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Physiological Psychology > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Central nervous System

A

brain and spinal cord

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2
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

The part of the nervous system outside of the brain and the spinal cord, including the nerves attached to the brain and spinal cord

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3
Q

Nerves

A

Bundles of individual neurons contained within a protective membrane; that relay sensory from the body to the central nervous system and relay motor information from the central nervous system to the body

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4
Q

Axoplasmic Transport

A

An active process by which substances are propelled along microtubes that run the length of the axon; occurs only within one axon

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5
Q

Anterograde

A

In a direction along an axon from the cell body toward the terminal button

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6
Q

Retrograde

A

In a direction along an axon from the terminal button toward the cell body

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7
Q

Membrane

A

Structure consisting principally of lipid molecules that defines the outer boundaries of a cell, and also constitutes many of the cell organelles

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8
Q

Presynaptic cell

A

Sending cell

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9
Q

Postsynaptic cell

A

Receiving cell

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10
Q

Action Potential

A

Carried by an axon; involves both an electrical and chemical component to messages; electrical and chemical event that starts near the end of the axon, near cell body and travels to the terminal buttons; always same size and duration; when it reaches end of terminal branches, it splits, but does not lesson in size or duration, and each branch receives full strength of action potential

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11
Q

Cytoskeleton

A

Formed of microtubes and other protein fibers, linked to each other, and forming a cohesive mass that gives the cell its shape

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12
Q

Microtubule

A

A long strand of bundles of protein filaments arranged around a hollow core; part of the crytoskeleton and involved in transporting substances from place to place within the cell

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13
Q

Cytoplasm

A

Semi liquid substance contained in the interior of a cell

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14
Q

Chromosome

A

Strand of DNA, with associated proteins, found in the nucleus; carries genetic information

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15
Q

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

A

A long complex macro-molecule consisting of two interconnected, helix strands; along with associated proteins, strands of DNA constitute the chromosomes

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16
Q

Gene

A

Functional unit of the chromosomes, which direct synthesis of one or more proteins

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17
Q

Enzyme

A

A molecule that controls a chemical reaction, combining two substances, or breaking a substance into two parts

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18
Q

Mitochondria

A

Organelles that are responsible for extracting energy from nutrients; breaks down glucose and other nutrients

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19
Q

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

A

A molecule of prime importance to cellular energy, metabolism; it’s breakdown liberates energy

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20
Q

Glia

A

The supporting cells of the central nervous system

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21
Q

Astrocyte

A

A glia cell that provides support for neurons of the central nervous system, provides nutrients and other substances, and regulates the chemical composition of the extracellular fluid

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22
Q

Phagocytosis

A

Process by which cells engulf and digest other cells or debris caused by cellular degeneration

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23
Q

Oligodendrocyte

A

A type of glia cell in the CNS that forms myelin sheaths

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24
Q

Microglia

A

The smallest of the glial cells; they act as phagocytes and protect the brain from invading microorganisms

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25
Q

Schwann Cell

A

A cell in the peripheral nervous system that is wrapped around a myelinated axon, providing one segment of its myelin sheath

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26
Q

Blood-Brain Barrier

A

A semi-permeable barrier between the blood and the brain produced by the cells in the walls of the brains capillaries

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27
Q

Area Postrema

A

Region in the medulla where the blood-brain barrier is weaker; poisons can be detected there and initiate vomiting

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28
Q

Membrane potential

A

The electrical charge across a membrane; the difference in electrical potential inside and outside the cell

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29
Q

Resting Potential

A

The membrane potential of a neuron, when it is not being altered by excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials; approximately -70mV in many neurons

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30
Q

Hyperpolarization

A

An increase in the membrane potential of a cell, relative to the normal resting potential; when the inside of an axon becomes more negative than the outside

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31
Q

Depolarization

A

Reduction (toward zero) of the membrane potential of a cell from its normal resting position; inside of axon is more positive than the outside

32
Q

Threshold of Excitation

A

The value of the membrane potential that must be reached to produce an action potential

33
Q

Diffusion

A

Movement of molecules from regions of high concentration to regions of low concentration

34
Q

Ion

A

A charged molecule

35
Q

Cation

A

Positively charged ion

36
Q

Anion

A

Negatively charged ion

37
Q

Electrostatic Pressure

A

The attractive force between atomic particles charged with opposite signs with repulsive force between atomic particles charge with the same sign

38
Q

Intracellular Fluid

A

Fluid contained within cells

39
Q

Extracellular Fluid

A

Body fluids located outside of cells

40
Q

Sodium-potassium transporter

A

A protein found in the membrane of all cells that extrudes sodium ions from and transports potassium ions into the cell

41
Q

Ion Channel

A

Specialized protein molecule that permits specific ions to enter or leave cells

42
Q

Voltage Dependent Ion Channel

A

Ion channel that opens or closes, according to the value of the membrane potential; first, membrane must reach level of excitation, sodium channels in membrane open, Na+ rushes in, propelled by forces of diffusion and electrostatic pressure

43
Q

All-or-none law

A

The principle that once an action potential is triggered in an axon, it is propagated, without decrement to the end of the fiber; an action potential either occurs full strength, or it does not occur at all; it does not grow or diminish in size or strength

44
Q

Rate Law

A

The principle that variations in the intensity of stimulus or other information, being transmitted in an axon, are represented by variations in the rate at which the axons fire

45
Q

Salatory Conduction

A

Conduction of action potential‘s by myelinated axons. The action potential appears to jump from one node of Ranvier to the next; action potential gets re-triggered, or repeated at each node of Ranvier; axons need less energy to maintain sodium balance; speeds up the process

46
Q

Decremental Conduction

A

Electrical messages, get smaller as they are passed on the axon, but it is still strong enough to trigger a new action potential at the next node; a decrease in the size of the electrical message

47
Q

Refractory

A

When the channel cells become blocked and cannot be opened again

48
Q

Rate of firing action potential

A

Represents an axons variable information; a high firing rate causes a strong muscular contraction, and this is caused by strong stimulus

49
Q

Synaptic Transition

A

Primary means of communication between neurons; relay messages from one neuron to the other across the synapse

50
Q

Postsynaptic potential

A

Alterations in the membrane potential of a postsynaptic neuron, produced by liberation of neurotransmitter at the synapse; brief depolarizations, or hyperpolarizations that increase, or decease the rate of action potential’s in the action of the postsynaptic neuron

51
Q

Binding Site

A

Neurotransmitters exert their effects on cells by attaching to a particular region of receptor molecules, called the binding site; the location on receptor protein, to which a ligand binds; neurotransmitter molecules fit into a binding site the way to key fits into a lock

52
Q

Ligand

A

A chemical that binds with the binding site of receptors; neurotransmitters are naturally occurring Ligands produced, and released by neurons; can only bind to receptors, cannot enter a neuron through binding site, although they may open ion channels through which ions can enter the cell

53
Q

Dendritic Spine

A

A small bump on the surface of a dendrite, with which a terminal button of another neuron forms a synapse

54
Q

Presynaptic membrane

A

The membrane of a terminal button that lies adjacent to the postsynaptic membrane, and through which the neurotransmitter is released

55
Q

Postsynaptic membrane

A

Cell membrane opposite of the terminal button in a synapse; the membrane of a cell that receives the message

56
Q

Synaptic Vesicles

A

Small bubble like structure found in the terminal button; contains molecules of neurotransmitter; found in greatest number around the part of the presynaptic membrane that faces the synaptic cleft

57
Q

Postsynaptic receptor

A

Receptor molecules in the postsynaptic membrane of a synapse that can find a binding site for a neurotransmitter; sites of special proteins

58
Q

Neurotransmitter-dependent ion channels

A

Allow the passage of specific ions in and out of cells; opening, when a molecule of a neurotransmitter binds with the postsynaptic receptor

59
Q

Iontropic receptor

A

Direct method, simpler; a neurotransmitter, dependent ion channel equipped with its own binding site; when a molecule of appropriate neurotransmitter attaches to it, the ion channel opens

60
Q

Metabotropic receptor

A

Direct method of opening ion channels; requires the cell to spend metabolic energy; a receptor that contains a binding site for neurotransmitter activates an enzyme that begins a series of events that opens an ion channel elsewhere in the membrane of the cell, when a molecule of the neurotransmitter attaches to the binding site

61
Q

G-protein

A

A protein coupled to metabotropic receptors conveys messages to other molecules, when a ligand binds with and activates the receptor

62
Q

Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential

A

An excitatory depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane of a synapse caused by the liberation of a neurotransmitter by the terminal button

63
Q

Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential

A

An inhibitory hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane of a snap caused by the liberation of a neurotransmitter by the terminal buttons

64
Q

Enzyme deactivation

A

The destruction of a Neurotransmitter by enzyme after it’s release— for example, the destruction of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase

65
Q

Acetylcholinesterase

A

Enzyme that destroys acetylcholine soon after it leaves the terminal button; terminates the action potential

66
Q

Acetylcholine

A

Neurotransmitter found in the brain, spinal cord, and parts of peripheral nervous system; responsible for muscle contraction

67
Q

Neural integration

A

The process by which inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic potentials summate and control the rate of firing of a neuron

68
Q

Auto-receptor

A

A receptor molecule located on a neuron that responds to the neurotransmitter released by that neuron (respond to the neurotransmitter, they themselves released)

69
Q

Presynaptic inhibition

A

The action of presynaptic terminal button in an axoaxonic synapse; reduces the amount of neurotransmitter released by the post synaptic terminal button

70
Q

Axoaxonic Synapse

A

Do not contribute directly to neural integration; occurs on axon; alters amount of neurotransmitter released by the terminal buttons of the postsynaptic axon; produce presynaptic modulation: presynaptic inhibition or presynaptic facilitation

71
Q

Presynaptic facilitation

A

The action of a presynaptic terminal button, in an axoaxonic synpase; increases the amount of neurotransmitter released by the postsynaptic button

72
Q

Neuromodulator

A

A naturally secreted substance that acts like a neural transmitter, except that it is not restricted to the synaptic cleft, but is used through extracellular fluid; travels further, and dispersed, more widely than a neurotransmitter

73
Q

Peptide

A

A chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds; most neuromodulators and some hormones made of peptide bonds

74
Q

Hormone

A

Chemical substance that is released by the endocrine gland that has effects on target cells, and in other organs

75
Q

Endocrine Gland

A

A gland that releases chemical messengers into the extracellular fluid around capillaries, and hence into the bloodstream

76
Q

Target Cell

A

The type of cell that is directly affected by hormone or other chemical signal

Physiological Psychology (2 decks)

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