Chapter 2 Flashcards
brain is constantly changing, building new pathways as it adjusts to little mishaps and new experiences
neuroplasticity
receive messages from other cells; carries information TO the cell body
dendrites
passes messages away form the cell body to other neurons
axon
what is multiple sclerosis caused by?
breakdown of the myelin sheath
fatty substance covering the axon, acts as an insulator, making the electrical impulse that is carried across the axon more efficient
meylin sheath
release information into the gap between neurons
terminal branches of axon
the cleft in between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite
synapse
gap between neurons
synaptic cleft
provide stupport and nutrition to neurons
glial cells
a brief electrical charge that travels down its axon
action potential
carry messages form the body’s tissues and sensory receptors inward (afferent)
sensory neurons
carry instructions from the central nervous system outward to the body’s muscles and glands (efferent)
motor neurons
brain and spinal cord; makes decisions
What system?
central nervous system
carries the decisions of the CNS to other parts of the body
peripheral nervous system
influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
dopamine
olds rat experiment
found that rats would press the lever to provide stimulation to this part of the brain
what is dopamine associated with?
- tremors
- schizophrenia
- smooth muscle
- production of pleasure
allows voluntary muscle contractions, facilitates memory
acetylcholine
add stability to moods; important in sleep regulation
serotonin
what happens when you increase serotonin levels?
can cause drowsiness/ sleep issues
make you feel better when experiencing pain; function like morphine; influence precetption of pain/ pleasure
endorphins
molecules increase a neruotransmitter’s action
agonist