Ch. 2 Biopsych Flashcards
nervous system
network of cells that carries info to and from all parts of the body
neuroscience
deals with structure & function of neurons and nervous tissue
neuron
basic cell that makes up the nervous system and receivds and sends messages within that system
dendrite
branchlike structure that receive messages from other neuronss
soma
cell body of neuron responsible for maintaining the life of the cell; contains nucleus
axon
tube-like structure or fiber attached to soma that carries the neural message to other cells
synapse
tiny gap between the ends of nerve fibers across which nerve impulses pass from one neuron to another; at synapse, impulse causes the release of neurotransmitted –> electrical impulse in next neuron
Do people use only 10% of brain?
yes; 10% of brain is neurons, 90% of glial cells
glial cells
grey fatty cells that provide support and insulation for the neurons to grow on and around, deliver nutrients to neurons, produce myelin to coat axons, clean up waste products and dead neurons, influence information processing and during prenatal development, and influence the generation of new neurons
oligodendrocytes
generate myelin in brain and spinal cord
Schwann Cells
generate myelin in neurons of the bodym
myelin
fatty substances produced by certain glial cells that coat the axons of neurons to insulate, protect, and speed up the neural impulse
nerves
bundles of axons coated in myelin that travel together through the body
neural impulse
inside & outside the cell is semi-liquid w/ ions
–> inside: negatively charged
–> outside: positively charged
negative ions are bigger than positive ions; cannot fit the “gates”
resting potential
state of neuron when not firing a neural impulse
action potential
state of neuron when dendrites are activated and cell receives stimulation from another cell
–>electrical charge reversal starts at axon part nearest to soma
–> “gates” open: inside cell positive, outside positive
–> at the end of the axon, message is transmitted to another cell
strong stimulus
causes neuron to fire more quickly and more neurons to fire
resting state
sodium ion gates close immediately after action potential passes; cell membrane pumps out sodium ions back out the cell
–> K+ ions move out
axon terminal
branch at the end of the axon
synaptic knob (terminal button)
rounded areas on the end of the axon terminals
synapse or synaptic gap
microscopic fluid-filled space between the synaptic knob of one cell and the dendrites or surface of the next cell
receptor sites
holes in the surface of the dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands which are shaped ot fit only certain neurotransmitters
–> when action potential reaches synaptic vesicles, the vesicles release their transmitter into the synaptic gap
–> next cell stimulated is a neuron, muscle, or gland
excitatory synapse
synapse at which a neurotransmitter causes the receiving cell to fire
inhibitory synapse
synapse at which a neurotransmitter causes the receiving cell to stop firing
agonists
chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing the activity of that cell
antagonists
chemical substances that block or reduce a cell’s response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters
acetylcholine
-stimulates skeletal muscles to contract, slows contractions in heart muscle
1st neurotransmitter identified, found at synapse between neurons and muscle cells
glutamate
nervous system’s major excitatory neurotransmitter
–> learning and memory, development of the nervous system
GABA (gamma-aminobutryic acid)
most common neurotransmitter producing inhibitory effect in brain; calms anxiety
serontonin
associated with sleep, mood, appetite
–> excitatory or inhibitory effect
dopamine
found in brain
–> low levels = Parkinson’s
–> high levels = Schizophrenia
endorphins
pain-controlling chemicals in body
–> has same effect as morphine
–> leads to addiction to heroin or opium
norepihephrine
both a neurotransmitter and a hormone that helps transmit nerve signals across nerve endings to another nerve cell, muscle cell or gland cell
–> increases heart rate and blood pumping from the heart.
–> increases blood pressure and helps break down fat and increases blood sugar levels to provide more energy to the body.
reuptake
process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles
enzyme
complex protein that is manufactured by cells
spinal cord
long bundle of neurons that carries messages between the body and brain, responsible for very fast, lifesaving reflexes
afferent (sensory neurons)
carry messages from senses to spinal cord
efferent (motor neurons)nec
carry messages from the spinal cord to the muscles and glands
interneurons
connect the afferent neurons to the motor neurons
neuroplasticity
the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or traums
stem cells
special cells found in all body tissues that are capable of manufacturing other cell types for replacement
peripheral nervous system
allows the brain and spinal cord to communicate with sensory systems (eyes,ears, skin, mouth) and allows the brain and spinal cord to control the muscles and glands of the body
somatic nervous system
controls voluntary movement
autonomic nervous system
controls organs, glands, and involuntary muscles
parasympathetic
“eat-drink-rest”–restores the body to normal functioning after arousal, responsible for day to day functioning
sympathetic nervous system
“fight or flight”–reacts to stressful events and bodily arousal
deep lesioning (clinical study of brain)
insertion of thin, insulated wire in the brain through which an electrical current destroys the brain cells at the tip of the wire
electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)
milder electrical current causes neurons to react
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
magnetic pulses applied to cortex using special copper wire coils positioned over head
computed tomography scans (CT scans)
brains imaging method using computer controlled x-rays of the brain
–> can show stroke damage, tumors, injuries and abnormal brain structure
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scans)
brain imaging method using radio waves and magnetic fields of the body to produce detailed images of the brain
–> 3D image of brain
magnetoencephalography (MEG)
non-invasive medical test that measures the magnetic fields produced by your brain’s electrical currents. It is performed to map brain function and to identify the exact location of the source of epileptic seizures.
electroencephalogram (EEG)
records electric activity of the brain below specific areas of the skull
positron emission tomography (PET)
radioactive sugar is injected and a computer compiles a color-coded image of brain activity of the brain
single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
similar to PET, different radioactive tracers
functional MRI (fMRI)
computer makes a “movie” of changes in the activity of the brain by using images from diff time periods
medulla
responsible for life-sustaining functions (breathing, swallowing, heart rate)
pons (“bridge”)
connects the top of the brain to bottom; plays a party in sleep, dreaming, body coordination, and arousal
reticular formation
responsible for selective attention
–> area of neurons running through the middle of medulla and slightly beyong
cerebellum
part of lower brain located behind the pons; controls and coordinates involuntary and voluntary movement
–> reflexes, skills, habits stored here
thalamus
relays sensory information from lower part of brain to proper areas of cortex
–> damage leads to loss or partial loss of sensations
hypothalamus
regulates body temp, motivational behavior, controls pituitary gland
pituitary gland
“master gland”, controls the functions of other endocrine glands
hippocampus
responsible for formation of long-term memories and location of objects
amygdala
responsible for fear responses and memory of fear
–near hippocampus
cortex
responsible for higher thought processes and interpretation of sensory input
–> cerebral hemispheres connected by corpus callosum (allow left and right to communicate)
occipital lobes
contain visual centers of the brain
–> process visual info from eyes (primary visual cortex)
–> identify and make sense of visual information (visual association cortex)
parietal lobes
centers for touch, taste, and temp sensations
–somatosensory cortex
temporal lobe
responsible for sense of hearing and meaningful speech, processes sense of taste
frontal lobes
higher mental processes, decision making, production of fluent speech, control of emotions through connection to limbic system
–> motor cortex sends motor commands to muscles of somatic NS
Broca’s area
left frontal lobe, speech production
Borach’s aphasis–> unable to speak fluently, mispronounces words, and speaks haltingly
cerebrum
Wernicke’s Area
left temporal love, understanding the meaning of words
Wernicke’s aphasia–unable to understand or produce meaningful language
pineal gland
a tiny gland in your brain that’s located beneath the back part of the corpus callosum, secretes the hormone melatonin
== helps control the circadian cycle
thyroid gland
gland that produces hormones that regulate the body’s metabolic rate, growth and development.
controlls heart, muscle and digestive function, brain development and bone maintenance. Its correct functioning depends on a good supply of iodine from the diet.
pancreas
an organ located in the abdomen that converts the food we eat into fuel for the body’s cells. T
–> two main functions: an exocrine function that helps in digestion and an endocrine function that regulates blood sugar.
gonads
reproductive organs that produce gametes –> testes or ovary
The branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons are called___
c. dendrites
Which of the following are tiny sacs in a synaptic knob that release chemicals into the synapse?
a. synpatic vesicles
Which of the following are responsible for acting as a facilitator of communication between neurons?
interneurons
Every deliberate action you make, such as pedaling a bike, walking, scratching, or smelling a flower, involves neurons in the ______ nervous system
somatic
Which endocrine gland controls all of the other endocrine glands?
pituitary
The point at which the nerves from the left side of the body cross over into the right side of
the brain, and vice versa, is the _
medulla
Signals from the neurons of which sense are NOT sent to the cortex by the thalamus?
smell
Which of the following is the section of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each
cerebral hemisphere and contains the visual centers of the brain?
a. occipital lobe
b. parietal lobe
c. temporal lobe
d. frontal lobe
occipital lobe
The area of the frontal lobe that is devoted to the production of fluent speech is ______
area
Broca’s
Which of the following is the upper part of the brain consisting of two cerebral
hemispheres and the structures that connect them?
a. occipital lobe
b. cerebrum
c. corpus callosum
d. cerebellum
cerebrum
The two main divisions of the nervous system are the ________ and _______
peripheral and central
Which part of the neuron is responsible for maintaining the life of the cell?
soma
Which of the following neurotransmitters functions as a common inhibitory
neurotransmitter in the brain?
GABA
Which part of the nervous system takes the information received from the senses, makes
sense out of it, makes decisions, and sends commands out to the muscles and the rest of
the body?
brain
The part of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for reacting to stressful
events and bodily arousal is called the ______________ nervous system
sympathetic
Hormones are ___________
chemicals released into the bloodstream by the endocrine glands
A brain-imaging method using radio waves and magnetic fields of the body to produce
detailed images of the brain is called _____________
MRI
What part of the brain acts as a relay station for incoming sensory information?
thalamus
Which of the following regions contains the primary visual cortex?
occipital lobe
Which of the following is a function of the right hemisphere?
perception, expression of emotion, and recognition of patterns
