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S23 Psychology 3513 > Chapter 2: Structure and Function > Flashcards

Chapter 2: Structure and Function Flashcards

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1
Q

Neurons

A

Nerve cells, basic unit of the brain

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2
Q

Glial cells

A

Serve various functions in the nervous system, providing structural support and electrical insulation to neurons and modulating neuronal activity

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3
Q

Three main types of glial cells

A

Astrocytes, microglial cells, and oligodendrocytes

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4
Q

Astrocytes

A

Large glial cells with round or radially symmetrical forms; they surround neurons and are in close contact with the brain’s vasculature

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5
Q

Blood-brain barrier (BBB)

A

Created by astrocytes between the tissues of the central nervous system and the blood

The BBB restricts the diffusion of microscopic objects (such as most bacteria) and large hydrophilic molecules in the blood from entering the neural tissue, but it allows the diffusion of small hydrophobic molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hormones.

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6
Q

Myelin is formed by _______ in the central nervous system and _______ in the peripheral.

A

oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells

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7
Q

Microglial cells

A

phagocytes that devour and remove damaged cells. Unlike many cells in the central nervous system, microglial cells can proliferate even in adults (as do other glial cells)

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8
Q

Presynaptic

A

The neuron’s axon’s output synapses make connections onto other neurons or targets

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9
Q

Postsynaptic

A

Other neurons make a connection at input synapses onto their dendrites or elsewhere on the receiving neuron

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10
Q

Neurons communicate with other neurons and cells at specialized structures called _______.

A

synapses

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11
Q

The electrical gradient across a neuron’s membrane results from the _______.

A

asymmetrical distribution of ions

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12
Q

What makes a molecule a neurotransmitter?

A

It is synthesized by and localized within the presynaptic neuron, and stored in the presynaptic terminal before release.

It is released by the presynaptic neuron when action potentials depolarize the terminal (mediated primarily by Ca2+).

The postsynaptic neuron contains receptors specific for it.

When artificially applied to a postsynaptic cell, it elicits the same response that stimulating the presynaptic neuron would.

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13
Q

Tachykinins

A

(brain-gut peptides, which are peptides secreted by endocrine cells and enteric neurons in the GI tract and also neurons in the central nervous system). This group includes substance P, which affects vasoconstriction and is a spinal neurotransmitter involved in pain.

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14
Q

Neurohypophyseal hormones

A

Oxytocin and vasopressin are in this group. The former is involved in mammary functions and has been tagged the “love hormone” for its role in pair bonding and maternal behaviors; the latter is an antidiuretic hormone.

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15
Q

Hypothalamic releasing hormones

A

This group includes corticotropin-releasing hormone, involved in the stress response; somatostatin, an inhibitor of growth hormone; and gonadotropin-releasing hormone, involved with the development, growth, and functioning of the body’s reproductive processes.

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16
Q

Opioid peptides

A

This group is named for its similarity to opiate drugs, and these peptides bind to opiate receptors. It includes the endorphins and enkephalins.

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17
Q

Other neuropeptides

A

This group includes peptides that do not fit neatly into another category, such as insulins, secretins (e.g., glucagon), and gastrins.

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18
Q

Action potential (p. 31)

A

A rapid depolarization and repolarization of a small region of the membrane on the neuron’s output via its axon caused by the opening and closing of ion channels.

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19
Q

Amygdala (p. 50)

A

Collections of neurons anterior to hippocampus in the medial temporal lobe, involved in emotional processing

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20
Q

Association cortex (p. 61)

A

Part of neocortex that involves signals from different inputs (not jsut sensory or motor)

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21
Q

Autonomic nervous system (p. 40)

A

involved in controlling the involuntary action of smooth muscles, the heart, and various glands

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22
Q

Axon (p. 27)

A

The axon is a single process that extends from the cell body.

This structure represents the output side of the neuron. Electrical signals travel along the length of the axon to its end, the axon terminals, where the neuron transmits the signal to other neurons or other targets.

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23
Q

Axon collaterals (p. 27)

A

Some axons branch to form axon collaterals that can transmit signals to more than one cell.

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24
Q

Axon hillock (p. 32)

A

A part of the cell body of a neuron where the membrane potential’s are summer before being transmitted down the axon.

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25
Q

Basal ganglia (p. 50)

A

Collection of nuclei bilaterally located beneath the anterior portion of lateral ventricals

5 nuclei: caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra

action selection, action gating, reward-based learning, motor prep, timing, task switching, and more

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26
Q

Brainstem (p. 46)

A

Region of the nervous system that contains groups of motor and sensory nuclei, nuclei of widespread modulatory neurotransmitter systems, and white matter tracts of ascending sensory info and descending motor signals

Medulla, pons and cerebellum, and midbrain

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27
Q

Central nervous system (CNS) (p. 40)

A

The brain and spinal cord

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28
Q

Central sulcus (p. 54)

A

Divides frontal and parietal lobes

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29
Q

Cerebellum (p. 42)

A

“Little brain”

Coordination and movement

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30
Q

Cerebral cortex (p. 42)

A

Layered sheets of neurons over the forebrain

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31
Q

Commissure (p. 42)

A

White matter tracts that cross from left to right of CNS or vise versa

Corpus callosum is the largest

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32
Q

Corpus callosum (p. 42)

A

Fiber system composed of axons that connect the cortex of the two cerebral hemispheres

Largest white matter structure

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33
Q

Cytoarchitectonics (p. 54)

A

Brodmann used the micro anatomy of cells and their organization to subdivide the cortex into 52 regions

Can seem unsystematic and is not standardized

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34
Q

Dendrites (p. 26)

A

Dendrites are branching extensions of the neuron that receive inputs from other neurons.

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35
Q

Depolarization (p. 32)

A

A change in the membrane potential in which the electrical current inside the cell becomes less negative. 

36
Q

Electrical gradient (p. 30)

A

A force that develops when a charge distribution across the neuronal membrane develops such that the charge inside is more positive or negative than the one outside. Electrical gradient result from a symmetrical distributions of ions across the membrane. 

37
Q

Electrotonic conduction (p. 31)

A

The small electrical current produced by the EPSP is passively conducted through the cytoplasm of the dendrite, cell body, and axon.

Passive current conduction is called electrotonic conduction or decremental conduction: “decremental” because it diminishes with distance from its origin—the synapse on the dendrites, in this case.

38
Q

Equilibrium potential (p. 32)

A

The membrane potential at which given an ion has no net flux across the membrane. (Ions in = ions out)

39
Q

Frontal lobe (p. 53)

A

Contains motor and prefrontal cortex

40
Q

Gray matter (p. 42)

A

Regions of the nervous system that contain primarily neuronal cell bodies. Includes the cerebral cortex basil ganglia a nuclei of the thalamus

41
Q

Gyrus (p. 52)

A

Crowns in cortical sheet

42
Q

Hippocampus (p. 50)

A

Layered structure in medial temporal lobe, receives inputs and sends projections out to subcortical targets

Involved in learning, memory (spatial locations and episodic memory)

43
Q

Hyperpolarization (p. 32)

A

A change in the membrane potential in which the electrical current inside of the cell becomes more negative. With respect to resting potential a hyperpolarized membrane potential is farther from the firing threshold. 

44
Q

Hypothalamus (p. 49)

A

Link between nervous system and endocrine system

Chief site for hormone production and control

Floor of 3rd ventricle

Maintains homeostasis

45
Q

Insula (p. 54)

A

Part of cortex hidden in sylvian fissure

Also has extensive reciprocal connections with areas associated with emotion, such as the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate gyrus

As well as with frontal parietal and temporal cortical areas involved with attention, memory, and cognition

46
Q

Ion channel (p. 28)

A

Proteins with a pore through the center, and they allow certain ions to flow down their electrochemical and concentration gradients.

47
Q

Ion pump (p. 28)

A

Ion pumps use energy to actively transport ions across the membrane against their concentration gradients—that is, from regions of low concentration to regions of higher concentration.

48
Q

Layer (p. 41)

A

Neurons are organized in layers, such as in the cerebral cortex

49
Q

Limbic system (p. 50)

A

Border around brainstem

Amygdala, orbiofrontal cortex, portions of basal ganglia

50
Q

Medulla (p. 46)

A

Brainstem’s most caudal portion

Houses cell bodies of many of the twelve cranial nerves, provides sensorimotor innervations to face, neck, abdomen, and throat and ♡

Controls necessary functions like breathing, heart rate, and arousal

51
Q

Microcircuit (p. 39)

A

A small network of localized interconnected neurons that process specific kinds of information. 

52
Q

Midbrain (p. 48)

A

Visumotor function

53
Q

Myelin (p. 25)

A

Glial cells also form the fatty substance called myelin in the nervous system.

54
Q

Neocortex (p. 55)

A

Cortex that contains six cortical layers or that passed through a developmental stage involving six cortical layers

55
Q

Neural network (p. 39)

A

A complex Netwerk made up of a long distance connections between various brain regions. Neural networks are macrocircuits composed of multiple embedded microcircuit and they support more complex analysis integrating information processes from many microcircuits

56
Q

Neurotransmitter (p. 35)

A

A chemical substance that transmits the signal between neurons at chemical synapses.

57
Q

Node of Ranvier (p. 32)

A

Location at which myelin is interrupted between successive patches of axon, and where an action potential can be generated

58
Q

Nucleus (p. 41)

A

Relatively compact arrangement of nerve cell bodies and their connections

59
Q

Occipital lobe (p. 54)

A

At back of the brain

Visual info processing

60
Q

Parietal lobe (p. 54)

A

Somatosensory cortex, gustatory cortex, and parietal association cortex

Visuomotor orienting, attention, representation of space

Above temporal lobe

61
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS) (p. 40)

A

Comprised of sensory and motor nerves and associated nerve cell ganglia, located outside the central nervous system

62
Q

Permeability (p. 29)

A

Extent to which ions can cross the neuronal membrane

63
Q

Pituitary gland (p. 49)

A

Endocrine gland that synthesizes and secretes hormones that aid in regulation of multiple processes to maintain homeostasis, controlled by hypothalamus

64
Q

Pons (p. 47)

A

“Bridge” between brain and cerebellum
Responsible for REM

65
Q

Prefrontal cortex (p. 61)

A

High-level motor control, planning and executing behavior

Large in humans

66
Q

Refractory period (p. 32)

A

The short period of time following an action potential during which the neuron may not be able to generate action potential‘s or may be able to do so only with larger-than-normal depolarizing currents. 

67
Q

Resting membrane potential (p. 28)

A

The voltage difference across the neuronal membrane in the resting state is typically about –70 millivolts (mV) inside, which is known as the resting potential or resting membrane potential.

This electrical-potential difference means that the neuron has at its disposal a kind of battery; and like a battery, the stored energy can be used to do work—signaling work

68
Q

Saltatory conduction (p. 32)

A

Mode of conduction in myelinated neurons, in which action potentials are generated down the axon only at nodes of Ranvier. Measurement of the propagation of the action potential gives it the appearance of jumping from node to node. 

69
Q

Somatotopy (p. 58)

A

Point-for-point representation of the body in the nervous system in the somatosensory cortex

70
Q

Spike-triggering zone (p. 32)

A

The location at the juncture of the soma and the axon of a neuron where currents from synaptic inputs on the soma and distant dendrites are summed and where the voltage gated sodium channels are located that can be triggered to generate action potentials that can propagate down the axon

71
Q

Spine (p. 27)

A

Most dendrites also have specialized processes called spines, little knobs attached by small necks to the surface of the dendrites, where the dendrites receive inputs from other neurons.

72
Q

Sulcus (p. 52)

A

Crevices in cortical sheet

Allow for more surface area to be packed into brain

Neurons are closer because if sulci

73
Q

Sylvian (lateral) fissure (p. 54)

A

Divides temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes

74
Q

Synapse (p. 27)

A

Transmission occurs at the synapse, a specialized structure where two neurons come into close contact so that chemical or electrical signals can be passed from one cell to the next.

75
Q

Synapse elimination (p. 67)

A

Pruning

76
Q

Synaptic cleft (p. 33)

A

Gap between neurons at synapses

77
Q

Synaptogenesis (p. 67)

A

Formation of synapses

78
Q

Temporal lobe (p. 54)

A

Hippocampus, amygdala, high-order vision, representation of conceptual info, linguistics representation, Sylvian fissure, auditory fissure

Below parietal lobe

79
Q

Thalamus (p. 48)

A

Divided between the left and right

Bigger than hypothalamus

“Gateway to the cortex”

80
Q

Threshold (p. 32)

A

The potential value to which the membrane must be depolarized for an action potential to be initiated

81
Q

Tract (p. 42)

A

Bundle of axons in the CNS, formed from the axons in white matter

82
Q

Ventricle (p. 41)

A

Any of the four large, interconnected cavities of the brain

83
Q

Vesicle (p. 33)

A

Small, intracellular organelle, located in presynaptic terminals at synapses, contains neurotransmitter

84
Q

Voltage-gated ion channel (p. 31)

A

A transmembrane ion channel that changes molecular conformation when the membrane potential changes, altering the conductance of the channel for specific ions

85
Q

White matter

A

Regions of nervous system composed of axons surrounding myelin. Looks white because of myelin

86
Q

Sympathetic v Parasympathetic branches

A

Work in opposition to one another

S23 Psychology 3513 (12 decks)

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