Chap 3

Question 1

What are the main features of a neuron? (6)

Answer 1

The dendrites, nuclei, soma, axon hillocks, axons, and terminal buttons/axon terminals

Question 2

What is the function of a dendrite?

Answer 2

It holds receptors for neurotransmitters to affect the neurons activity.

Question 3

Where does the axon begin?

Answer 3

The axon hillock

Question 4

What neurotransmitter sacs are housed in axon terminals?

Answer 4

Vesicles

Question 5

What is the space between neurons called?

Answer 5

The synaptic cleft

Question 6

What are the breaks between Myelin Sheathe components called?

Answer 6

The nodes of Ranvier

Question 7

What does propagation describe in a neuron?

Answer 7

The opening of more voltage gated channels to faster depolarize the cell into an action potential.

Question 8

In the central nervous system, which cells make up the myelin sheaths?

Answer 8

Oligodendrocytes

Question 9

What makes up the myelin sheaths outside of the CNS?

Answer 9

Schwann’s Cells

Question 10

What are the two nervous cells that form the immune system of the brain?

Answer 10

1. Astrocytes
2. Microglia

Question 11

What is a neural network?

Answer 11

A complex connection between the dendrites and axons of many neurons

Question 12

What is a nerve made of?

Answer 12

A large bundle of axons

Question 13

What is neuroplasticity?

Answer 13

The ability of neurons to change

Question 14

What is the neocortex of the brain? What is it responsible for?

Answer 14

The neocortex is the outer layer and is responsible for thought and conscious processing.

Question 15

What is the inner part of the brain that deals with life functions?

Answer 15

The medulla (oblongata)

Question 16

What is the difference between function of grey matter and white matter?

Answer 16

The grey matter deals with local processing and white matter helps connect areas of the brain.

Question 17

What does the pons regulate?

Answer 17

Alertness, sleep, and motor function

Question 18

What is the RAS? What does it do?

Answer 18

The reticular activating system is a network of neurons that regulates our attention and arousal, and spans the midbrain to the cortex and to the body as well.

Question 19

What is the limbic system function?

Answer 19

Endocrine systems, emotions, emotional memory.

Question 20

What are the 4 structures of the limbic system?

Answer 20

1. The cingulate gyrus
2. The amygdala
3. The hippocampus
4. The olfactory cortex

Question 21

What does the amygdala do?

Answer 21

It gives us responses to fear and strong emotion memory

Question 22

What is the role of the hippocampus?

Answer 22

memory formation, imagination

Question 23

What is the function of the cingulate gyrus?

Answer 23

It focuses on unpleasant things,

Question 24

What is the role of the hypothalamus?

Answer 24

It deals with homeostasis and regulation of hunger, temperature, etc.

Question 25

What does the basal ganglia help us do?

Answer 25

Start or stop movements, and automatic complex actions

Question 26

What are the 4 parts of the basal ganglia?

Answer 26

1. The dorsal striatum 2. The ventral striatum 3. Globus padillus 4. substantia nigra

Question 27

What do the striatum do?

Answer 27

It is where the inputs to the ganglia come in, and coordinates movement.

Question 28

What do the globus padillus and the substantia nigra do?

Answer 28

They send inhibitory or excitatory outputs to the thalamus

Question 29

What is the role of the cerebellum?

Answer 29

It deals with rhythm and timing of movements, and also integrates feedback.

Question 30

What are the three sections of the cerebellum and what do they do?

Answer 30

1. The spinocerebellar division fine tunes movement using feedback 2. The vestibulocerebellar division deals with balance/posture 3. The cerebrocerebellar division connects the pons medulla and cerebellum to adjust timing and planning.

Question 31

What are two newly found functions of the cerebellum?

Answer 31

Problem solving and emotional response

Question 32

What are the two major neural pathways from the motor cortex (precentral gyrus)?

Answer 32

1. corticospinal tracts (spinal) 2. corticobulbar tracts (face/head)

Question 33

What is the type of decision does the prefrontal cortex make? How?

Answer 33

If, then decisions through a series of on/off switches

Question 34

What are the two parts of the prefrontal cortex? What are they responsible for?

Answer 34

1. The ventromedial PFC is responsible for behavior based off fear. 2. The dorsolateral PFC is responsible for working memory and adjusting movement based off of circumstance.

Question 35

Why is the prefrontal cortex so late to develop?

Answer 35

It is one of the last places to undergo myelination.

Question 36

What three structures are present in the endocrine system? What are their functions?

Answer 36

1. Hypothalamus (secretes hormones and controls pituitary gland) 2. Pineal gland (melatonin secretion) 3. Pituitary Gland (hormone storage/secretion)

Question 37

What is the love hormone?

Answer 37

Oxytocin