Ch. 3 - Neuroscience and Behavior Flashcards
what is the nervous system
the pathway for the instructions that permit our bodies to carry out such precise activities
neurons
nerve cells - the basic components of the nervous system
how many neurons are in the body
as many as 1 trillion
glial cells
hold neurons in place
what makes neurons different
they can communicate with other cells and transmit information
dendrites
the part of the neuron that receives messages from other neurons
what do dendrites look like
twisted tree branches
axon
carries messages received by the dendrites to other neurons
terminal buttons
send messages to other neurons
-small bulge at the end of the axon
myelin sheath
insulate axons
-also increase the velocity at which electrical impulses travel thru axons
all or none law
neurons follow it..they are either off or they are firing
action potential
the electrical impulse that travels along the axon
mirror neurons
neurons that fire when a person simply observes another individual carrying out a behavior
synapse
space b/w 2 neurons where the axon communicates with the dendrite using chemical messages
neurotransmitter
carry a message from one neuron to another
excitatory messages
chemical messages that make it more likely that a receiving neuron will fire and an action potential will travel down its axon
inhibitory messages
provide chemical info that prevents or decreases the likelihood that the receiving neuron will fire
reuptake
the process in which a neurotransmitter produced by a terminal button is reabsorbed by the terminal button
acetylcholine (2 functions)
muscle movement, cognitive functioning (memory)
glutamate (1)
memory
GABA (3)
eating, aggression, sleeping
dopamine (4)
movement control, pleasure and reward, attention, learning
serotonin (5)
sleeping, eating, mood, pain, depression
endorphins (4)
pain suppression, pleasurable feelings, appetites, placebos
CNS (central nerv sys)
brain and spinal cord
spinal cord
contains bundle of neurons that leaves the brain and runs down length of back
what does the spinal cord do?
primary means for transmitting messages b/w the brain and the rest of the body
reflex
automatic, involuntary response to an incoming stimulus
sensory neurons (afferent)
transmit info FROM the perimeter of the body to the CNS
motor neurons (efferent)
send messages from the brain and nervous sys to the muscles and glands
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
branches out from the spinal cord and reaches the extremities of the body
somatic division
PNS, specializes in voluntary movements
autonomic division
PNS, controls parts of the body that automatically function to keep us alive
sympathetic division
prepares the body for action in stressful situations
-fight or flight
parasympathetic division
acts to calm the body after the emergency has ended
hierarchically organized
newer and more sophisticated regions of the brain regulate the older parts of the Nerve Sys
endocrine system
chemical communication network that sends messages thru the body vis the bloodstream
what is the endocrine system’s job
to secrete hormones
hormones
chemicals that circulate thru the blood and regulate the functioning or growth of the body
pituitary gland
master gland, controls rest of endocrine system
EEG
records electrical activity in the brain thru electrodes placed on the outside of the skull
fMRI
3D image of brain structures and activity
PET scan
biochemical activity w/in the brain
TMS
to understand the functioning of the brain
central core
“old brain”
cerebellum
controls bodily balance
reticular formation
general arousal of the body
thalamus
relay station for info on the senses
hypothalamus
maintains homeostasis
homeostasis
steady internal environment for the body
limbic system
emotions and self preservation
hippocampus
learning and memory
cerebral cortex
‘new brain’
- consists of the 4 lobes
frontal lobe
motor area
parietal lobe
somatosensory area (touch and pressure)
temporal lobe
auditory area
occipital lobe
visual area
association area
site of higher mental processes such as thinking, language, memory, and speech
executive functions
planning, goal setting, judgement, impulse control
neuroplasticity
brains ability to change throughout the life span, in response to experience
neurogenesis
new neurons are created in certain areas of the brain during adulthood
left hemisphere
right side of body
- language processing
- piece by piece
right hemisphere
left side of body
-globally understands info, as a whole
a neuron has a negative electrical charge of 70 millivolts when…
its in a resting state
the limbic system consists of two things…
amygdala and hippocampus
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
antidepressant drugs that permit certain neurotransmitters to remain active for a longer period at certain synapses in the brain
optogenetics
genetic engineering and the use of special types of light to view circuits of neurons
