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
Receive 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
(nerve/neural impulse)
1. K inside, Na outside
2. Na channels open, inside becomes positive (depolarization)
3. potassium open, outside of cell, becomes more neg (repolarization)
4. overshoot (hyper polarization)
5. triggers next, acts like a wave down axon
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. (neuron –> neuron)
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messages that carry messages across the synapses.
5 Stages of Neurotransmitter (chemical comminucation)
- 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.
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.
Somatic Nervous System
Responsible for voluntary movements from sensory and motor neurons. bring information from the sensory receptors and sends information to muscles. (PNS)
Autonomic Nervous System
Regulates internal environment and involuntary functions like respiration, circulation, and digestion. Made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. (PNS)
Sympathetic Nervous System
A part of the autonomic nervous system. Responsible for fight or flight response. It acts as a unit and is responsible for activation and arousal.