Ch 3 Neuroscience Flashcards
Natural selection
The environment selects the fittest organisms
Biopsychology
The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior and mental processes
Neuron
Cell specialized to receive and transmit information to other cells in the body
Sensory neuron
Nerve cell that carries messages from sense receptors toward the central nervous system also called an afferent neuron
Motor neuron
Nerve cell that carries messages away from the central nervous system toward the muscle and gland also called efferent neuron
Interneuron
A nerve cell that relays messages between nerve cells, especially in the brain and spinal cord
Dendrite
A branched fiber that extends outward from the main cell body and carries information into the neuron
Axon
In nerve cell an extended fiber that conducts information from the soma to the terminal buttons
Resting potential
The electrical charge of the axon in its inactive state, when the neuron is ready to “fire”
Action potential
The nerve impulse caused by a change in the electrical charge across the cell membrane of the axon. When the neuron “fires”, this charge travels down the axon and causes neurotransmitter to be released by the terminal buttons
All-or-none principle
Refers to the fact that the action potential in the axon occurs either full-blown or not at all
Synapse
The microscopic gap that serves as a communication link between neurons. Synapses also occur between neurons and the muscle or glands they serve
Synaptic transmission
The relying of information across the synapse by means of chemical neurotransmitters
Synaptic vesicle
A small “container” holding neurotransmitter molecules that then connects to the presynaptic membrane, releasing the neurotransmitter into the synapse
Glial cells
Cells that bind the neurons together. Glial cells also provide an insulating covering (the myelin sheath) of the axon for some neurons, which facilitates the electrical impulse
Nervous system
The entire network of neurons in the body, including the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and their subdivision
Central nervous system
Brain and spinal cord
Reflex
A simple unlearned response triggered by stimuli
Peripheral nervous system
All parts of the nervous system lying outside the the central nervous system including the autonomic and somatic nervous system
Somatic nervous system
A division of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information to the central nervous system and also sends voluntary messages to the body’s skeletal muscles
Autonomic nervous system
The portion of the peripheral nervous system that sends communications between the central nervous system and the internal organs and glands
Sympathetic division
The part of the autonomic nervous system that sends messages to internal and glands that help us respond to stressful and emergency situations
Parasympathetic division
The part of the automatic nervous system that monitors the routine operations of the internal organs and returns the body to calmer functioning after arousal by the sympathetic division
Agonist
Drug or other chemical that enhances or mimics the effects of neurotransmitters
Antagonist
Drug or other chemicals that inhibits the effects of neurotransmitters
Neural pathway
Bundle of nerve cells the follow generally the same route and employ the same neurotransmitter
