BIO BASES Flashcards
functional units of the nervous system
generate electrical impulses - sending messages to other cells
neuron
increase the cell’s surface area
dendrites
fuels the cell - houses chromosomes that carry genetic instructions
cell body
extends from the cell body
forms the beginning of the neuron’s axon
axon hillock
axon collaterals divide into “end” branches, knows as
teleodendra
how information travels through a neuron
dendrites - cell body - axon hillock - axon - teleodendria - terminal buttons
chemical message - carry a signal across the synapse to influence the target cell’s electrical activity
carry messages from one neuron to the next
neurotransmitter
decreases the neuron’s ability to pass information along
inhibitory synapse
increases the neurons ability to pass information along
excitatory synapse
like mini factories - product is proteins
tiny - 1 to 20 micrometers
neurons
separate the neuron from its surrounding and regulate the materials that enter and leave
cell membrane
finished proteins are packed in the membrane and addressed in the ____ ____ that pass them along to the cell’s transportation network
Golgi bodies
cell’s power plant
mitochondria
inside of the membrane carries a charge of
-70 mV (action potential)
slight increases or decreases in the axon’s membrane voltage
graded potential
decrease in axon’s membrane voltage
depolarization
increase in axon’s membrane voltage
hyperpolarization
brief but extremely large reversal in the polarity of the axon’s membrane
action potential
triggered when the cell membrane is depolarized to about -50mV
threshold potential
receives thousands of connections from other neurons
dendritic tree
the 3 classes of neurotransmitters
small molecule
peptide
transmitter gases
type of neurotransmitter that is quick acting - synthesized from dietary nutrients
small molecule
type of neurotransmitter that forms amino acid chains - relatively slow acting
hormones for growth, response to stress
peptide
type of neurotransmitter that controls muscles and dilates blood vessels
transmitter gases
small molecule neurotransmitter that assists in the breakdown of food
acetylcholine
peptide neurotransmitter that assists in the response to stress and attention
dopamine
brain structure that controls movement and balance
hindbrain
most distinctive hindbrain structure - sends connections to other parts of brain
necessary for fine, coordinated movements
motor coordination and learning
cerebellum
damage to this hindbrain structure results in equilibrium problems, postural deficits, and impairments in skilled motor activity
cerebellum
part of the hindbrain that controls sleeping and waking - maintains general arousal or consciousness
reticular formation
nuclei within the upper brainstem
pons
nuclei within the lower brainstem
medulla
means bridge - bridges inputs from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
pons
regulates breathing + cardiovascular systems
medulla
brain structure that mediates cognitive functioning
forebrain
3 main forebrain structures
basal ganglia
limbic system
cerebral cortex
part of the forebrain that is associated with movement - controlling movement patterns- supports associative learning
basal ganglia
part of the forebrain that is associated with self-regulatory behaviors (emotion, memory, spatial behavior, social behavior)
limbic system
part of the limbic system (forebrain) that is related to emotion - helps result in affective responses
amygdala
part of the limbic system (forebrain) necessary for personal memory and spatial navigation
contains many receptors for stress responses
important for episodic memory
hippocampus
memories are held in the hippocampus for a time, then generally consolidated in the ________
neocortex
______ and _________ contain the neural circuits for the overt expression of emotion and for automatic responses
Thalamus & Hypothalamus
Houses the thalamus and hypothalamus - lies between the forebrain and midbrain
diencephalon
contains 22 fiber systems
nuclei for regulatory functions - feeding, sex, sleeping, temperature regulation
responsible for fight or flight response
hypothalamus
contains 20 nuclei
relays sensory information to cortex
serves has hub - interconnecting many brain regions
thalamus
means bark in latin - outer layer of the brain
covers most of the brain
cerebral cortex
folds in the cortex
gyri
creases in the cortex
sulci
divides the 2 hemispheres
longitudinal fissure
made up of 17 networks
primary sensory
motor
cerebral cortex
back of each hemisphere
houses vision
occipital lobe
part of the occipital lobe that provides visual guidance
dorsal stream
part of the occipital lobe that assists with object perception
ventral stream
damage to this lobe may result in blindness or deficits in perceiving color, form, and movement
occipital lobe
sits behind the frontal lobe
processes and integrates sensory and visual information
primary function is guiding limb movement
parietal lobe
region of the parietal lobe that assists in mental manipulation, visuospatial functions, and spatial navigation
superior region
region of the parietal lobe that assists with spatial cognition
inferior region
damage to this lobe results in an inability to recognize objects by touch
deficits in math, reading, and spatial cognition
parietal lobe
lobe responsible for processing auditory information - important for understanding sensory input
temporal lobe
this hemisphere of this lobe processes the speed of auditory information
left hemisphere of the temporal lobe
this hemisphere of this lobe processing the frequency of auditory information
right hemisphere of the temporal lobe
The temporal lobe has ___ functional zones - they are?
(4) auditory visual emotion object memory
damage to the ___ region of the ___ lobe results in the disruption of the ability to recognize complex stimuli, such as faces
visual, temporal
front of the brain
primary function is to select behaviors with respect to context
frontal lobe
the frontal lobe has ___ functional zones - they are?
(4) primary motor cortex premotor cortex prefrontal cortex anterior cingulate cortex
this functional zone of the frontal lobe helps specific elementary movements
primary motor cortex
this functional zone of the frontal lobe helps with complex movements - selecting behaviors based on environmental cues
premotor cortex
this functional zone of the frontal lobe helps regulate socioemotional behaviors - decision making related to emotion and reward
prefrontal cortex
this functional zone of the frontal lobe helps modulate the other cerebral networks
anterior cingulate cortex
lesions to this lobe may result in disturbances of motor functioning / loss of divergent thinking / impaired response inhibition
frontal lobe lesion
____ lesions on the frontal lobe may impair language and movement
left
_____ lesions on the frontal lobe may impair non-langage functions - i.e. emotion
right
connects the brains hemispheres - allows them to interact
made up of 200-800 million fibers
facilitates communication between the 2 sides of the brain
transfers motor, sensory, and cognitive information between hemispheres
corpus callosum
_____ found speech in the _____ lobe - _____ side of the brain
Brocca, frontal, left
this hemisphere is considered the dominant hemisphere - has a special role in language
left
damage to this area may result in difficulties with speech production / generation of speech
Broca’s area (Broca’s aphasia)
located in the left temporal lobe - responsible for language comprehension
- where spoken language is understood
- comprehension of speech / receptive language
Wernicke’s area
difficulty in comprehending language
losing the ability to connect words with appropriate meanings - often unaware that spoken language may not make sense to others
Wernicke’s aphasia
______ - one hemisphere can perform a function not shared by the other
lateralization (Benton, 1964)
this hemisphere is logical, analytical, computer-like
left (Spring et al., 1998)
this hemisphere configures stimuli - synthesizer of info.
right (Spring et al., 1998)
_______ - the recovery of brain function after brain damage
neuroplasticity
if a brain injury occurs within the first ___ years = consequences are severe
if a brain injury occurs around the age of ___ = greater degree of normal development has preceded
2 ; 4 (Kauffman, 2001)
decreased ______ activity is associated with hyperactivity
noradrenergic
structural abnormalities associated with ADHD (Shaw et al., 2006) - what are they
delayed cortical development / cortical thinning / reduction of white matter / reduction in brain volume
low levels of ______ and ______ make controlling impulses difficult - can result in inattention and distractibility
dopamine and norepinephrine
what 3 neurotransmitters are linked to anxiety
Serotonin (low)
GABA
Norepinephrine
(Henry, 2013)
These two brain structures play a significant role in anxiety
amygdala (fear center)
hippocampus (encoding threats into memories)
depression is associated with decreased activity of _______ neurons
noradrenergic
depression is linked to low levels of these 3 neurotransmitters
serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine (Nemade et al., 2007)
for individuals that are depressed, the activity in the ____ is higher; while the size of the _____ is smaller
amygdala ; hippocampus
The emotion center of the brain - when someone is expressing anger they are using this
limbic system
storehouse for emotion - role in anger production
amygdala
this hemisphere plays a major role in producing strong emotions
right
anger is related to low levels of ____
serotonin
