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Physiological Psych (The Mind's Machine by Watson & Breedlove) > Chapter 3 (Neurophysiology) > Flashcards

Chapter 3 (Neurophysiology) Flashcards

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1
Q

neurophysiology

A

The study of the life processes of neurons

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2
Q

polarized

A

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

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3
Q

ion

A

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

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4
Q

anion

A

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

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5
Q

cation

A

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

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6
Q

intracellular fluid

A

Also called cytoplasm. The watery solution found within cells.

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7
Q

extracellular fluid

A

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

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8
Q

cell membrane

A

The lipid bilayer that ensheathes a cell

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9
Q

microelectrode

A

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

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10
Q

resting potential

A

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

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11
Q

millivolt (mV)

A

A thousandth of a volt.

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12
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

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13
Q

potassium ion (K+)

A

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

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14
Q

selective permeability

A

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

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15
Q

diffusion

A

The spontaneous spread of molecules untili a uniform concentration is achieved.

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16
Q

electrostatic pressure

A

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

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17
Q

sodium-potassium pump

A

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

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18
Q

sodium ion (Na+)

A

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

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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.

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20
Q

axon hillock

A

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

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21
Q

hyperpolarization

A

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

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22
Q

depolarization

A

A decrease in membrane potential (the interior of the neuron becomes less negative).

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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

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24
Q

threshold

A

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

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25
Q

action potential

A

Also called spike. A rapid reversal of the membrane potential that momentarily makes the inside of the membrane positive with respect to the outside

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26
Q

all-or-none property

A

The fact that the size (amplitude) of the action potential is independent of the size of the stimulus.

27
Q

afterpotential

A

The positive or negative change in membrane potential that may follow an action potential

28
Q

voltage-gated Na+ channel

A

A Na+ selective channel that opens or closes in response to changes in the voltage of the local membrane potential; it mediates teh action potential

29
Q

refractory

A

temporarily unresponsive or inactivated

30
Q

absolute refractory phase

A

A brief period of complete insensitivity to stimuli

31
Q

relative refractory phase

A

A period of reduced stimulation during which only strong stimulation produces an action potential

32
Q

conduction velocity

A

The speed at which an action potential is propagated along the length of an axon (or section of peripheral nerve).

33
Q

myelin

A

The fatty insulation around an axon, formed by glial cells. This sheath boosts the speed at which nerve impulses are conducted.

34
Q

node of Ranvier

A

A gap between successive segments of the myelin sheath where the axon membrane is exposed.

35
Q

saltatory conduction

A

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
Q

postsynaptic potential

A

A local potential that is initiated by a stimulation at a synapse, which can vary in amplitude, and spreads passively across the cell membrane, decreasing in strength with time and distance.

37
Q

EPSP

A

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.

38
Q

synaptic delay

A

The brief delay between the arrival of an action potential at the axon terminal adn the creation of a post-synaptic potential.

39
Q

IPSP

A

A hyperpolarizing potential in the postsynaptic neuron that is caused by inhibitory connections. IPSPs decrease the probability that the postsynaptic neuron will fire an action potential.

40
Q

chloride ion (Cl-)

A

A chlorine atom that carries a negative charge because it has gained one electron.

41
Q

spatial summation

A

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.

42
Q

temporal summation

A

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.

43
Q

synaptic vesicle

A

A small, spherical structure that contains molecules of neurotransmitter

44
Q

calcium ion (Ca2+)

A

a calcium atom that carries a double positive charge because it has lost two electrons

45
Q

ligand

A

a substance that binds to receptor molecules, such as a neurotransmitter or drug that binds postsynaptic receptors

46
Q

acetylcholine (ACh)

A

A neurotransmitter that is produced and released by parasympathetic postganglionic neurons, by motoneurons, and by neurons throughout the brain.

47
Q

curare

A

a neurotoxin that causes paralysis by blocking ACh receptors in muscle.

48
Q

bungarotoxin

A

A neurotoxin, isolated form the venom of the banded krait, that selectively blocks ACh receptors.

49
Q

agonist

A

A molecule, usually a drug, that binds a receptor molecule and initiates a response like that of another molecule, usually a neurotransmitter

50
Q

antagonist

A

A molecule, usually a drug, that interferes with or prevents the action of a neurotransmitter

51
Q

cholinergic

A

Referring to cells that use ACh as their synaptic transmitter.

52
Q

degradation

A

The chemical breakdown of a neurotransmitter into inactive metabolics

53
Q

acetylcholinesterase (AChE)

A

An enzyme that inactivates the transmitter ACh

54
Q

reuptake

A

The process by which release transmitter molecules are taken up and reused by the presynaptic neuron, thus stopping synaptic activity.

55
Q

transporter

A

A specialized receptor in the presynaptic membrane that recognizes transmitter molecules and returns them to the presynaptic neuron for reuse.

56
Q

knee jerk reflex

A

A variant of the stretch reflex in which stretching the tendon beneath the knee leads to an upward kick of the leg

57
Q

electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

A recording of gross electrical activity of the brain via large electrodes placed on the scalp.

58
Q

event-related potential (ERP)

A

Also called evoked potential. 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.

59
Q

epilepsy

A

A brain disorder marked by major, suden changes in the electrophysical state of the brain that are referred to as seizures.

60
Q

seizure

A

an epileptic episode

61
Q

grand mal seizure

A

A type of generalized epileptic seizure in which nerve cells fire in high-frequency bursts, usually accompanied by involuntary rhythmic contractions of the body

62
Q

petit mal seizure

A

Also called absence attack. 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.

63
Q

complex partial seizure

A

In epilepsy, a type of seizure that doesn’t involve the entire brain, and therefore can cause a wide variety of symptoms

64
Q

aura

A

In epilepsy, the unusual sensations or premonition that may precede the beginning of a seizure.

Physiological Psych (The Mind's Machine by Watson & Breedlove) (13 decks)

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