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chapter 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

Central nervous system (CNS) consists of

A

consists of the brain and spinal cord

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2
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of

A

the other nerve cells in the rest of the body

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3
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

voluntary behavior

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4
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

non voluntary actions of the body (heart rate, and other bodily functions, reflexes)
Functions of the CNS and PNS are anatomically separate but they are interdependent

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5
Q

Neurons

A

basic units of the nervous system. Receive, integrate, and transmit information STUDY REST IN OUTLINE

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6
Q

Dendrites

A

short, branch like appendages that detect chemical signals from neighboring neurons

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7
Q

Cell body/soma

A

the information received via the dendrites from thousands of other neurons is collected and integrated

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8
Q

Axon

A

a long narrow outgrowth of a neuron by which information is conducted from the cell body to the terminal buttons

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9
Q

Terminal buttons

A

at the end of axons; small nodule that release chemical signals from the neuron into the synapse

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10
Q

Synapse

A

site where chemical communication occurs between neurons Neurons do not touch each other so they communicate by sending chemical signals through synapses

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11
Q

Membrane

A

the fatty barrier on the outer surface of the neuron
Selectively permeable

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12
Q

Action potential (neural firing)

A

is the electrical signal that passes along the axon

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13
Q

Action potential summary

A

when a neuron fires it opens the sodium gates which allows sodium in therefore making the neuron more positively charged than the outside which causes the action potential. Then the potassium channels open to allow potassium inside the cell membrane. This pushes the sodium out of the cell while returning the neuron to its negatively charged form
SEE OUTLINE

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14
Q

Resting membrane potential

A

electrical charge of the neuron when it is not active
When the neuron is not active there is a more negative charge inside the neuron than outside

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15
Q

Polarized

A

when a neuron has more negative ions inside than outside
Creates electrical energy necessary to power the firing of the neuron

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16
Q

Sodium-potassium pumps

A

increases potassium and decreases sodium inside the neuron

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17
Q

Excitatory signals

A

depolarize the cell membrane
Decreasing the negative charge inside the cell relative to the outside
Increase the likelihood of the neuron firing

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18
Q

Inhibitory signals

A

hyper polarize the cell Increasing
Increasing the negative charge inside the cell relative to the outside
Decrease the likelihood of the neuron firing

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19
Q

Excitatory and inhibitory signals

A

The firing of the signals are not determined by whether an inhibitory and excitatory signal gets their first but the frequency of those signals

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20
Q

Relative refractory period

A

brief period of time following the action potential when a neuron’s membrane potential is more negative or hyperpolarize making it harder to fire again

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21
Q

all-or- none principle

A

dictates that a neuron fires with the same potency each time
Either fires or does not
The stronger the stimulation the more frequently action potentials are generated

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22
Q

Absolute refractory period

A

the brief period of time following the action potential when the ion channel is not able to respond again
Followed by relative refractory period

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23
Q

Action Potential

A

always moves in one direction down the axon away from the cell body to the terminal buttons

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24
Q

Myelin sheath

A

encases and insulates many axons which allows faster movement of electrical impulses down the axon (made of glial cells)

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25
Demyelination
slows down neural impulses and interrupts normal neural communication
26
Nodes of Ranvier
small gaps of exposed axon where action potential takes place Presynaptic neuron: sends the signal
27
Neurotransmitters | are made
chemicals that are made in the axon or cell body and stored in vesicles. Transmits signals from one neuron to another inside the terminal button
28
Postsynaptic neuron | does what?
receives the signal
29
Acetylcholine
motor control over muscles, learning, memory sleeping, and dreaming
30
Norepinephrine | controls
arousal, vigilance, and attention
31
Serotonin
emotional states and impulsiveness, dreaming
32
Dopamine | gives a person a sense of
reward and motivation , motor control over voluntary movement
33
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric-acid)
inhibition of action potentials, anxiety reduction
34
Glutamate | enhances?
enhancements of action potentials, learning and memory
35
Endorphins | decreases?
pain reduction, reward
36
Receptors
are specialized protein molecules located on the postsynaptic membrane that specifically respond to the chemical structure of the neuron available in the synapse A NEUROTRANSMITTER CANNOT BIND WITH A RECEPTOR IF IT CANNOT FIT
37
How neurotransmitters work
Neurotransmitters are made in the axon Neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles Action potentials cause vesicles to fuse to the presynaptic membrane and release their contents into the synapse Released neurotransmitters bind to the postsynaptic receptors Neurotransmission is terminated by reuptake, enzyme deactivation or autoreception
38
Reuptake
occurs when the neurotransmitter is taken back into the presynaptic terminal buttons (recycling)
39
Enzyme deactivation
when an enzyme destroyed the neurotransmitter in the synapse Different enzymes breaks different neurotransmitters
40
Autoreception
neurotransmitters can bind with receptors on the presynaptic neuron Monitor how much neurotransmitter has been released into the synapse
41
Agonists
drugs and toxins that enhance the actions of neurotransmitters
42
Antagonists | inhibit
inhibit the actions of drugs and toxins
43
Agonists and antagonists | alters?
can alter a neurotransmitter's action in many ways
44
Agonist enhance action of neurotransmitters | helps produce
Introducing a substance that helps produce the neurotransmitter (precursor) thus increasing the amount of neurotransmitter made and released by the presynaptic neuro blocks recpetors that trigger reuptake making the neurotransmitter last longer in the synape
45
Antagonist | reduces
Introducing a substance that reduces the amount of neurotransmitter made and released into the synapse which also facilitates the destruction of neurotransmitters thus reducing the time it is in the synapse
46
Broca's Theory
Left frontal region is crucial for the production of language
47
Electroencephalogy
measure electrical activity in the brain
48
Event-related potential (ERP)
provides information about the speed at which the brain processes events and their timing
49
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
a method of brain imaging that assesses metabolic activity by using a radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream Negative: the patient needs to be injected with a radioactive substance
50
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
an imaging technique used to examine changes in activity of the working human brain by measuring changes in the blood oxygen’s level
51
MRI
a method of brain imaging that uses a powerful magnetic field to produce high-quality images of the brain
52
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
the use of strong magnets to briefly interrupt normal brain activity as a way to study brain regions Can be used for only short amounts of time
53
Cerebral Cortex
the outer layer of the cerebral hemisphere and gives the brain its distinctive wrinkled appearance Lateral fissure Central fissure
54
Frontal | function
thought, planning, movement
55
prefrontal cortex | function
directing and maintaining attention Indispensable for rational activity Feel empathy, sense of self, feeling guilty, concerned with social functions
56
Primary motor cortex | initiates
initiate complex voluntary movements
57
Temporal | function
hearing, memory
58
Primary auditory cortex | function
responsible for hearing
59
Fusiform face area
intersection between the temporal lobe and occipital lobe More active when people look at faces (recognition of people)
60
Parietal | function
touch, spatial relations
61
Primary somatosensory cortex
groups nearby sensations The left hemisphere receives touch information from the right side of the body The right hemisphere receives touch information from the left side of the body
62
Occipital | function
vision
63
Primary visual cortex
major destination for visual information
64
Corpus callosum
a massive bridge of millions of myelinated axons (white matter) connects the hemispheres and allows information to flow between them
65
Split-brain
a condition that occurs when the corpus callosum is surgically cut and the two hemispheres of the brain do not receive information directly from each other SEE OUTLINE FOR MORE INFO
66
Insula | location
Insula lies deep within the lateral fissure
67
Subcortical structures
thalamus, hypothalamus, the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and amygdala
68
Insula
Houses primary gustatory cortex Sense of taste, perceiving disgust Aware of bodily states (emotions) Experience pain, feeling empathy for other people's pain
69
Thalamus
Gateway to the cortex Receives almost all incoming sensory information, organizes it, and relays it to the cortex Only exception is the sense of smell (has a direct route to the cortex) Partially shuts the gates when sleeping to allow the brain to rest
70
Hypothalamus
Brains main regulatory structure Indispensable to an organism's survival Receives input from and projects its influence to almost everywhere on the body and brain Affects internal organs (regulating body temperature, body rhythms, blood pressure, blood glucose level) (Homeostasis) Thirst, hunger, sexual desire all regulated
71
Hippocampus
Formation of new memories How we remember the arrangements of places and objects in space
72
Amygdala
Learning about biologically relevant stimuli Responding to stimuli that elicit fear Evaluating a facial expression emotional significance Intensifies the function of memory during times of emotional arousal
73
Basal Ganglia | crucial for?
System of subcortical structures crucial for planning and producing movement Receive input from the entire cerebral cortex Send these inputs to the motor centers of the brain
74
Spinal Cord
Carry sensory information up to the brain and carry motor signals from the brain to the body parts below to initiate action
75
Brain Stem
Extension of the spinal cord Controls functions crucial to survival Heart rate, breathing, swallowing, vomiting, urination, and orgasm Houses the medulla oblongata, the pons, and the midbrain
76
Cerebellum
A large convoluted protuberance at the back of the brainstem, it is essential for coordinated movement and balance Motor learning and motor memory, operates unconsciously
77
Somatic nervous system (SNS)
Transmits sensory signals and motor signals to the CNS via nerves Specialized receptors in the skin, muscle, and joints send this sensory information to the spinal cord which relays it to the brain CNS sends signals to the SNS to muscles, joints, and skin to initiate, modulate or inhibit movement
78
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Regulates the body's internal environment by by stimulating glands and by maintaining internal organs Nerves in the ANS also carry somatosensory signals from the glands and internal organs to the CNS
79
Sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight)
Prepares your body for action Fight or flight response
80
Parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest)
Returns the body to a resting state Rest and digest
81
Endocrine system
Communication network that uses hormones to influences thoughts, behavior, and actions Slower at communication than the nervous system
82
Hormones
chemical substances released into the bloodstream by the endocrine glands such as the pancreas, thyroid, adrenal glands, and testes or ovaries
83
Hypothalamus | function
controls motivation and regulates body function (primarily controls the endocrine system)
84
Pituitary
controls release of hormones (located at the base of the hypothalamus) Control center of the endocrine system
85
Thyroid | controls
controls how body burns energy
86
Parathyroid | function
controls calcium levels
87
Thymus and Adrenal
governs immune system
88
Pancreas
controls digestion
89
Plasticity
the ability to change in response to experience or injury Decreases with age Social environment and stress can highly affect brain plasticity
90
Neurogenesis
Production of new neurons
91
Gene expression
whether a particular gene is turned on or off Allows us to sense, learn, and fall in love
92
Dominant Gene
gene that is expressed whenever it is present
93
Recessive Gene
gene that is only expressed when matched with the same recessive gene
94
Genotype
organism's genetic makeup
95
Phenotype
organism's observable characteristics and is always changing
96
Polygenic
traits are influenced by many genes and environment
97
Heredity
transmission of characteristics from parents to offsprings through genes

psyh 101 (5 decks)

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