Ch. Two: Neuroscience

Question 1

What are the two parts of the nervous system?

Answer 1

1. Central (Brain and Spinal Cord) 2. Peripheral (Somatic and automatic)

Question 2

What are the two branches of the PNS and what do they do?

Answer 2

Somatic- Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles and transmits sensory information from the body to the brain.

Automatic-
- Regulates involuntary bodily functions
- Divided into sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) branches, which have opposing effects on bodily functions.
- Maintains homeostasis by coordinating physiological responses.

Question 3

What are the parts of a neuron?
(refer to diagram)

Answer 3

• Cell Body
• Dendrites
• Axon
• Terminal branches of the axon
• Axon
• Myelin sheath
• Neural impulse

Question 4

How do neurons communicate with one another?

Answer 4

Through electro-chemical processes

Question 5

What is an axonal transmission?

Answer 5

the propagation of electrical signals along the axon of a neuron, enabling communication between neurons.

Question 6

What is a synaptic transmission?

Answer 6

the process by which neurons communicate with each other across synapses, or junctions between neurons. It involves the release of neurotransmitter molecules from the presynaptic neuron, which then bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, leading to changes in the postsynaptic neuron’s electrical activity.

Question 7

Sensory Neurons

Answer 7

specialized nerve cells responsible for transmitting sensory information from sensory receptors in the body to the central nervous system (CNS)

Question 8

Motor neurons

Answer 8

Nerve cells that transmit signals from the central nervous system (CNS) to muscles, glands, and other effector organs throughout the body. These neurons are responsible for controlling voluntary and involuntary movements

Question 9

Interneurons

Answer 9

a type of neuron found exclusively within the central nervous system (CNS). They act as intermediaries between sensory neurons, motor neurons, and other interneurons, facilitating communication and integration of signals within neural circuits.

Question 10

What are neurotransmitters and how do they work?

Answer 10

Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that transmit signals across synapses, the junctions between neurons.

Question 11

What techniques do researchers use to study the structures and functions of the brain?

Answer 11

Neuroimaging
Electrophysiology
Neuropsychological Testing

Question 12

What are hormones and what do they do?

Answer 12

Hormones are chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands or specialized cells in various organs and tissues throughout the body. They are secreted into the bloodstream and travel to target cells or organs, where they regulate physiological processes and maintain homeostasis.

Question 13

What are the three major sections of the brain?

Answer 13

Forebrain
Hindbrain
Midbrain

Question 14

What did split brain research tell about the functioning of the left and right hemispheres?

Answer 14

The left and right hemispheres of the brain have specialized functions. The left hemisphere is primarily involved in language, logic, and analytical tasks, while the right hemisphere is more specialized in visual-spatial processing, creativity, and emotional expression. Split-brain patients demonstrated that each hemisphere can independently process information and control certain functions.

Question 15

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 15

The corpus callosum is a thick bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain. It serves as the primary pathway for communication between the two hemispheres