonist |
What do antagonists do? | Antagonists prevent the action of a neurotransmitter, decreasing its effect. Botox is an acetylcholine antagonist |
Fill in the blanks: A fetus will develop into a male if the __-__ _______ is present. | H-Y antigen |
Fill in the blanks: During puberty, males release _________ and females release _______ to cause genital maturation and development of secondary sex characteristics. | androgens; estrogen |
What is the beginning of the menstrual cycle, occurring during puberty, referred to as? | menarche |
The menstrual cycle is moderated by changes in which hormone levels? | • estriadol • progesterone • luteinizing hormone (LH) • follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) |
How do the effects of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) differ in males and females? | In females, LH and FSH govern ovulation In males, LH and FSH govern sperm and testosterone production |
What are the principal effects of oxytocin? | It stimulates the contraction of uterine muscles during childbirth and the release of breast milk. Oxytocin is also linked to pair bonding. |
What are the principal effects of vasopressin? | It stimulates water reabsorption by the kidneys and blood vessel constriction, which helps regulate blood pressure. |
What signals the thyroid to release hormones? | thyroid-stimulating hormone |
What does adrenocorticotropic hormone do? | (ACTH) | It controls the release of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and sex hormones. |
What method is used to study sleep states and patterns? | electroencephalography | (EEG) |
What are the two main categories of sleep? | REM (rapid eye movement); non-REM (or slow-wave sleep) |
How long does it take to get through non-REM sleep? | roughly 90 minutes |
Describe: stage 0 sleep | This stage occurs before sleep, when relaxing and closing the eyes, and is characterized by frequently occurring alpha waves at low levels. |
Describe: stage 1 sleep | The heart rate slowed, muscle tension reduced, irregular frequency of EEG waves, eyes roll, decreased response to stimuli, theta waves occur. |
Describe: stage 2 sleep | The heart rate, body temperature, and respiration decline, sleep spindles and K complexes are present in EEG. |
What are sleep spindles? | These are bursts of high frequency brain waves during stage 2 sleep. |
What are K complexes? | Occurring during stage 2 sleep, K complexes are sharp drops in EEG potential. |
Describe: stage 3 sleep | Sleep spindles are less common and delta waves (large amplitude, very slow waves) emerge. While people in stage 1 or 2 sleep will frequently deny they were sleeping if awakened, this will not likely occur in stage 3. |
Describe: stage 4 sleep | Delta waves are present at least half of the time, sleep is the deepest, growth hormones are secreted, and if woken up, one would be extremely groggy |
What are characteristics of REM sleep? | • dreams occur • beta waves (neural desynchrony) occur similar to waking states • muscles are unresponsive and flaccid • interspersed with non-REM sleep • roughly 20% of total sleep • lasts between 15 and 60 minutes |
Who gets more REM sleep: someone who gets plenty of sleep each night or sleep-deprived graduate students? | Those who are sleep-deprived spend more time in REM sleep. |
How many hours do babies sleep? How many hours do the elderly sleep (on average)? | • Infants typically sleep 16 or so hours per day. • The elderly, however, only sleep roughly six hours per night. REM sleep decreases with age, as well. Half of babies' sleep is REM sleep, but decreases to 20-25%. |
What are interneurons? | They are the neurons between other neurons, and are linked with reflexes, which are imperative for survival. |