Chapter 3 Flashcards
neurons
individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate and transmit information
soma
cell body of neuron, contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells
dendrite
parts of the neuron that are specialized to receive information
axon
a long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons or to muscles and glands, wrapped in cells of myelin
myelin sheath
insulates some axons and speeds up transmission
terminal buttons
small knobs that secrete neurotransmitters
synapse
a junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another
glia
glue that provides support to neurons, small but outnumber neurons 10:1, 50% of brain’s volume, some can send signals and may contribute to memory
Hodgkin and Huxley
studied squid, learned that neural impulse is a complex electrochemical reaction, positive sodium and potassium against negative chloride
resting potential
a neuron’s stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive, -70 millivolts
action potential
brief shift in a neuron’s electrical charge that travels along an axon
absolute refractory period
minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin
neurotransmitters
chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another
postsynaptic potential (PSP)
a voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane
number of synapses…
decreases after age 1
acetylcholine
Released by motor neurons controlling skeletal muscle, regulation of attention, arousal and memory, Alzheimer’s
Dopamine
Control of voluntary movement, Cocaine elevates, Parkinsonism Schizophrenia and addiction
Norepinephrine
Mood and arousal, cocaine elevates, depression
Serotonin
Regulates sleep and wakefulness, deppression OCD and eating disorders
GADA
inhibitory transmitter, regulates anxiety and sleep/arousel, valium, Anxiety disorders
Glutamene
Excitatory transmitter, learning and memory, Schizophrenia
Endorphins
Opiate drugs, pain relief and response to stress, eating behavior
agonist
mimics action of neurotransmitter
antagonist
opposes action of neurotransmitter
monoamines
dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin
peripheral nervous system
all nerves (bundles of axons) that lie outside the brain and spinal cord