Ch 3: Biological Psychology: Neurons and Glial

Question 1

Neurons

Answer 1

Nerve cells specialized for communication

Question 2

Biological Psychology

Answer 2

The study of the material substrates of the mind

Question 3

Neuron Diagram

Answer 3

Question 4

Neuron Cell Body (Some)

Answer 4

Central region on the neuron which manufactures new cell components and the renewal of them

Question 5

Dendrites

Answer 5

The portions of a neuron that receive signals and pass them on to the cell body

Question 6

Axon

Answer 6

Portion of the neuron that sends signals

Question 7

Axon Terminals

Answer 7

Knoblike structures at the ends of the axon

Question 8

Synaptic Vesicle

Answer 8

Spherical sac containing neurotransmitters that travels the length of the axon and bursts at the axon terminal, releasing neurotransmitters

Question 9

Neurotransmitters

Answer 9

Chemical messenger specialized for communication from neuron to neuron

Question 10

Synapse

Answer 10

The space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically

Question 11

Synaptic Cleft

Answer 11

The gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal

Question 12

Myelin Sheath

Answer 12

Glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of the neuron’s signal, and therefore help the neuron conduct electricity more efficiently

Question 13

Blood-Brain Barrier

Answer 13

A protective shield that insulates the brain from infection by bacteria and other intruders

Question 14

Glial Cell

Answer 14

A cell in the nervous system that plays a role in the formation of myelin and the blood-brain barrier, responds to injury, removes debris, and enhances learning and memory

Question 15

Astrocytes

Answer 15

The most abundant type of glial cell; control blood flow in the brain; blood-brain barrier; involved in thought, memory, and the immune system

Question 16

Oligodendrocytes

Answer 16

Type of glial cell; responsible for myelin sheath; promotes new connections among nerve cells and releases chemicals to aid in healing

Question 17

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Answer 17

The myelin sheath around axons are eaten away resulting in a progressive loss in the insulation of neural messages, and therefore a wide variety of physical and emotional symptoms

Question 18

Resting Potential

Answer 18

The electrical charge difference (-70 mv) across the neuronal membrane, when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited

Question 19

Threshold

Answer 19

The membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential

Question 20

Action Potential

Answer 20

Positively charged electrical impulse that travels down the axon, triggering the release of neurotransmitters

Question 21

Absolute Refractory Period

Answer 21

The time during which another action potential is impossible; limits the maximal firing rate

Question 22

Graded Potentials

Answer 22

Postsynaptic potentials that can be excitatory or inhibitory depending on whether positively or negatively charged particles flow across the neuronal membrane and in which direction they flow

Question 23

Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP)

Answer 23

Graded potential in a dendrite that is caused by excitatory synaptic transmission

Question 24

Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP)

Answer 24

Graded potential in a dendrite that is caused by inhibitory synaptic transmission

Question 25

Receptor Sites

Answer 25

Location that uniquely recognizes a neurotransmitter

Question 26

Reuptake

Answer 26

Means of recycling neurotransmitters

Question 27

Plasticity

Answer 27

The ability of the nervous system to change

Question 28

Neurogenesis

Answer 28

The creation of new neurons in the adult brain

Question 29

Stem Cell

Answer 29

A cell, often originating in embryos, having the capacity to differentiate into a more specialized cell

Question 30

Stages of Neuronal Change

Answer 30

Growth, of dendrites and axons Synaptogenesis, the formation of new synapses Pruning, consisting of the death of certain neurons and the retraction of axons to remove connections that aren’t useful Myelination, the insulation of axons with a myelin sheath