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Brain and Behavior > Brain Organization and Neural Functioning > Flashcards

Brain Organization and Neural Functioning Flashcards

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The Brain flashcards
1
Q

Golgi vs. Rámon y Cajal

A

Golgi: Neurons are continuous

Rámon y Cajal: Neurons come close to one another but are not connected

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2
Q

Neuron Doctrine

A

The brain is composed of separate cells that are distinct structurally, metabolically and functionally

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3
Q

Sir Charles Sherrington

A

Termed the synpase

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4
Q

Multipolar Neuron

A

A nerve cell that has many dendrites and a single axon

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5
Q

Bipolar Neuron

A

A nerve cell that has a single dendrite at one end and a single axon on the other end

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6
Q

Neural Plasticity

A

The ability of the nervous system to change in response to experience or the environment

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7
Q

Glial Cells

A

Glial cells support and enhance neural activity: they communicate with each other and with neurons, and they directly affect neuronal functioning by providing neurons with raw materials and chemical signals that alter neuronal structure and excitability.

Make up myelin

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8
Q

Myelin/Myelination

A

The fatty insulation around an axon formed by glial cells, that improves the speed of conduction of nerve impulses.

Less myelin = action potential

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9
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

All nervous system parts that are outside the bony skull and spinal column

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10
Q

Central Nervous System

A

Consists of the brain and spinal cord

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11
Q

Dorsal

A

Towards the back

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12
Q

Ventral

A

Toward the belly, front

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13
Q

Anterior

A

Head

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14
Q

Posterior/Caudal

A

Back

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15
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

Helps the body relax, recuperate, and prepare for future action (Uses Acetylcholine)

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16
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

Prepares the body for action (Uses Norepinephrine)

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17
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

The main band of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres

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18
Q

White Matter

A

A shiny layer underneath the cortex that consists largely of axons with white myelin sheaths

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19
Q

The Limbic System

A 
Critical for emotion and learning
Includes:
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Fornix
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20
Q

Hippocampus

A

A medial temporal lobe structure that is important for learning and memory

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21
Q

Thalamus

A

A complex cluster of nuclei that acts as a switch box, directing almost all incoming sensory information to the appropriate regions of the cortex for further processing.

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22
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Packed with discrete nuclei, it is involved in many functions such as hunger, thirst, temperature regulation. It also controls the pituitary gland serving as the brains main interface with the hormonal system.

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23
Q

The Ventricular System

A

A system of fluid-filled chambers inside the brain
Includes:
Lateral Ventricle- The lateral portion of the VS system within each hemisphere of the brain
Third Ventricle- The midline ventricle that conducts cerebrospinal fluid from the lateral ventricle to the fourth ventricle
Fourth Ventricle- The passageway within the pons that receives cerebrospinal fluid from the third ventricle and releases it to surround the brain and spinal cord.

24
Q

All living cells are more (positive/negative) on the inside…

A

Negative

25
Q

Ion

A

An electrically charged molecule

26
Q

Resting Membrane Potential

A

An electrical-potential difference across the membrane. Usually of about -50 to -80 mV

27
Q

Potassium Ion (K+)

A

Carries a positive charge

28
Q

Concentration Gradient

A

Variation of the concentration of a substance within a region

29
Q

Sodium Ion (Na+)

A

Carries a positive charge

30
Q

Sodium Ion Pump

A

Pumps three Na+ out for every two K+ in

31
Q

The Nernst Equation

A

Predicts the voltage needed to counterbalance the diffusion force pushing an ion across a semipermeable membrane from the side with a high concentration to the side with a low concentration

32
Q

Hyperpolarization

A

An increase in membrane potential (i.e the neuron becomes more negative on the inside, relative to the outside) (INHIBITORY)

33
Q

Depolarization

A

A reduction in membrane potential (i.e the interior of the neuron becomes less negative by letting in Na+) (EXCITATORY)

34
Q

Local Potentials

A

An electrical potential that is initiated by simulation at a specific site, which is a graded response that spreads passively across the cell membrane, decreasing in strength with time and distance.

35
Q

Threshold

A

The stimulus intensity that is just adequate to trigger an action potential (about -40 mV)

36
Q

Action Potential

A

A rapid reversal of the membrane potential that momentarily makes the inside of the membrane positive with respect to the outside.

37
Q

Applying strong stimuli to action potentials

A

Larger depolarizations produce more action potentials, not larger action potentials

The size (or amplitude) of the action potential is independent of stimulus magnitude.

38
Q

All-or-None Property

A

Either it fires at its full potential or it does not fire at all

39
Q

Hodgkin and Huxley

A

Established that the action potential is created by the movement of sodium ions (Na+) into the cell, through channels in the membrane.

40
Q

Action Potential

A

At its peak, the AP approaches equilibrium potential for Na+ as predicted by the Nernst Equation (about +40mV)
The concentration gradient is balanced between negative and positive ions
The membrane shifts properties, now depending on sodium, then returning to the resting state

41
Q

Voltage-Gated Na+ Channels

A

A Na+ selective channel that opens or closes in response to changes in the voltage of the local membrane potential; it mediates the action potential

42
Q

Axon Hillock

A

A cone-shaped area from which the axon originates out of the cell body. Functionally, the integration zone of the neuron

43
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

A gap between successive segments of the myelin sheath where the axon membrane is exposed.

44
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

A converted electrical signal, released from the presynaptic axon terminal that serves as the basis of communication between neurons

45
Q

EPSP

A

A depolarizing potential in the postsynaptic neuron that is caused by excitatory connections. EPSPs increase the probability that the post synaptic neuron will fire an action potential

46
Q

IPSP

A

A hyper polarizing potential in the post synaptic neuron that is caused by inhibitory connections. IPSPs decrease the probability that the postsynaptic neuron will fire an action potential

47
Q

Synaptic Transmission

A
  1. Action potential arrives at the axon terminal
  2. This depolarization opens voltage-gated calcium channels in the membrane, allowing calcium (Ca2+) to enter
  3. Ca2+ causes synaptic vesicles filled with neurotransmitters to fuse with the presynaptic cell
  4. The NTs are released into the synaptic cleft
  5. Transmitter molecules cross the cleft to bind with special receptors, leading to the opening of ion channels in the postsynaptic membrane.
  6. This creates an EPSP or an IPSP
  7. EPSP and IPSPs spread and determine if there will be another action potential
48
Q

Calcium Ions (Ca2+)

A

Activate enzymes that cause vesicles near the presynaptic membrane to fuse with the membrane and discharge their contents into the synaptic cleft.

49
Q

Ligand

A

A substance that binds the receptor molecules, such as those at the surface of the cell.

50
Q

Agonist vs Antagonist

A

Agonist: A molecule, usually a drug, that binds a receptor molecule and initiates a response like that of another molecule, usually a NT
Antagonist: A molecule that interferes with or prevents the action of a transmitter

51
Q

Loewi

A

Discovered the nervous system, long known to use electrical signals, uses chemical signals as well

Discovered ACh

52
Q

Ionotropic Receptor

A

A receptor protein that includes an ion channel that is opened when the receptor is bound by an agonist

53
Q

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel

A

Also known as chemically gated ion channel

An ion channel that opens or closes in response to the presence of a particular chemical

54
Q

Metabotropic Channel

A

A receptor protein that does not contain an ion channel but may, when activated, use a G protein system to alter functioning of the postsynaptic cell

55
Q

Degradation

A

When a transmitter is broken down and thus inactivated

56
Q

Reuptake

A

The process by which released synaptic transmitter molecules are taken up and reused by the presynaptic neuron, thus stopping synaptic activity.

Brain and Behavior (8 decks)

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