chapter 3 biology and neuroscience

Question 1

what are the main cells triggered by electrical impulses to send chemical messages in the brain

Answer 1

neurons

Question 2

two main types of cells in the nervous system

Answer 2

glial cells and neurons

Question 3

helps to regulate increases and decreases in heart rate

Answer 3

medulla

Question 4

helps to regulate involuntary muscular control of facial expressions

Answer 4

pons

Question 5

helps to regulate levels of arousal

Answer 5

reticular activating system

Question 6

the electrical impulse, or activation energy, that sends a message through a neuron

Answer 6

action potential

Question 7

axons that carry signals to the central nervous system

Answer 7

afferents

Question 8

a part of the neuron’s cell membrane that delivers messages to other neurons and body parts

Answer 8

axon

Question 9

chemicals that come from outside of the body, and mimic or enhance in some way the actions of neurotransmitters. They can be either more effective, the same, or less effective than the normal neurotrasnmitter produced in the nervous system

Answer 9

agonists

Question 10

A network of neurons and glia (nuclei) that becomes more active when we learn to be fearful and activate our fear response.

Answer 10

amygdala

Question 11

parts of the neocortex that merge information from primary areas like the visual and auditory cortex. These circuits help us make sense of what we take in.

Answer 11

association cortex

Question 12

part of the brain that is a major processing center for emotions

Answer 12

amygdala

Question 13

Glial (helper) cells that help get nutrition to neurons and maintain the balance of charges particles (ions) inside and outside of the neuron

Answer 13

astrocytes

Question 14

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the more automatic functions of the body

Answer 14

autonomic

Question 15

the intersection between the soma and the axon. This is where the axon begins

Answer 15

axon hillock

Question 16

This is the part of the axon that releases the neurotrasmitter. Once the action potential gets to the axon terminal, this triggers the release of the neurotransmitter

Answer 16

axon terminal

Question 17

interconnected groups of neurons near the base of the brain that help us learn movements and coordinate movement patterns

Answer 17

basal ganglia

Question 18

the part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord

Answer 18

central nervous system

Question 19

“little brain” A two lowed part of the brain behind the brainstem that helps coordinate movements and problem solving

Answer 19

cerebellum

Question 20

a network that becomes more active when we experience unpleasant things

Answer 20

cingulate gyrus

Question 21

opposite side of the body

Answer 21

contralateral

Question 22

a method used in combination with MRI scans that allows white matter (axons with myelin) to be seen on the scan

Answer 22

diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

Question 23

extensions of the cell body membrane that brand out to communicate with other neurons

Answer 23

dendrites

Question 24

consisting of clustered groups of neurons called the caudate and putamen, part of the basal ganglia closer to the neocortex that play a central role in coordinating movement.

Answer 24

dorsal straitum

Question 25

axons that carry signals AWAY from the central nervous system

Answer 25

efferents

Question 26

a substance produced in the body

Answer 26

endogenous substance

Question 27

a network of neurons and glia grouped together to perform certain functions

Answer 27

ganglia

Question 28

several different helper cells that assist neruons in their role as the brains communicators, and provide structural support

Answer 28

glial cells

Question 29

pale globe: part of the basal ganglia that plays the role of inhibiting circuits in the thalamus to control how sensory information is coordinated with movement

Answer 29

globus pallidus

Question 30

a neurotransmitter that excites (activates) neurons

Answer 30

glutamate

Question 31

a network of neurons and glia that acts as a gateway for forming new memories

Answer 31

hippocampus

Question 32

a network of neurons and glia that helps regulate the production of hormones by the endocrine system, giving it an integral role in governing important bodily functions

Answer 32

hypothalamus

Question 33

something that causes the charge inside a neuron to move away from activation (more negative)

Answer 33

inhibitory

Question 34

particles with positive or negative charges. The movement os these things creates electricity.

Answer 34

ions

Question 35

same side of the body

Answer 35

ipsilateral

Question 36

an anatomical term meaning "toward the sides of the body/head."

Answer 36

lateral

Question 37

areas in the brain where neruons have died. It can occur for many reasons, including trauma (getting hit), drug overdose, disease, stroke, or toxic chemical exposure

Answer 37

lesions

Question 38

a network of neurons and glia dedicated to regulating emotions, helping regulate endocrine activity, and forming emotional memories

Answer 38

limbic system

Question 39

different sections of the neocortex, each dedicated primarily to a certain set of functions

Answer 39

lobes

Question 40

an anatomical term meaning "toward the middle and center of the body/head"

Answer 40

medial

Question 41

the part of the brain closest to your spinal cord that helps regulate life functions like breathing and heart rate

Answer 41

medulla

Question 42

glial (helper) cells that clean debris and get rid of germs

Answer 42

mircoglia

Question 43

a protein and fatty substance that wraps around the axon to protect and increase speed of action potentials (electrical impulses)

Answer 43

myelin

Question 44

the outer part of your brian, with all the bumps (gyri) and valleys (sulcii), responsible for all the high level processing of information

Answer 44

neocortex

Question 45

anything related to the nervous system structure or function

Answer 45

neural

Question 46

nerurons organized in an interconnected group, dedicated to a set of functions

Answer 46

neural networks

Question 47

diseases in which parts of the brain slowly die over time, resulting in greater disability as the disease progresses

Answer 47

neurodegenerative diseases

Question 48

cells that communicate within the brain and with the body to form thoughts and actions. These cells code information as electrical signals, and also release chemicals that influence other neurons/organs/body parts.

Answer 48

neurons

Question 49

the ability of neurons and glia to change/adapt to what happens inside and around us

Answer 49

neuroplasticity

Question 50

chemicals released from the end of an axon that acts as messages to other neurons and body parts. These chemicals typically bind to receptors.

Answer 50

neurotransmitters

Question 51

gaps in the myelin that allow ions to enter into the axon and change the charge inside

Answer 51

nodes of ranvier

Question 52

a network of neurons and glia grouped together to perform certain functions

Answer 52

nuclei

Question 53

the bottom portion of the temporal lobes in the neocortex dedicated to processing electrical impulses from olfactory (smell) nerves

Answer 53

olfactory cortex

Question 54

glial (helper) cells that wrap the myelin insulation around axons in the central nervous system

Answer 54

oligodendroxytes

Question 55

the division of your autonomic nervous system that is responsible for resting, digestion, and repairing the body

Answer 55

parasympathetic nervous system

Question 56

a chemical that comes from outside the body and either partially enhances, partially mimics, or partially blocks a neurotransmitter action

Answer 56

partial agonist/antagonist

Question 57

the other side of the synpase. The neuron that contains receptors (usually on dendrites) ready to bind to the neurotransmitter released from the presynaptic neuron.

Answer 57

postsynaptic receptors

Question 58

peripheral means outer. this is any part of the nervous system not in the brain or spinal cord

Answer 58

peripheral nervous system

Question 59

a network of cells in the brain stem (myelencephalon) that regulate awarness/alterness, sleep and motor function

Answer 59

pons

Question 60

the front portion of the frontal lobes, a network of neurons and glia heavily involved in decision making

Answer 60

prefrontal cortex

Question 61

the neuron that releases the neurotransmitter from its axon terminal

Answer 61

presynaptic neuron

Question 62

circuits of neurons in the temporal lobe dedicated to receiving and processing messages from the ears through axons of the vestibulochlear nerve

Answer 62

primary auditory cortex

Question 63

proteins that are embedded in the cell body membrane and are built to receive chemical messages from neurotransmitters

Answer 63

receptors

Question 64

a network of cells in the pons and medulla that help regulate the level of awarness and alterness in humans

Answer 64

reticular activating system (RAS)

Question 65

glial (helper) cells that wrap the myelin insulation around axons in the peripheral nervous system

Answer 65

schwann cells

Question 66

the cell body of a neuron

Answer 66

soma

Question 67

literally of the body. THe division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the movement of the torso, head, and limbs. These are the nerves that control and communicate with skeletal muscles

Answer 67

SOMATIC nerves

Question 68

a way of using dye to make neurons, axons, and dendrites visible under a microscope

Answer 68

staining methods

Question 69

dark substance: another part of the basal ganglia that sends inhibitory signals to the thalamus in order to coordinate sensory information with motor (movement) plans

Answer 69

substantia nigra

Question 70

the division of your autonomic nervous system that is responsible for things we do that require excitement

Answer 70

sympathetic nervous system

Question 71

a small fluid gap between neurons into which neurotransmitters are released

Answer 71

synpase

Question 72

the space between the end of the neuron that releases a neurotransmitter (axon terminal) and the end of the receiving neuron (usually a dendrite)

Answer 72

synaptic cleft

Question 73

the very end of the axon terminal, where the neurotransmitter exits

Answer 73

terminal button

Question 74

consisting of clustered groups of neurons called the globus pallidus (looks like a pale globe), substantia nigra (black substance), and the subthalamic nucleus (below the thalamus); part of the basal ganglia closer to the neocortex that play a central role in coordinating movement

Answer 74

ventral straitum

Question 75

little bubbles at the terminal button that store neurotransmitter molecules

Answer 75

vesicles

Question 76

circuits in the rear temporal lobe that seem to be necessary for processing and understanding language

Answer 76

wenicke's area