Brain chemistry

Question 1

What does action potential mean ?

Answer 1

Action potential = a large abrupt localised spreading change in membrane voltage, can be referred as a spike in the membrane potential

Question 2

What needs to happen with sodium ions and potassium ions for the resting potential ?, also what is a key component with resting potential?

Answer 2

• Potassium is pumped in and sodium is pumped out
• A store of negative energy on the intracellular side relative to the extracellular side

Question 3

What is main type of lipid transmitters?

Answer 3

• endocannabinoids

Question 4

What are the two main types of receptors ?

Answer 4

• Ionotropic
• Metabotropic

Question 5

What are the key differences between Ionotropic and Metabotropic receptors?

Answer 5

• Ionotropic - FAST ACTING
• Metabotropic - SLOW ACTING
• Ionotropic is a embedded membrane protein with two parts ; a binding site and a pore
• Metabotropic is an embedded membrane protein with ONE parts; a binding site and NO pore

Question 6

What are the 4 main types of neurotransmitters that we need to know?

Answer 6

1) Small molecule transmitters
2) Peptide transmitters
3) Lipid transmitters
4) Gaseous transmitters

Question 7

What is the charge of a neuron when it is in a resting state ?

Answer 7

– -70mV

Question 8

What are the 4 key principles when talking about electrical signals WITHIN cells ?

Answer 8

1) cells carry a charge
2) the charge can vary
3) cellular summation of electrical signals
4) summation can lead to action potentials

Question 9

What are a few examples of different types of synapses ?

Answer 9

• Dendrodendritic - Dendrites send messages to other dendrites
• Axoextracellular - Terminal with no specific target, secretes transmitters into extracellular fluid
• Axosynaptic - Axon terminal ends on another terminal

Question 10

What is a graded potential ?

Answer 10

• The small voltage fluctuation across a cell membrane

Question 11

What is an oscilloscope?

Answer 11

Oscilloscope = specialised device that serves as a SENSITIVE voltmeter, registering changes in voltage over time

Question 12

What is a microelectrode?

Answer 12

Microelectrode = A microscopic insulated wire or a saltwater - filled glass tube whose uninsulated tip is used to stimulate or record from neurons

Question 13

What does the key term transducing mean ?

Answer 13

Transducing = transforming

Question 14

What is the condition myasthenia gravis ?

Answer 14

It is an autoimmune disease where the thymus (which is an autoimmune disease that normally produces antibodies that bind to foreign materials like viruses) ,actually instead produces antibodies that bind to acetylcholine receptors on muscles, causing weakness and fatigue