Chapter 2 Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience

Question 1

Any substance that reduces the effect of a neurotransmitter

Answer 1

Antagonist

Question 2

A receptor on a neuron terminal that senses the amount of transmitter in the synaptic cleft and reduces the presynaptic neuron’s output when the level is excessive

Answer 2

Autoreceptor

Question 3

Extensions that branch out from the neuron cell body and receive information from other neurons

Answer 3

Dendrites

Question 4

A partial depolarization of the dendrites and cell body, which makes the neuron more likely to fire

Answer 4

Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP)

Question 5

The pressure exerted by ions from an area of greater concentration to an area where they are less concentrated

Answer 5

Force of Diffusion

Question 6

A voltage change in a neuron that varies with the strength of the stimulates that initiated it

Answer 6

Graded Potential

Question 7

An element or atom that is charged because it has lost or gained one or more electrons

Answer 7

Ion

Question 8

A receptor on a neuron membrane that opens ion channels slowly via a second messenger and produces long-lasting effects

Answer 8

Metabotropic Receptor

Question 9

A neuron that carries commands to the muscles and organs

Answer 9

Motor Neuron

Question 10

A group of neurons that function together to carry out a process

Answer 10

Neural Network

Question 11

A specialized cell that conveys sensory information into the brain, carries out the operations involved in thought and feeling and action, or transmits commands out into the boy to control muscles and organs; a single neural cell, in contrast to a nerve

Answer 11

Neuron

Question 12

A neuron poison; a substance that impairs the functioning of a neuron

Answer 12

Neurotoxin

Question 13

A chemical substance released by a neuron (usually at a synapse) that binds to receptors on the same neuron, nearby neurons, or other tissues such as muscles or organs

Answer 13

Neurotransmitter

Question 14

A property of the action potential, which travels through the neuron without any decrease in size

Answer 14

Nondecremental

Question 15

A type of glial cell that forms the myelin covering of neurons in the brain and spinal cord

Answer 15

Oligodendrocyte

Question 16

Control of neurons by creating light-responsive ion channels in the cell membrane

Answer 16

Optogenetics

Question 17

A positive change in a neural membrane’s voltage, which is excitatory and makes an action potential more likely to occur

Answer 17

Partial Depolarization

Question 18

A difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of a neuron

Answer 18

Polarization

Question 19

A term referring to a neuron that receives transmission from another neuron

Answer 19

Postsynaptic

Question 20

A term referring to a neuron that transmits to another neuron

Answer 20

Presynaptic

Question 21

Increased release of neurotransmitters from a neuron’s terminal as the result of another neuron’s release of neurotransmitters onto the terminal (an axoaxonic synapse)

Answer 21

Presynaptic Excitation

Question 22

Decreased release of neurotransmitters from a neuron’s terminal as the result of another neuron’s release of neurotransmitters onto the terminal (an axoaxonic synapse)

Answer 22

Presynaptic Inhibition

Question 23

The period during which a neuron can be fired again following an action potential but only by an above-threshold stimulus

Answer 23

Relative Refractory Period

Question 24

The difference in charge between the inside and outside of the membrane of a neuron at rest

Answer 24

Resting Potential

Question 25

The process by which a neurotransmitter is taken back into the presynaptic terminals by transporters

Answer 25

Reuptake

Question 26

The flow of electricity down the axon in which action potentials jump from one node of Ranvier to the next

Answer 26

Saltatory Conduction

Question 27

A type of glial cell that forms the myelin covering on neurons outside the brain and spinal cord

Answer 27

Schwann Cell

Question 28

Large protein molecules that move sodium ions through the neuron membrane to the outside and potassium ions back inside, helping maintain the resting potential

Answer 28

Sodium-Potassium Pump

Question 29

The process of combining potentials that occur simultaneously at different locations on the dendrites and cell body

Answer 29

Spatial Summation

Question 30

A small gap between a presynaptic neuron and a postsynaptic neuron

Answer 30

Synaptic Cleft

Question 31

The process of combining potentials that arrive a short time apart on a neuron’s dendrites and cell body

Answer 31

Temporal Summation

Question 32

A membrane-enclosed container that stores neurotransmitter in the neuron terminal

Answer 32

Vesicle

Question 33

The difference in electrical charge between two points

Answer 33

Voltage

Question 34

A brief period following the peak of the action potential when the sodium ion channels are inactivated and the neuron cannot be fired again

Answer 34

Absolute Refractory Period

Question 35

An all-or-none electrical signal of a neuronal membrane that contains an abrupt voltage depolarization and return to resting potential; allows the neuron to communicate over long distances

Answer 35

Action Potential

Question 36

Any substance that mimics or enhances the effect of a neurotransmitter

Answer 36

Agonist

Question 37

The principle that an action potential occurs at full strength or it does not occur at all

Answer 37

All-or-none Law

Question 38

An extension from a neuron’s cell body that carries information to other locations

Answer 38

Axon

Question 39

A swelling on the branches at the end of a neuron that contains neurotransmitters; also called an end bulb

Answer 39

Axon Terminal

Question 40

The largest part of a neuron, which contains the cell’s nucleus, cytoplasm, and structures that produce proteins, convert nutrients into energy, and eliminate waste materials; also called the soma

Answer 40

Cell Body

Question 41

The theory that a neuron is able to release only one neurotransmitter

Answer 41

Dalle’s Principle

Question 42

The force by which like-charged ions are repelled by each other and opposite-charged ions are attracted to each other

Answer 42

Electrostatic Pressure

Question 43

A nonneural cell that provides several supporting functions to neurons, including myelination

Answer 43

Glial Cell

Question 44

A large-scale cooperative effort to map the circuits in the human brain

Answer 44

Human Connectome Project

Question 45

A negative change in a neural membrane’s voltage, which is inhibitory and makes an action potential less likely to occur

Answer 45

Hyperpolarization

Question 46

A hyperpolarization of the dendrites and cell body, which makes a neuron less likely to fire

Answer 46

Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential (IPSP)

Question 47

A neuron that has a short axon or no axon at all and connects one neuron to another in the same part of the central nervous system

Answer 47

Interneuron

Question 48

A receptor that is part of the ion channel and opens the channel immediately to produce quick reactions required for muscle activity and sensory processing

Answer 48

Ionotropic Receptor

Question 49

A fatty issue that wraps around an axon to insulate it from the surrounding fluid and from other neutrons

Answer 49

Myelin

Question 50

A gap in the myelin sheath covering

Answer 50

Node of Ranvier

Question 51

A principle that the intensity of a stimulus is represented in an axon by the frequency of action potentials

Answer 51

Rate Law

Question 52

A neuron that carries information from the body and from the outside world into the central nervous system

Answer 52

Sensory Neuron

Question 53

A neuron that carries information from the body and from the outside world into the central nervous system

Answer 53

Synapse