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Behavioral Neuroscience > Chapter 2- Brain cells and nervous system organization > Flashcards

Chapter 2- Brain cells and nervous system organization Flashcards

1
Q

Are reactions to the environment always planned?

A

Sometimes reactions to the environment are planned, some aren’t. Actions like squinting in bright light is unplanned, while drinking water is planned

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2
Q

2 general cell types of the nervous system

A
  1. Neurons- transmit information

2. Glia- act as supporting cells

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3
Q

Circuit

A

Neurons are organized in a precise order to form a circuit. A circuit is how information flows from one place to another. The two neurons could be close together or far apart (like with spinal reflexes).

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4
Q

Synapse

A

The synapse is the physical connection between 2 neurons where information crosses. This is how neurons communicate, and a single neuron could synapse with many other neurons at once.

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5
Q

All behavior arises from

A

Neurons- even if they’re few in number

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6
Q

Sensory neurons

A

Receive input

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7
Q

Motor neurons

A

Let the body move in a coordinated manner

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8
Q

Interneurons

A

Neurons that process information between sensory and motor neurons

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9
Q

Roundworm nervous system

A

302 neurons total, and they have a ganglion rather than a brain. Have very simple behaviors- move toward “good” things and away from bad things- based on light, pressure, moisture, etc.. Their sensory neurons detect light, smell, the presence of water, pressure. Because they have so few neurons, all of their neurons have been mapped. They are arranged in simple circuits that can produce simple behavior

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10
Q

Gill withdrawal reflex in sea slugs

A

A sea slug’s gill is retracted if you poke it- this is a protective reflex. However, if the tail is poked for a specific amount of times, it will stop retracting. The animals learned this after about 5 pokes,

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11
Q

For all mammals, the nervous system is divided into

A

The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system

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12
Q

Divisions of the peripheral nervous system (3)

A
  1. Sympathetic nervous system- fight or flight
  2. Parasympathetic nervous system- rest and digest, normal breathing and blood pressure
  3. Enteric nervous system- controls the gastrointestinal tract
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13
Q

How does having more neurons affect circuits?

A

More neurons- more complex circuits- more complex functions

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14
Q

The human nervous system

A

Has about 80 billion neurons, but also makes connections with hundreds of thousands of other neurons. Still uses sensory neurons to send info to the brain, interneurons process and make decisions, then send information to motor neurons. Humans have more neurons, more discrete brain regions, more complex circuits- capable of abilities that no other species on earth has.

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15
Q

Neurons

A

Neurons are the building blocks of the nervous system and the element of processing information. They are connected to each other via synapses to form circuits in all species

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16
Q

What aspects of the nervous system are shared between species?

A

Certain aspects of the nervous system are shared across all species (sensory neurons) and especially closely related species (brain and spinal cord in mammals).

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17
Q

Do circuits formed by neurons drive behavior in all animal species?

A

Yes, true for all animals

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18
Q

Camillo Golgi

A

Came up with staining technique to visualize the entire neuron. Thought neurons were continuous like tubing (not true)- he noticed that the processes of one neuron were very close to the other, and they looked like they touch under a microscope

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19
Q

Santiago Ramon y Cajal

A

Used Golgi’s method. Thought that neurons came close to each other, but did not touch (true)- there’s a small gap in between processes (this is the synapse). Also came up with the neuron doctrine

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20
Q

Neuron doctrine (2)

A

States that each neuron is an independent unit (a single processing unit) and information must be transmitted across gaps between neurons (synapses).

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21
Q

Neurons are polarized- what does this mean?

A

Polarized means that there is a direction to neurons- they aren’t symmetrical. There’s an input zone, then integration zone, conduction zone, and output zone.

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22
Q

Dendrites and spines

A

Dendrites look like branches, while spines look like mushroom shaped protrusions from the dendrites. These structures are the input zone- where information/chemical signals are received from other neurons

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23
Q

Soma

A

The cell body- this is the integration zone. The soma processes the electric information and decides what its response will be (or if it will even respond). Also contains organelles like the mitochondria, cell nucleus, and ribosomes.

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24
Q

Mitochondria function

A

Produce energy

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25
Q

Cell nucleus function

A

Contains genetic instructions

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26
Q

Ribosomes function

A

Translate genetic instructions into proteins

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27
Q

Axon hillock/axon initial segment

A

Final location where integration occurs and the decision to generate an electrical communication signal is made- most neurons have one axon hillock

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28
Q

Axon

A
  1. Conduct electrical signal on the cell membrane
  2. Transport material between the soma and the axon terminal- transports proteins in both directions
    Axons can be very long- cell bodies in the spine send axons down to the toes
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29
Q

Types of axon transport (2)

A
  1. Anterograde= to axon terminal

2. Retrograde= from axon terminal (to cell body)

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30
Q

Axon terminal

A

Output zone- axon terminals from one neuron releases chemical signals onto many other neurons

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31
Q

In the nervous system, when is the signal electrical and when is it chemical?

A

In the neuron, the signal is electrical. Chemical when going across the gap (synapse)

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32
Q

Parts of the synapse (3)

A

Axon terminal, gap in between, then the dendritic spines. The chemical signal is released in the gap (synaptic cleft). Info transmission requires a lot of energy- mitochondria are required

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33
Q

Types of glial cells (3)

A
  1. Astrocytes
  2. Oligodendrocytes/Schwann cells
  3. Microglial cells
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34
Q

Astrocytes functions (4)

A
  1. Monitor and support the metabolic and biochemical needs of neurons
  2. Regulate synaptic signaling as part of the “tripartite synapse”.
  3. Help form the blood brain barrier by sitting between blood capillaries and neurons
  4. React to brain injury (repair and scarring)
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35
Q

Tripartite synapse

A

3 parts- presynaptic axon terminal, postsynaptic dendritic spine, and the astrocyte. Refers to the functional integration and proximity of the astrocyte to the neurons in the synapse.

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36
Q

Blood brain barrier

A

The blood brain barrier isolates the brain from the rest of the body to protect it (an infection that spreads to your brain would be really bad). Blood vessels are on the outside of the barrier, so whatever is in the blood doesn’t necessarily get into our brain. This is literally a barrier (membrane) that things have to cross to get to the brain, formed by astrocytes.

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37
Q

Oligodendrocytes location

A

CNS

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38
Q

Schwann cells location

A

PNS

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39
Q

Myelin

A

A lipid substance that insulates the axon to speed up the electrical signal- secreted by the glial cells.

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40
Q

Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells function

A

Insulate axons by wrapping myelin around them- white matter

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41
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

Gaps in the myelin sheath, very important with how information is sent down the axon

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42
Q

Microglia functions (2)

A
  1. Monitor local environment for threat or injury

2. Migrate to injury site to remove debris/dead cells

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43
Q

Why are microglia necessary?

A

The microglia are brain immune cells similar to macrophages. The blood brain barrier prevents the immune system from entering the brain- the brain has its own immune system. With an injury, local neurons release signals. The microglia will be attracted to the site and attract other microglia.

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44
Q

Gross anatomy

A

Neural structures that you can see with your eyes.

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45
Q

Horizontal plane

A

Splits the body into upper and lower halves

46
Q

Sagittal plane

A

Splits the body into right and left sides

47
Q

Dorsal

A

Towards the top of the brain. When humans became upright, the brain curved, so that’s why dorsal is the top.

48
Q

Ventral

A

Towards the bottom of the brain

49
Q

Caudal

A

Posterior, toward the back of the brain

50
Q

Rostral

A

Anterior, toward the front of the brain

51
Q

Coronal plane

A

Splits the body into front and back halves

52
Q

The central nervous system is composed of

A

The brain and spinal cord

53
Q

The peripheral nervous system is composed of

A

All parts of the nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord

54
Q

Nerves

A

Bundles of axons in the PNS

55
Q

Ganglia

A

Clusters of neuron cell bodies distributed throughout the body (near spine or near organs)

56
Q

The PNS is divided into (2)

A
  1. Somatic nervous system

2. Autonomic nervous system

57
Q

The somatic nervous system is composed of

A

Nerves between brain/spinal cord and skeletal muscles/sensory organs

58
Q

The autonomic nervous system is composed of

A

Nerves between brain/spinal cord and internal organs

59
Q

Nerves from the somatic nervous system control which functions?

A

Voluntary movements- something you choose to do, like walking

60
Q

Which sections of the spinal cord are responsible for sensory vs motor information?

A

Sensory information travels along the dorsal root, motor information travels along the ventral root.

61
Q

How does the somatic nervous system function?

A

Nerves send information from sense organs to the brain/spinal cord, nerves from the brain/spinal cord travel to the skeletal muscles. Sensory information about the environment goes to the CNS, motor information is your response that goes from the CNS to the PNS- you need at least 2 neurons.

62
Q

In the somatic nervous system, information goes from

A

Information always goes from dorsal to ventral- the dorsal nerve is the input of sensory information

63
Q

Divisions of the autonomic nervous system (3)

A
  1. Sympathetic
  2. Parasympathetic
  3. Enteric
64
Q

In general, what functions does the autonomic nervous system control?

A

Involuntary movements/actions

65
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

Uses norepinephrine as a neurotransmitter. Carries out the fight or flight response- activates the body to confront a challenge. The body is oxygenated, slows down digestion

66
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

Uses acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter. Known for rest and digest- normal heart rate and digestion.

67
Q

Enteric nervous system

A

Responsible for gut/digestive control. A lot of bacteria live in the gut, and can send signals to the brain to influence mood and behavior.

68
Q

What general functions is the CNS responsible for? (5)

A
  1. Senses- vision, sight, and others
  2. Initiating movement of your muscles vs moving
  3. Higher order behavior- attention, cognition, perception, thought, affect, mood
  4. Automatic life essential functions- breathing, hunger, thermoregulation, circadian rhythm. Directs the ANS.
  5. Integrating and sending out information
69
Q

What general functions is the PNS responsible for?

A

Actual sensing of information occurs in the PNS, and it sends the information to the CNS to be interpreted.

70
Q

Sections of the spinal cord (5)

A

Cervical (neck), thoracic (trunk), lumbar (lower back), sacral (pelvic), coccygeal (tail bones)

71
Q

How many pairs of spinal nerves?

A
  1. One nerve serves the left side of the body, the other the right. The nerves on the left side receive information from the left side of the body and vice versa
72
Q

How does the dorsal root ganglion participate in spinal reflexes?

A

Sensory information comes in through the bipolar neuron, which has a very sensitive axon hillock. Information goes straight to an axon (no cell body), which goes right to the axon terminal. It then goes to an interneuron in the spinal cord, which sends motor information straight from there. This is because information must be transferred very quickly to the spinal cord

73
Q

How does the ventral root participate in spinal reflexes?

A

Cell bodies are located in the ventral horn. it send the axon to the effector muscle to make it move as a motor response.

74
Q

Sulcus

A

a groove in the cerebral cortex (sulci is plural)

75
Q

Gyrus

A

matter between two grooves/wrinkles (gyri is plural)

76
Q

What is the purpose of gyri and sulci?

A

These increase surface area- fits more brain tissue into a smaller space, since it’s folded

77
Q

How is the brain organized?

A

Brain regions don’t generally function in isolation- some regions might be central locations for one behavior, but other regions are likely involved. In addition, most brain regions have many functions.

78
Q

4 lobes of the cerebral cortex

A
  1. Frontal lobe (at the front)
  2. Parietal lobe (top of the head)
  3. Temporal lobes (sides- there are 2 of them)
  4. Occipital lobe (at the back)
79
Q

Central sulcus

A

separates the frontal and parietal lobe

80
Q

Sylvian fissure

A

separates the frontal and occipital lobe

81
Q

Longitudinal fissure

A

separates the left and right hemispheres

82
Q

White matter

A

Light brain tissue- axons with myelin sheaths on the inside of the brain

83
Q

Gray matter

A

Dark brain tissue- cell bodies and dendrites on the outside of the brain

84
Q

Which cerebral cortex lobes can be seen from the ventral view of the brain?

A

Frontal and temporal lobes

85
Q

Tracts

A

Bundles of axons in the brain. Brain regions use tracts to communicate.

86
Q

Nerves

A

Bundles of axons in the PNS

87
Q

Corpus callosum

A

Axon tract that joins the two hemispheres, lets information flow between the sides of the brain. Sometimes, the corpus callosum is cut surgically to control severe seizures. It can affect the ability to integrate information in adults, but children can form more connections. Only done if a person is having very severe seizures, like 8-10 per day

88
Q

What general function is the cerebral cortex responsible for?

A

Complex thought and function

89
Q

Frontal lobe functions

A

movement, high level cognition

90
Q

Parietal lobe functions

A

Body’s sensory information, touch- where the fingers are in space, determining how something feels

91
Q

Temporal lobes functions

A

hearing, smell

92
Q

Occipital lobe function

A

Vision

93
Q

Parts of the sensory cortex (3)

A
  1. Primary somatosensory cortex
  2. Visual cortex
  3. Auditory cortex
94
Q

Primary somatosensory cortex

A

Located in the parietal lobe. First area of processing- sends information to the motor cortex so it can send out a response

95
Q

Visual cortex

A

Located in the occipital lobe. First area of processing.

96
Q

Auditory cortex

A

Located in the temporal lobe. First area of processing

97
Q

Motor cortex

A

Responsible for generating motor responses, contains the primary motor cortex

98
Q

Associative cortex

A

Responsible for the integration of sensory inputs and helps plan motor functions. Contains the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for planning, decision making, etc.. Young adults/teenagers tend to make risky decisions since the prefrontal cortex isn’t completely developed.

99
Q

Homunculus

A

The primary motor cortex is anterior to the central sulcus, while the primary sensory cortex is posterior to the central sulcus. There is a direct one to one connection between the brain and the other body areas on the diagram (both sensory and motor).

100
Q

The 6 layers of the cerebral cortex

A

Cell bodies form different layers of the cortex. Layers 3 and 5 contain pyramidal neurons, which are projection cells that send their myelinated axons across the brain. Their apical (top) and basal (bottom) dendrites receive information. The basal dendrites surround the cell body and receive different types of information

101
Q

Thalamus

A

Thalamus- sensory relay region- sends sensory information to the right place

102
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Neurohormone center, along with the pituitary gland

103
Q

Limbic system function

A

Emotion and learning

104
Q

Parts of the limbic system (2)

A
  1. Amygdala

2. Hippocampus

105
Q

Amygdala

A

Center for negative emotion, fear, anxiety. Negative emotion (like injury from touching something hot) improves learning, as do positive emotions. You don’t tend to remember normal everyday events without strong emotions

106
Q

Hippocampus

A

Learning and memory formation

107
Q

Basal ganglia

A

Center for motor control. Contains the substantia nigra, where neurons contain the neurotransmitter dopamine. This is where neurons start to die if you have Parkinson’s disease.

108
Q

Nuclei

A

Brain region

109
Q

Pons

A

Motor control and sensory nuclei, some cranial nerves originate here

110
Q

Medulla

A

This is where the brain connects to the spinal cord. Controls breathing and heart rate. Some of the cranial nerves that control functions in the face and neck originate here.

111
Q

Regions of the brain stem (2)

A
  1. Pons

2. Medulla

112
Q

Cerebellum functions (3)

A
  1. Fine motor control
  2. Gait, balance- alcohol affects this region to cause difficulty balancing while walking
  3. Muscle coordination

Behavioral Neuroscience (11 decks)

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