1.3 Neuroscience and Behavior Flashcards
neurons
- cells in the nervous system that communicate with one other to perform information-processing tasks
- communication occurs within and between neurons
- channels within a neuron control the amount of potassium that flows in and out of the neuron
cell body (soma)
- the part of a neuron that coordinated information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive
- contains the nucleus, which houses chromosomes containing your DNA
- proteins synthesis, energy production, and metabolism take place here
dendrites
- receive information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body
- tree-like structures
axon
- the part of a neuron that carries information to other neurons, muscles, or glands
myelin sheath
- insulating layer of fatty material
- located on the axon of some neurons
- increases the speed of neuronal transmission
- comprised of glial cells
glial cells
- support cells found in the nervous system
multiple sclerosis
- myelin sheath degeneration
- results in poor communication between neurons
- can lead to loss of feeling in limbs, partial blindness, difficulties coordinating movement
synapse
- the junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another
- how neurons communicate with one another
sensory neurons
- receive information from the external world
- convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord
- ex) sensory neurons in our eyes are sensitive to and receive signals for light
motor neurons
- carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement
- these can range from very short to very long (more than a foot long)
interneurons
- connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons
conduction
- the movement of an electrical signal with neurons, from the dendrites to the cell body and then throughout the axon
- created by the flow of ions in and out of the cell
transmission
- the movement of electric signals from one neuron to another over the synapse
ion
- an atom or molecule with a new charge
resting potential
- the natural electric charge of a neuron
- the difference in electric charge between the inside and out of a neuron’s cell membrane
- the electric charge is determined by the concentration of positively or negatively charged ions
Within a neuron
- K+ (potassium) and A- (protein) ions
outside a neuron
Na+ (sodium) and Cl- (chloride) ions
in resting state
- channels allowing the free flow of K+ are open
channels allowing the flow of Na+ are closed
refractory period
the time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated
terminal buttons
knob-like structures branching out from the axon
presynaptic neuron
the sending neuron
post-synaptic neuron
the receiving neuron
neurotransmitters
chemicals that transmit info across the synapse to receiving neuron’s dendrites
dopamine
regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal
high levels of ___ are liked to schizophrenia and low levels are linked to parkinsons
dopamine
glutamate
the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
acetylcholine (Ach)
involved in a number of functions including voluntary motor control
- activates muscles to initiate motor behavior
- contributes to the regulation of attention, learning, sleeping, dreaming, and memory
what disease is associated with a deterioration of Ach-producing neurons
Alzheimer’s
GABA (gamma-aminobutryic acid)
the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
Norepinephrine
involved in states of vigilance, or heightened awareness of dangers in the environment
Serotonin
involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating, and aggressive behavior
Central Nervous System
- receives sensory info for the external world
- processes and coordinated indo
- sends commands to the skeletal muscular systems for action
- comprised of the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
- connects the CNS to the body’s organs and muscles
somatic nervous system
- in the PNS
- set of nerves that conveys info between voluntary muscles and the CNS
- humans have conscious control over this system
actions that the somatic nervous system is in charge of
- raising your hand
- walking
- texting on your phone
- anything that you can control
autonomic nervous system
- in the PNS
- set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood, vessels, body organs, and glands
sympathetic nervous system
- in PNS in autonomic
- set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations
- ex) dilates pupils to let in more light, increases heart rate and respiration to pump more oxygen to muscles
actions that the automatic nervous system is in charge of
- heart beat
- blood flow throughout the body
- breathing (when its not being controlled)
parasympathetic nervous system
- in PNS in autonomic
- set of nerves that helps the body return to a normal resting state
what does the hindbrain do
coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord
what does the hindbrain consist of
- medulla
- reticular formation
- cerebellum
- pons
what does the midbrain consist of
- tectum
- tegmentum
what does the forebrain consist of
- cerebral cortex
- subcortical structures
what is the midbrain important for
important for orientation and movement
what is the forebrain important for
- considered the highest level of the brain
- critical for complex cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions
medulla
- an extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration
- apart of the hindbrain
reticular formation
- regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal
- apart of the hindbrain
cerebellum
- large structure controlling fine motor skills
- apart of the hindbrain
pons
- relays info from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
- apart of the hindbrain
tectum
- receives stimulus input from the eyes, ears, and skin
- orients the organism to the environmental stimulus
- apart of the midbrain
tegmentum
- involved in movement and arousal
- apart of the midbrain
cerebral cortex
- the outermost layer of the brain
- critical for complex cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions
- apart of the forebrain
subcortical structures
- areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the very center of the brain
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
- pituitary gland
- hippocampus
- amygdala
- basal ganglia
thalamus
- relays and filters info from the senses
- transmits the info to the cerebral cortex
hypothalamus
- regulates body temp, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior
- oversees blood sugar levels, metabolism within an optimal range
- also part of the limbic system
pituitary gland
- “master gland”
- produces and releases hormones that direct the function of many other glands in the body
the limbic system
- a group of forebrain structures involved in motivation, emotion, learning, and memory
- hypothalamus
- amygdala
- hippocampus
hippocampus
- critical for creating new memories
- dream box
amygdala
- important in the formation of emotional memories
- much research has focused on the role of the amygdala in fear
basal ganglia
- a set of subcortical structures that is important for motor function
- related in part to movement difficulties in Parkinson’s
striatum
- portion of the basal ganglia controlling posture and movement
gyrus
- the raised smooth parts of the cerebral cortex
sulcus
- the indentations or fissures of the cerebral cortex
commissures
- bundles of exons that make communication between the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex possible
corpus callosum
- connects the large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemispheres
occipital lobe
- back of the head
- processes visual info
parietal lobe
- located in front of the occipital lobe
- processes info about touch
- somatosensory cortex –> section of brain tissue that represents the skin areas on the contralateral surface of the body
temporal lobe
- lower sides of the head
- responsible for hearing and language
- contains the primary auditory cortex –> receives sensory info from the ears based on the frequencies of sounds
frontal lobe
- sits behind the forehead
- has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
frontal lobe
- sits behind the forehead
- has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgment
electroencephalograph (EEG)
- records electrical activity in the brain
- can also be used to measure behavior while awake (perception, learning, memory)
structural brain imaging
- provides info and the basic structure of the brain
- shows brain structure abnormalities
functional brain imaging
- provides info about the activity of the brain when people perform various kinds of cognitive or motor tasks
CT scan
- x-ray photos that show tissue density
- lesions and tumors are usually less dense
MRI
- uses a strong magnetic field to line up the nuclei of specific molecules
- useful for measuring structure not function
pet scan
- harmless radioactive substance is injected into the blood stream
- substance is traced as specific tasks require increased localized blood flood
fMRI
- detects differences between oxygenated hemoglobin (required in localized areas of functioning in the brain) and deoxygenated hemoglobin
