Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Biopsych > chapter 3: neurophysiology > Flashcards

chapter 3: neurophysiology Flashcards

1
Q

Neurophysiology

A

The study of the life processes of neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Polarized

A

Exhibiting a difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of the cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Ion

A

An atom or molecule that has acquired an electrical charge by gaining or losing one or more electrons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Anion

A

A negatively charged ion, such as a protein or a chloride ion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Cation

A

A positively charged ion, such as a potassium or sodium ion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Intracellular fluid

A

The watery solution found within cells

Also called cytoplasm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Extracellular fluid

A

the fluid in the spaces between cells (interstitial fluid) and in the vascular system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Cell membrane

A

The lipid bilayer that ensheathes a cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Microelectrode

A

An especially small electrode used to record electrical potentials in living cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Resting potential

A

A difference in electrical potential across the membrane of a nerve cell during an inactive period

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Ion channel

A

A pore in the cell membrane that permits the passage of certain ions through the membrane when the channels are open

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Millivolt (mV)

A

A thousandth of a volt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Potassium ion (K+)

A

A potassium atom that carries a positive charge because it has lost one electron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Selective permeability

A

The property of a membrane that allows some substances to pass through, but not others

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Diffusion

A

The spontaneous spread of molecules until a uniform concentration is achieved

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Electrostatic pressure

A

The propensity of charged molecules or ions to move, via diffusion, toward areas with the opposite charge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Sodium-potassium pump

A

The energetically expensive mechanism that pushes sodium ions out of a cell, and potassium ions in

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Sodium ion (NA+)

A

A sodium atom that carries a positive charge because it has lost one electron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Equilibrium potential

A

The point at which the movement of ions across the cell membrane is balanced, as the electrostatic pressure pulling ions in one direction is offset by the diffusion force pushing them in the opposite direction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Axon hillock

A

The cone-shaped area on the cell body from which the axon originates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Hyperpolarization

A

An increase in membrane potential (the interior of the neuron becomes even more negative)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Depolarization

A

An increase in membrane potential (the interior of the neuron becomes less negative)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Local potential

A

An electrical potential that is initiated by stimulation at a specific site, which is a graded response that spreads passively across the cell membrane, decreasing in strength with time and distance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Threshold

A

The stimulus intensity that is just adequate to trigger an action potential at the axon hillock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Action potential
A rapid reversal of the membrane potential that momentarily makes the inside of the membrane positive with respect to the outside Also called spike
26
All-or-none property
The fact that the size (amplitude) of the action potential is independent of the size of the stimulus
27
Afterpotential
The positive or negative change in membrane potential that may follow an action potential
28
Voltage-gated Na+ channel
A NA+-selective channel that opens or closes in response to changes in the voltage of the local membrane potential; it mediates the action potential
29
Refractory
Temporarily unresponsive or inactivated
30
Absolute refractory phase
A brief period of complete insensitivity to stimuli
31
Relative refractory phase
A period of reduced sensitivity during which only strong stimulation produces an action potential
32
Conduction velocity
The speed at which an action potential is propagated along the length of an axon (or section of peripheral nerve)
33
Myelin
The fatty insulation around an axon, formed by glial cells. This sheath boosts the speed at which nerve impulses are conducted
34
Node of Ranvier
A gap between successive segments of the myelin sheath where the axon membrane is exposed
35
Saltatory conduction
The form of conduction that is characteristic of myelinated axons, in which the action potential jumps from one node of Ranvier to the next
36
Neurotransmitter (transmitter)
The chemical released from the presynaptic axon terminal that serves as the basis of communication between neurons Also called transmitter, synaptic transmitter, or chemical transmitter
37
Presynaptic
Referring to the region of a synapse that releases neurotransmitter
38
Postsynaptic
Referring to the region of a synapse that receives and responds to neurotransmitter
39
Postsynaptic potential
A local potential that is initiated by stimulation at a synapse, which can vary in amplitude, and spreads passively across the cell membrane, decreasing in strength with time and distance
40
Excitatory presynaptic potential (EPSP)
A depolarizing potential in the postsynaptic neuron that is caused by excitatory presynaptic potentials. EPSPs increase the probability that the postsynaptic neuron will fire an action potential
41
Synaptic delay
The brief delay between the arrival of an action potential at the axon terminal and the creation of a postsynaptic potential
42
Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
A hyperpolarizing potential in the postsynaptic neuron that is caused by inhibitory connections. IPSPs decrease the probability that a postsynaptic neuron will fire an action potential.
43
Chloride ion (Cl-)
A chlorine atom that carries a negative charge because it has gained one electron
44
Spatial summation
The summation of postsynaptic potentials that reach the axon hillock from different locations across the cell body. If this summation reaches threshold, an action potential is triggered
45
Temporal summation
The summation of postsynaptic potentials that reach the axon hillock at different times. The closer in time the potentials occur, the more complete the summation is
46
Synaptic vesicle
A small, spherical structure that contains molecules of neurotransmitter
47
Synaptic cleft
The space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons at a synapse. This gap measures about 20-40 nm
48
Calcium ion (Ca2+)
A calcium atom that carries a double positive charge because it has lost two electrons
49
Ligand
A substance that binds to receptor molecules, such as a neurotransmitter or drug that binds postsynaptic receptors
50
Acetylcholine (aCh)
A neurotransmitter that is produced and released by parasympathetic postganglionic neurons, by motoneurons, and by neurons throughout the brain
51
Neurotransmitter receptor
A protein that captures and reacts to molecules of a neurotransmitter or hormone Also called receptor
52
Curare
A neurotoxin that causes paralysis by blocking acetylcholine receptors in muscle
53
Bungarotoxin
A neurotoxin, isolated from the venom of the banded krait, that selectively blocks acetylcholine receptors
54
Agonist
A molecule, usually a drug, that binds a receptor molecule and initiates a response like that of another molecule, usually a neurotransmitter
55
Antagonist
A molecule, usually a drug, that interferes with or prevents the action of a neurotransmitter
56
Cholinergic
Referring to cells that use acetylcholine as their synaptic transmitter
57
Degradation
The chemical breakdown of a neurotransmitter into inactive metabolites
58
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
An enzyme that inactivates the transmitter acetylcholine
59
Reuptake
The process by which released synaptic transmitter molecules are taken up and reused by the presynaptic neuron, thus stopping synaptic activity
60
Transporter
A specialized receptor in the presynaptic membrane that recognizes transmitter molecules and returns them to the presynaptic neuron for reuse
61
Axo-dendritic synapse
A synapse at which a presynaptic axon terminal synapses onto a dendrite of the postsynaptic neuron, either via a dendritic spine or directly onto the dendrite itself
62
Axo-somatic synapse
A synapse at which a presynaptic axon terminal synapses onto the cell body (soma) of the postsynaptic neuron
63
Axo-axonic synapse
A synapse at which the presynaptic axon terminal synapses onto the axon terminal of another neuron
64
Dendro-dendritic synapse
A synapse at which a synaptic connection forms between the dendrites of two neurons
65
Knee jerk reflex
A variant of the stretch reflex in which stretching of the tendon beneath the knee leads to an upward kick of the leg
66
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
A recording of gross electrical activity of the brain via large electrodes placed on the scalp
67
Event-related potential (ERP)
Averaged EEG recordings measuring brain responses to repeated presentations of a stimulus. Components of the ERP tend to be reliable because the background noise of the cortex has been averaged out Also called evoked potential
68
Epilepsy
A brain disorder marked by major, sudden changes in the electrophysiological state of the brain that are referred to as seizures
69
Seizure
An epileptic episode
70
Grand mal seizure
A type of generalized epileptic seizure in which nerve cells fire in high-frequency bursts, usually accompanied by involuntary rhythmic contractions of the body
71
Petit mal seizure
A seizure that is characterized by a spike-and-wave EEG and often involves a loss of awareness and inability to recall events surrounding the seizure
72
Complex partial seizure
In epilepsy, a type of seizure that doesn't involve the entire brain, and therefore can cause a wide variety of symptoms
73
Aura
In epilepsy, the unusual sensations or premonition that may precede the beginning of a seizure

Biopsych (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions