Chapter 3 - Biological Bases of Behaviour Flashcards
Neurons
Specialized cells that make up the nervous system.
Parts of a neuron
Cell body (Soma)
Dendrites
Axon
Axon terminals
Cell body (soma) functions
Keep the cell alive.
Dendrite functions
Recieve signals from the cell body
Axon functions
Bring signals to the axon terminals
Axon terminal functions
Send the signals to other cells.
Glial Cells
Hold the cells in place and they make and store the nutrients for the cell. They also make the myelin sheath
Myelin Sheath
Insulation and protective layer around the cell that is created by the glial cells.
Functions of Neurons
- Generate Electricity
- Release Chemicals
Steps of a Neural Impulse
- Cells at rest have electrical resting potential
- Electrical charge passes through a stimulated cell and produces an action potential
- Returns to rest
Resting Potential
Cell is at rest with electrical resting potential → -70mV
Action Potential
Cell is stimulates and ions pass across the cell membrane.
Restoring Resting Potential
When the distribution of ions is restored, so the cell can rest again.
Absolute Refractory Period
The time after an action potential when a cell cannot fire again.
All-or-None Law
An action potential either happens or it does not, there are not different levels of action potentials.
Nodes of Ranvier
The part of the cell without a myelin sheath where an action potential can occur.
Synapses
Where axon terminals meet dendrites. Functional connections between neurons and their targets.
Synaptic Cleft
The gap between cells where they communicate.
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messages that carry messages across the synapses.
Five stages of Chemical Communication
- Synthesis - Make the neurotransmitters in the axon terminals.
- Storage - Store the neurotransmitters in the synaptic vesicles.
- Release - Release into the synapse.
- Binding - Attach to receptor cites (lock and key)
- Deactivation - Broken down and recycled
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter
Makes resting potential more negative (hyper polarization)
Excitatory Neurotransmitter
Makes resting potential more positive (depolarization)
Specialized Neurotransmitters
There are specific neurons for different brain systems.
Glutamate
*Excitatory ONLY
Very common specialized neurotransmitter that is responsible for learning and memory.
GABA
*Inhibitory ONLY
Specialized neurotransmitter that is responsible for anxiety and motor control.
Acetylcholine (ACh)
*Excitatory
Specialized neurotransmitter that is responsible for movement and memory.
Norepinephrine
*Excitatory and Inhibitory
Specialized neurotransmitter that is responsible for learning, memory, wakefulness, and eating.
Serotonin
*Inhibitory mostly
Specialized neurotransmitter that is responsible for mood, eating, sleeping, and arousal.
Dopamine
*Inhibitory and excitatory
Specialized neurotransmitter that is responsible for pleasure, voluntary movement, and learning.
Endorphin
*Inhibitory mostly
Specialized neurotransmitter that is responsible for pain sensitivity and adrenaline.
Three types of Neurons
- Sensory neurons
- Motor neurons
- Interneurons
Sensory Neurons
Bring messages from sense organs to the nervous system.
Motor Neurons
Bring messages from the nervous system to muscles and organs.
Internerons
The most common type of neuron; they send messages from neuron to neuron.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Nerves that are not a part of the spinal cord and the brain.