1.1 Introduction to Neuroscience

Question 1

Biological systems operate under what conditions?

Answer 1

Closed loop conditions

Usually but not always negative feedback systems

Question 2

First part of the process

Answer 2

Environment is sensed by the biological system

Question 3

Second part of the process

Answer 3

Transduced in to the NS

- Sensory processing happens and informations from multiple sensors is integrated

Question 4

Third part of the process

Answer 4

After sensory processing etc it is transformed into signals to drive effectors

Question 5

What activates effectors (motor activity)?

Answer 5

Activated by biological system

Question 6

What happens when effectors are activated

Answer 6

causes the state of the environment to change and this change is feedback in to the system and the cycle repeats

Question 7

What does coordination require

Answer 7

integration of many systems and continuous adjustment (parallel information processing occurs for even simple tasks)

Question 8

What protects the brain

Answer 8

skull

Question 9

what protects the spinal cord

Answer 9

backbone

Question 10

What is CSF

Answer 10

cerebrospinal fluid that the brain and spinal cord are bathed in
Separated from general vascular system by blood-CSF barrier

Question 11

rostral

Answer 11

towards the nose

Question 12

caudal

Answer 12

towards the tail

Question 13

dorsal

Answer 13

towards the back

Question 14

ventral

Answer 14

towards the belly

Question 15

superior

Answer 15

upper

Question 16

inferior

Answer 16

lower

Question 17

horizontal plane

Answer 17

x-y

Question 18

coronal plane

Answer 18

y-z

Question 19

sagittal plane

Answer 19

x-z

Question 20

Sulci

Answer 20

grooves which define the borders between the brain lobes

Question 21

Gyri

Answer 21

elevated areas which define the borders between the brain lobes

Question 22

Why high degree of folding in the brain?

Answer 22

increases the SA so increases the computing power which results in ventricles full of CSF

Question 23

How is the cerebral cortex organised

Answer 23

it is organised in distinct layers

Question 24

what does each layer in the cerebral cortex consist of

Answer 24

each contains a characteristic distribution of neuronal cell types and connections with other cortical and subcortical regions

Question 25

Golgi stain

Answer 25

marks only a few cells completely

Question 26

Nissel

Answer 26

marks mostly only cell bodies

Question 27

Weigert

Answer 27

Mark processes but not cell bodies

Question 28

What reflects the different functions of the brain

Answer 28

the specific distribution of the 6 layers (cytoarchitecture) which vary in different areas of the cortex

Question 29

What did Brodmann do

Answer 29

Used biochemical staining methods to distinguish different functional areas

Question 30

Projection neurons

Answer 30

excitatory (glutamate)

Question 31

Local interneurons

Answer 31

inhibitory (GABA)

Question 32

How to keep balance between excitation

Answer 32

employing a huge no of local interneurons and mediated by projection neurons such as the pyramidal cells and inhibition.

Question 33

what causes epileptic seizures

Answer 33

if inhibitory interneurons were overpowered by the excitatory neurons in certain areas foci of local over-excitation

Question 34

Problem that can pccur during hypoxia which is similar to seizures

Answer 34

if insufficient oxygen is supplied, smaller neurons die first