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CH3 Flashcards

1
Q

neurons

A

cells in the nervous system that communicate with one another to perform info-processing tasks

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2
Q

cell body

A

largest component of neuron coordinates info-processing tasks keeps cell alive (protein synthesis, nrg produc., metabolism)

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3
Q

dendrites

A

receive info from other neurons and relay it to cell body contains receptors to receive neurotransmitters

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4
Q

axon

A

carries info to other neurons, muscles, or glands

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

insulating layer of fatty material composed of glial cells (support cells in nervous system)

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6
Q

four main functions of glial cells

A
  1. surround neurons; hold them in place 2. supply nutrients & oxygen to neurons 3. insulate one neuron from another (like black electrical tape) 4. destroy and remove dead neurons
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7
Q

are there more neurons or glial cells? how much more?

A

10-50X more glial cells (cause one idiot can make a big mess)

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8
Q

synapse

A

junction between neurons (the axon of one and the dendrite/cell body of another)

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9
Q

what are the three different types of neurons?

A

sensory, motor, interneurons

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10
Q

sensory neurons

A

receive info from external world convey info to brain via spinal cord

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11
Q

motor neurons

A

carry signals from spinal cord to muscles to produce movement

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12
Q

interneurons

A

connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons

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13
Q

resting potential

A

difference in electric charge between inside and outside of a neuron’s membrane (-70 millivolts)

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14
Q

action potential

A

electric signal conducted along length of neuron’s axon to a synapse

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15
Q

refractory period

A

time following an action potential where neuron cannot fire again

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16
Q

describe the biological process of a neuron firing

A

resting potential: ideal circumstances, K+ molecules flow freely across cell membrane, Na+ kept outside action potential: electric stimulation of neuron shuts down K+ channels and opens Na+ channels, Na goes into axon, triggering action potential creates ion gradient, pump in cell membrane moves Na out and K in

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17
Q

terminal buttons

A

knob like structures that branch out from an axon filled with neurotransmitters

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18
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemicals that transmit info across synapse to a receiving neuron’s dendrites

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19
Q

receptors

A

parts of the cell membrane that receive neurotransmitters will either initiate or prevent a new electric signal

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20
Q

Acetylcholine

A

neurotransmitter activates muscles to initiate motor behaviour regulates attention, learning, sleep, dreaming associated with Alzheimer’s

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21
Q

Dopamine

A

neurotransmitter regulates motor behaviour, motivation, pleasure, emotional arousal high levels linked to schizophrenia, low levels to Parkinson’s

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22
Q

Glutamate

A

major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain enhances transmission of info between neurons

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23
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

primary inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain tends to stop firing of neuron

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24
Q

nonrepinephrine

A

involved in states of vigilance, heightened awareness of dangers in environment

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25
seratonin
involved in regulation of sleep & wakefulness, eating, aggressive behaviour
26
endorphins
chemicals that act within the pain pathways and emotion centres of the brain tl;dr dulls pain, elevates mood
27
agonist vs antagonist
agonist: excess neurons due to more production, or drugs enhancing their effects antagonist: drugs that block receptor sites (body stops producing natural amount, get off drugs and you're in withdrawal)
28
describe the nervous system
29
sympathstic vs parasympathetic
sympathetic: preps body for challenging/threatening situations parasympathetic: body @ normal state
30
spinal reflexes
simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle constrictions
31
hind brain
area of brain that coordinates info coming in and out of spinal cord includes the medulla, reticular formation, pons, and cerebellum
32
medulla
extension of spinal cord into skull coordinates heart rate, circulation, respiration
33
reticular formation
inside medulla, leads to cluster of neurons regulates sleep, wakefulness, levels of arousal
34
cerebellum
large structure of hindbrain that controls fine motor skills
35
pons
structure that relays info from cerebellum to rest of brain
36
midbrain
two main structures: tectum and tegmentum
37
tectum
orients organism in the environment; receives stimuli from eyes, ears, skin move organism in a coordinated way towards stimulus
38
tegmentum
involved in movement and arousal orients organism towards sensory stimuli
39
forebrain
highest level of the brain controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory, motor functions divided into cerebral and subcortical structures
40
cerebral cortex
outermost layer of brain, visible to naked eye, divided into two hemispheres
41
subcortical structures
structures nestled deep inside the brain hypothalamus, pituitary gland, limbic system, basal ganglia
42
thalamus
relays and filters info from the senses and transmits that to the cerebral cortex
43
hypothalamus
regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, sexual behaviour also part of limbic system
44
pituitary gland
"master gland" releases hormones that directs other glands in the body
45
limbic system
group of forebrain structures hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala motivation, emotion, learning, memory
46
hippocampus
SEAHORSE critical for memory formation integrates memories into a network of knowledge so that they can be stored in other parts of the cerebral cortex
47
amygdala
emotional processes, formation of emotional memories attaches significance ot neural events with fear, punishment, reward
48
basal ganglia
set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements receives input from cerebral cortex, sends output to motor centers of brain
49
corpus callosum
connects the large areas of the cerebral cortex, supports communication of info across hemispheres
50
occipital lobe
processes visual info
51
parietal lobe
processing info about touch contains somatosensory cortex
52
temporal lobe
hearing and language process info into meaningful units (speech and words) visual association area, interpret meaning of visual stimuli, recognize common objects
53
frontal lobe
specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, judgment contains motor complex
54
association area
composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to info registered in the cortex
55
mirror neurons
found in frontal and parietal lobe activated when doing an action, and while seeing another do that action (mirroring)
56
brain plasticity
adapting to changes in sensory input functions assigned to certain areas of the brain can be assigned to another
57
ontogeny vs phylogeny
development of brain within an individual vs within a species (individually, humans develop quickly. as a species, slowly)
58
genes
major unit of hereditary transmission (inheritence) organized into strands; chromosomes
59
degree of relatedness
probability of sharing genes monozygotic (identical twins): shares 100% dizygotic (fraternal twins): share 50%
60
epigenetics
environmental influences that determine whether or not genes are expressed, and the degree to which they are expressed does not alter the basic DNA sequences that constitute those genes
61
epigenetic marks
chemical modifications to DNA that can turn genes on or off
62
DNA methylation
special enzymes (aka epigenetic writers) adds methyl groups to DNA doesn't alter sequence but switches off the methylated gene
63
Histone modification
adding chemical modifications to proteins (Histones), which are involved in packaging DNA does not alter DNA code can switch on OR off (as opposed to DNA methylation)
64
Heritability
using genetic factors to account for differences in behavioural traits
65
EEG
electroencephalograph device used to record electrical activity in the brain

PSYC100 (7 decks)

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