Chapter 3 Flashcards
Specialized cells, called ______ are the basic building blocks of the nervous system.
neurons
The cell body is called the
soma
What part of the neuron contains the biochemical structures needed to keep the neuron alive, and also carries the genetic information that determines how the cell develops and functions?
Cell body
Which part of the neuron gets its name for the Greek word for branch?
Dendrites
A typical neuron will have only one
axon
What are the three main parts of the neuron?
Axon
Cell body
Dendrites
______ cells are support cells that surround neurons and do not transmit nerve impulses.
glial
The nucleus of a neuron is located in the
soma
The ______ is where the genetic material, or DNA, is found.
cell body
The ________ carries chemical information from the neighbouring neurons to the cell body.
dendrite
The dendrite receives information from a neighbouring neuron in ________
form, and the axon transmits the same information in _______
form.
chemical, electrical
the ______-______ barrier prevents toxins from entering the brain.
blood brain
What part of the neuron contains the biochemical structures needed to keep the neuron alive, and also carries the genetic information that determines how the cell develops and functions?
cell body
At rest, a neuron has more ____ ions outside, and more _____ ions inside.
Na+, K+
Which part of the neuron gets its name for the Greek word for branch?
Dendrites
Which part of the neuron carries information in an electrical form?
axon
_____ cells are support cells that surround neurons and do not transmit nerve impulses.
glial
The walls of the blood-brain barrier are covered with a special type of ______ cell.
glial
The neuron is similar to a battery in that it produces ________ impulses
electrical
A neuron at rest has an internal difference of _______.
70mv
Which part of the neuron receives chemical messages from the neighbouring neurons?
dendrite
True or false: At rest a neuron is positively charged
false
A typical neuron will have only one
axon
The electrical shift, which lasts about a millisecond is called the _______
_______ or nerve impulse.
action potential
Which of the following are functions of the glial cells?
Transmitting nerve impulses
An action potential is created when ______ charged sodium ions flow into a neuron.
positively
What are the important functions of neurons in the human body?
Generate electricity
Release chemicals
At rest, a neuron has more ____ ions outside, and more _____ ions inside.
Na+, K+
At rest, a neuron is said to be in a state of ______
polarization
Action potentials occur in
axons
When the internal voltage differential of a neuron changes from -70 mV to +40 mV, ____________ has been initiated.
action potential
After an impulse passes a point along the axon, there is a recovery period as the K+ ions flow out of the interior. This is known as the absolute ______
period.
refractory
A neuron is not excitable during the ______ ______ period
absolute refractory
When an action potential is established, the interior of a neuron is ________ in relation to the outside of the neuron.
+40 mV
Fill in the Blank Question
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.
According to the ______-_____-______ law, either an action potential will be initiated at a uniform and maximum intensity, or it will not be initiated at all.
Listen to the complete question
all-or-nothing
A neuron at rest has an internal difference of _______.
70 mV
A whitish, fatty insulation layer that covers the axon is called the ______ _____
myelin sheath
What is the key mechanism that causes the action potential?
The action of sodium and potassium ion channels in the cell membrane
The nodes of Ranvier allow for _____ conduction in the axon.
quicker
If the changes in the negative resting potential do not reach the -50 mV action potential threshold, they are called ________ potentials.
graded
The nodes of Ranvier are locations on the axon where _______ is thin or absent.
myelin
The tragic effects of damage to the myelin coating can be seen in people who suffer from _____.
multiple sclerosis
Action potentials occur in
axons
For communication to occur between neurons, _______ need to flow from one neuron to another.
impulses
The synaptic space assists in
communication between neurons
The myelin sheath of the axon is interrupted at regular intervals by
the nodes of Ranvier
Neurotransmitters carry messages across the
synapse
Neurotransmitters are stored in _____
synaptic vesicles.
Multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system attacks the ______ ______ that surrounds and insulates neurons
myelin sheath
To move from presynaptic neuron to post-synaptic neuron, the neurotransmitters have to cross the
synaptic space
Chemical substances that carry messages across the synapse are called
neurotransmitters
An inhibitory neurotransmitter causes
positive potassium ions to flow out of the neuron
negative chloride ions from the exterior to flow into the neuron
Chambers within the axon terminals where transmitter molecules are stored are called _______ ________
synaptic vesicles
Uncontrolled firing of neurons in the nervous system causes _______
seizures
True or false: Receptor sites are large protein molecules embedded to the receiving neuron’s cell membrane
true
Once a neurotransmitter molecule binds to its receptor, it continues to excite or inhibit the neuron until it is deactivated or shut off. This occurs in two ways which are
reuptake
breakdown of chemical components
For communication to occur between neurons, _______ need to flow from one neuron to another.
neurotransmitters
______ messages increase the likelihood of an action potential in neighbouring neurons.
excitatory
An inhibitory neurotransmitter makes it (more/less) ______ likely that an action potential will be produced in neighbouring neurons.
less
_______ are caused by uncontrolled firing of neurons in the nervous system.
seizures
_______ of neurotransmitters has occurred when the transmitter molecules are taken back into the presynaptic axon terminals.
reuptake
______ is the process by which a released neurotransmitter is taken back by the neuron.
reuptake
An undersupply of _________ can result in depression, while an oversupply can result in stress and panic.
norepinephrine
When an excitatory neurotransmitter is released it _____ the receiving neuron’s cell membrane.
depolarizes
When a neuron is depolarized by a neurotransmitter it is _____ likely to fire.
more
Glutamate is an ______ neurotransmitter.
excitatory
A deactivation mechanism called ________ describes the process whereby the transmitter molecules are taken back into the presynaptic axon terminals.
reuptake
GABA is MOST closely associated with
benzodiazepines
Which of the following neurotransmitters has an influence on learning, memory, wakefulness, and eating?
Norepinephrine
When sodium ions flood into the cell, what process has taken place in the neuron?
Depolarization
GABA is an ______ neurotransmitter.
inhibitory
The neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, is involved in what?
memory, motor function, behavioral inhibition
major function of GABA?
It is an inhibitory transmitter in the motor system.
_______ is the process by which a released neurotransmitter is taken back by the neuron.
reuptake
Toxins formed by the botulinum bacteria blocks the release of ______ from the axon terminal, resulting in a potentially fatal paralysis of the muscles, including those of the respiratory system.
acetylcholine
Which neurotransmitter is associated with producing “happy” feelings?
Dopamine
An undersupply of _______ is related to memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease.
acetylcholine
Antipsychotic drugs attach to _____ receptors and prevent the reuptake of this neurotransmitter.
dopamine
The neurotransmitter _______ is involved in muscle activity and memory.
acetylcholine
Which of the following disorders are related to the malfunctioning of the neurotransmitter serotonin?
Depression, sleeping, and eating disorders
GABA is MOST closely associated with
benzodiazepines
Which neurotransmitter is involved in mood and arousal?
Serotonin
Blocking the release of _____ in the brain causes paralysis.
acetylcholine
An undersupply of _______ can result in hypersensitivity to pain and immune problems.
endorphins
An oversupply of ______ is associated with schizophrenia
dopamine
The neurotransmitter ______ inhibits the transmission of pain.
endorphin
The neurotransmitter that is most implicated in Parkinson’s disease and depression is an under-supply of
dopamine
Neuromodulators have an influence on
synaptic transmission
Depression, sleeping, and eating disorders have all been linked to issues with the neurotransmitter _______
serotonin
A _______ neuron carries input from the sensory organs to the spinal cord and brain.
sensory
Which neurotransmitter is implicated in depression?
serotonin
_______ neurons carry input messages from the sense organs to the spinal cord and brain.
sensory
AN oversupply of _____ can result in insensitivity to pain
endorphin
Endorphins are MOST closely associated with
pain relief
Motor neurons transmit output impulses from _____ to _____.
brain; muscles
Sensory and motor neurons are connected by _______ .
interneurons
Which of the following can either increase or decrease the sensitivity of a neuron?
a neuromodulator
The nervous system contains more _____ than any other type of neuron.
interneurons
What are the two major divisions of the nervous system.
Central and Peripheral
Sensory neurons carry messages from the _____ to the _______.
sense organs; spinal cord and brain
The _______ nervous system is comprised of all the neurons that reside outside of the central nervous system.
peripheral
An undersupply of _______ can result in hypersensitivity to pain and immune problems.
endorphins
_______ neurons transmit output impulses from the brain to the muscles.
motor
Neurons that link input and output functions are called _______.
interneurons
The smooth or involuntary muscles of the heart are controlled by the _____ nervous system.
autonomic
The ______ nervous system prepares the body for flight or fight.
sympathetic
The _________ nervous system slows down body processes and maintains a state of tranquility.
parasympathetic
The autonomic nervous system is a part of the _____ nervous system.
peripheral
The somatic nervous system is a subdivision of the
peripheral nervous system
Involuntary actions such as digestion are controlled by the _____ nervous system.
autonomic
The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems counteract each other’s actions to maintain a bodily equilibrium known as
homeostasis
Which of the following prepares the body for action?
Sympathetic nervous system
The brain and the spinal cord are the two main structures of the _______ nervous system.
central
Activation of the _______ nervous system, a division of the autonomic nervous system, calms the body after an emergency has ended and directs the body to store energy for future emergencies.
parasympathetic
The bones in the spine are referred to as _______ .
ventricles
The _______ nervous system consists of sensory neurons that are specialized to transmit messages from the ears, eyes and other sensory receptors, and motor neurons that send messages from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles that control voluntary movements.
somatic
Reflexes that are triggered at the level of the spinal cord without involvement of the brain are called ______ reflexes
spinal
The average human brain is 1.4 kilograms of fat, fluid and ________
protein
The Trail Making Test used to test memory and planning is a(n) ________
test.
neuropsychological or memory
The spinal cord’s neurons are protected by the _______
vertebrae or spine
The autonomic nervous system is a part of the _____ nervous system.
peripheral
When electricity is being used to destroy nerve cells in order to study the brain, which method is being used?
Destruction technique
When someone touches a hot stove, the reflex that controls the withdrawal of the hand is controlled by the ____ _____.
spinal cord
The __________ is used to detect abnormal electric patterns which can tell about certain brain pathologies.
electroencephalograph
EEG
The brain is made of which of the following?
Fat
Protein
Fluid
Abe recently suffered a brain injury and his psychologist wants to assess how well he is able to care for himself. The psychologist employs a variety of _______ tests to determine this.
neuropsychological
A _______ scan uses x-ray technology to study brain structures.
CT
The bones in the spine are referred to as ______
ventricles
Which of the following methods do scientists use to study the brain?
Destroying nervous tissues with electricity
Surgically removing parts of brain
Using chemicals to destroy nervous tissues
Applying cold or heat to destroy nerve cells
The _______ measures the activity of large groups of neurons through electrodes placed on the scalp.
electroencephalograph
EEG
_______ scans are able to measure brain activity as well as metabolism, blood flow, and neurotransmitter activity.
pet
True or false: Electrical recording is rarely used to study the brain.
false
A doctor wants to see x-ray pictures of cross-sections of different parts of the brain of his patient. He will most likely use images from a(n)
ct scan
A(n) ______ creates images based on how atoms in living tissue respond to a magnetic pulse delivered by the device.
MRI
When Bob went in to get a brain scan, the magnetic energy absorbed by the atoms in his tissues emitted a small electrical voltage and the images were relayed to a computer. The machine doing all this is a(n)
MRI
According to evolutionary theory, which of the following brain structures was developed most recently?
Cereberal cortex
The ________ lies directly above the hindbrain.
midbrain
_______ scans are able to measure brain activity as well as metabolism, blood flow, and neurotransmitter activity.
pet
A(n) ________ can be used to take pictures of the brain’s bloodflow across time.
fMRI
A doctor wants to see x-ray pictures of cross-sections of different parts of the brain of his patient. He will most likely use images from a(n) _____
CT scan
The ______ is the lowest and most primitive level of the brain.
hindbrain
The brain’s core governs
basic physiological functions
The three major parts of the brain are the _________, _________, and ________.
midbrain
forebrain
hindbrain
Which important brain structure is fully formed at birth, plays an important role in vital bodily functions and is the first structure above the spinal cord?
medulla
Which of the following structures are part of the hindbrain AND crucial for life support?
medulla and pons
As the spinal cord enters the brain, it enlarges to form the structures that compose the stalklike brain stem called the _____.
hindbrain
The _____ is located in the hindbrain and controls respiration.
pons
The primary function of the cerebellum is
muscle movement coordination
The _____ is a two-way thoroughfare for all the sensory and motor nerve tracts going to and from the brain.
medulla
Which part of the brain is particularly well developed in cats?
cerebellum
The brain ____ is the life-support system
stem
The part of the brain that helps regulate sleep and controls vital function is the
pons
In addition to muscle movement coordination, the cerebellum also plays a role in:
learning and memory
Cats have well developed cerebellums to help them _______.
move gracefully
The ______ either blocks messages or allows them to go forward to the higher brain centres.
reticular formation
Alcohol can easily disrupt the ____ control functions of the cerebellum
movement
The ______ is located in the hindbrain and controls respiration.
pons
From an evolutionary perspective, the ________ is the most advanced portion of the brain.
forebrain
Lying just above the hindbrain, the _______ contains clusters of sensory and motor neurons.
midbrain
Which of the following are performed by the reticular formation?
It alerts the higher centre of the brain that a message is coming.
It either blocks incoming messages or allows them to go forward.
The basal ganglia is critical for
motor control
True or false: Alcohol affects control of the cerebellum.
true
The forebrain is also called the _____, a structure with two hemispheres
cerebrum
the _______ of the brain plays a key role in routing information from the sensory organs to appropriate parts of the brain. It is sometimes compared to a switchboard.
thalamus
The ______ either blocks messages or allows them to go forward to the higher brain centres.
reticular formation
Which disease is associated with problems in the basal ganglia?
Parkinson’s
Which of the following areas is MOST closely associated with biological drives?
Hypothalamus
Alcohol can easily disrupt the ______ control functions of the cerebellum.
motor
Temperature regulation is done by the
hypothalmus
The visual, auditory, and bodily senses all have major relay stations in the
thalamus
What monitors biological drives such as sexual behaviour, temperature regulation, eating, drinking, aggression, and emotions
hypothalamus
Damage to the hippocampus makes it difficult to
form new memories
Lesions in part of the hypothalamus cause a(n) ___________ in sex drive.
decrease
If you are feeling angry or fearful, which part of the brain is most likely involved?
Amygdala
Which emotion can be invoked in a person by the electrical stimulation of amygdala?
aggression + fear
The ________ of the brain plays a key role in routing information from the sensory organs to appropriate parts of the brain. It is sometimes compared to a switchboard.
thalamus
James Olds and Peter Milner’s 1953 experiment with rats shows us that the __________ has a reward and punishment centre.
hypothalamus
The _______ system helps coordinate behaviours needed to satisfy motivational and emotional urges that arise in the hypothalamus.
limbic
The portion of the brain that is part of the limbic system and is associated with memory is the
hippocampus
The axons travelling to the _______ _______ play an important role in reward and motivation.
nucleus accumbens
Amygdala stimulation is very important for the _______ to form emotional memories.
hippocampus
The amygdala is MOST closely associated with
aggression and fear
Which neurochemical was identified as producing “rewarding” behaviours in the rats in James Olds and Peter Milner’s 1953 study?
dopamine
The cerebral cortex is essential for
the quality of life
One patient who had an electrode implanted in their _______ _______ proposed marriage to the experimenter.
nucleus accumbens
What is the nucleus accumbens important for?
reward and motivation
Frontal and temporal lobes are two lobes out of four found in each hemisphere of the cerebrum. Name the other two:
occipital and parietal
If you are feeling angry or fearful, which part of the brain is most likely involved?
amygdala
The cerebral cortex is made of _______ cells.
myelinated or unmyelinated
unmyelinated
Voluntary body movements are controlled by the _________ cortex.
motor
True or false: The cerebral cortex is essential to sustaining life.
false
Amygdala stimulation is very important for the _______ to form emotional memories.
hippocampus
The sensory cortex receives ______ input that gives rise to our sensations of heat, touch, and balance.
sensory
The cerebral cortex is found in the _______ layer of the human brain.
(innermost, outermost in middle)
outermost
The motor cortex controls ________ body movements.
voluntary or involuntary
voluntary
The cerebral cortex is essential for
quality of life
Sensory input gathered by the left side of the body is sent to the ______ side of the brain.
right
The primary sensory area for vision lies at the rear of the ______ lobe.
occipital
The ______ cortex involves specific areas like sight, touch, hearing from which we receive input.
sensory
Name the functions:
Wernicke’s area
Broca’s area
Wernicke’s area:
Involved primarily in language comprehension
Broca’s area:
Involved in normal speech production
Wernicke’s area is located in the ______ lobe.
temporal
The amount of ______ devoted to each body area is directly proportional to that area’s sensitivity.
cortex
True or false: The cerebral cortex is essential to sustaining life.
false
The ______ cortex is involved in many important mental functions, including perception, language, and thought. The flexibility and learning capacity of this part of the brain have allowed us to acquire new mental skills specific to a human way of life.
association
The occipital lobe is associated with the sensation of
vision
Agnosia results from a problem in the _____ cortex.
association
What is the association cortex
Located in the frontal lobe
largely responsible for the complex processing that goes on between the arrival of input in the primary sensory cortices and the generation of behavior.
Which of the following is associated with the frontal lobes?
initiative
What human distinct human qualities are associated with the frontal lobes
self-awareness, planning, initiative and responsibility
Broca’s area is located in the _____ lobe.
frontal
The inability to identify familiar objects is referred to as
agnosia
Bill is setting his goals for the upcoming month. He is likely using his _______ cortex.
prefrontal
When a spike went through the head of Phineas Gage he changed in very significant ways. Which of the following demonstrates his most significant change and led the way for researchers to understand the function of the frontal lobe?
His personality changed.
If there is dysfunction in our prefrontal cortex, people find it hard to control the impulse to
be aggressive
Angelique recently had a stroke and her psychologist is evaluating her capabilities. The psychologist finds that Angelique can comprehend speech but has problems producing it. The damage was most likely to _____.
Broca’s area
The ______ cortex is involved in many important mental functions, including perception, language, and thought. The flexibility and learning capacity of this part of the brain have allowed us to acquire new mental skills specific to a human way of life.
association
The executive functions are associated with the ______ cortex.
prefrontal
Which of the following is associated with the frontal lobes?
Initiative
An operation in which a sharp object is inserted into the brain to sever the tracts of the frontal lobes to the regions associated with emotions is called a
prefrontal labotomy
Compared to nonviolent people, violent people show _____ amounts of prefrontal activation.
low or high)
low
If the corpus callosum is damaged, the two hemispheres will act as
two separate units
Broca’s area is located in the _____ lobe.
frontal
The relatively greater localization of a function in one hemisphere is called
lateralization
The _____ cortex is responsible for the highest levels of mental functioning.
association
Bill is setting his goals for the upcoming month. He is likely using his _______ cortex.
prefrontal
Psychiatric patients who received ______ _____ in the 1940s and 50s were dramatically calmer after the operation.
prefrontal lobotomies
Reading is associated with the left side of the brain. This is an example of
lateralization
What is the name of the tissue that passes information between the two cerebral hemispheres?
corpus callosum
The partial or complete loss of the ability to communicate using language is known as _________
aphasia
The _______ _______ is a neural bridge that connects the two hemispheres of the cerebrum.
corpus callosum
True or false: Programs such as “right brain” education demonstrate how the brain is localized to one hemisphere or the other.
false
Reason: No, the brain is integrated so that many areas work together across both hemispheres.
The ______ cortex is involved in many important mental functions, including perception, language, and thought. The flexibility and learning capacity of this part of the brain have allowed us to acquire new mental skills specific to a human way of life.
association
Some people have had such severe epilepsy that their corpus callosum has been cut, reducing the spread of electrical activity from
one hemisphere to the other
The executive functions are associated with the ______ cortex.
prefrontal
The left side of the visual field projects to the visual cortex of the ________ hemisphere.
right
________ refers to the relatively greater localization of a function in one hemisphere or the other.
lateralization
The term _______ describes the partial or total loss of the ability to communicate.
aphasia
