Chapter 3: Neuroscience and behavior Flashcards
neurons
cells in the nervous system that communicate with each other to perform information processing tasks.
cell body
part of the neuron that coordinates the information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive.
Dendrites
parts of the neuron that receive information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body.
Axon
part of the neuron that carries information to other neurons, muscles, and glands.
myelin sheath
an insulating layer of fatty material.
glial cells
support cells found in the nervous system.
synapse
junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another.
Types of neurons
sensory- receive info. from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord.
motor- carry signals from the signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement.
interneurons- connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons.
resting potential
the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neurons cell membrane.
(K+) (A-) are abundant in the cell
(Na+) abundant outside.
Cells are slightly negative.
action potential
what sets it off?
an electric signal that is conducted along the length of a neuron’s axon to a synapse.
when an electric shock reaches a certain threshold.
When an action potential occurs, there’s saltatory conduction. What is it?
The electric current seems to “jump” quickly from node to node.
What is the refractory period?
the cooldown period after an action potential occurs where the cell replenishes its slightly negative charge.
terminal buttons
Where are they found
knoblike structures at the end of an axon.
neurotransmitters
chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neurons dendrites.
receptors
parts of the cell membrane that receive neurotransmitters and either initiate or prevent a new electrical signal.
how do neurotransmitters leave the synapses?
- reuptake: absorbed by terminal buttons or glial cells
- broken down by enzymes
- diffusion: drift out of the synapse
autoreceptors
Detect how much of a neurotransmitter has been released and may stop it from releasing more.
Types of Neurotransmitters:
A- ACh- Attention
G- Glutamate (improves transmission between neurons) and GABA (prevents neurons from firing)
N- Norepinephrines- Nervous
E- Endorphins- Exercise high
S’- Serotonin- sleepy
D- Dopamine- drive
Agonists
drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter
L-dopa: Dopamine (Treats Parkinsons)
Amphetamine: Alert, Transmission increase
Opioids: endorphins: exercise
Antagonists
drugs that diminish the function of a neurotransmitter.
Nervous System
network of neurons that conveys info throughout the body.
central nervous system
composed of the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
connects the central nervous system to the body’s organs and muscles.
somatic nervous system
a set of nerves that coveys info between voluntary muscles and the central nervous system.
Automatic nervous system
a set of nerves that carries into,utary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs, and glands.
sympathetic nervous system
a set of nerves that prepares the body for action sin challenging or threatening situations.
Parasympathetic nervous system
helps the body return to a normal resting state.
spinal reflexes
What nervous system is it found in?
simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions.
Central nervous system
Hindbrain, what does it consist of
an area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord
Medulla: extension of spinal cord into the skill that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration
Reticular formation: sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal
cerebellum: fine motor skills
pons: relays info from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
Midbrain, what does it consist of
tectum: orients to the environment, receives stimulus from sensory organs
tegmentum: movement and arousal
Forebrain, what does it consist of
controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions.
Cerebral cortex and subcortical structures
Cerebral cortex
Squiggly part of the brain divided into hemispheres and lobes.
subcortical structures
basal ganglia- intentional movement
thalamus- filters info from cerebral cortex
hippocampus- creating memory
amygdala- emotional processes
hypothalamus- body temp, hunger, thirst, sexual desire
pituitary gland- releases hormones that direct glands
endocrine system
a network of glands, run by the pituitary gland, that produce and secrete into the bloodstream chemical messages known as hormones, and influences many things: metabolism, growth, and sexual development
cerebral cortex
corpus callosum: connection between the two hemispheres.
Occipital lobe (very back of the head)- visual processing information
Temporal lobe (sides of the head)- hearing and language
Parietal lobe (crown of the head)- processing touch sensations. Somatosensory cortex (headphone thingy that controls different parts of the body and face)
frontal lobe- (front of the head)- movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
association areas
neurons tasks with making sense of info in the cortex. Visual in the occipital.
Mirror neurons
ability to perform the same behavior that was just watched
Brain plasticity
ability to adapt to change.
Genes
major unit of hereditary transmission
Chromosomes
strands of DNA wound around each other that make up a gene
Epigenetics
study of environmental influences that determine how and if genes are expressed, without altering DNA sequences.
Case of Phineas Gage
damaged his frontal lobe. His personality changes significantly
split-brain procedure
Severing the corpus callosum to alleviate seizures.
EEG
a device used to record electrical activity in the brain
CT scan
X-ray photos from different angles that show density in tissue
MRI
strong magnetic field to line up the nuclei of specific molecules in the brain tissue.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
visualize the white matter pathways.
PET scan
radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream and shows where blood goes during certain tasks. This shows what parts of the brain are used during certain tasks.
fMRI
detects oxygenated vs. deoxygenated hemoglobin and where it goes.
TMS
magnetic pulse that temporary stops neurons from firing. It shows what is necessary for certain tasks.
