Chapter 3: Neuroscience And Behaviour Flashcards
Phrenology
The belief that bumps on the skull are related to mental abilities and character traits. Developed by Franz Gall in 1800
Glial Cells
Support, nourish and protect neurons, make up majority of nervous system cells and play a role in thinking/learning
Neurons
nerve cells that send messages all over your body to allow you to do everything like breathing, talking, eating, and thinking.
Sensory neurons
Receive information from the body or external environment
Motor neurons
Send instructions to the body
Interneurons
receive and send information to other neurons
Cell body
Life support centre of the neuron, does information-processing tasks
Dendrites
Branching extensions at the cell body, receive information from other neurons and relays it to the cell body
Axon
long single extensions making neurons send messages to other neurons, muscles, or glands
Terminal Buttons of axon
Knob like endings of an axon that transmit messages
Neural impulse
Action potential, electrical signal travelling down the axon
Myelin sheath
Covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses
Voltage
A measure of the electrical force that would drive an electric current between two points
Ion
An atom/molecule in which the total number of electrons is not equal to total number of protons giving it a positive/negative electric charge
Resting potential
When a neuron is at rest, not receiving input or firing an action potential, higher concentration of negative ions inside the cell than outside
Action potential
electrical charge that travels down an axon
Threshold
Each neuron receives excitatory and inhibitory signals from many neurons
Refractory period
Time following an action potential durning which a new action potential can’t be initiated
All-or-None response
A stronger stimulus can trigger more neurons to fire, and to fire more often but it does not affect the action potential strength/speed
Synapses
A gap between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dentrite/cell body of the receiving neuron
Neurotransmitters
chemicals that allow neurons to communicate with each other throughout the cell body.
Reuptake
essential for synaptic functioning, It allows neurotransmitters to be reused and helps regulate neurotransmitter levels.
Agonist
Drugs that increase the action potential of a neurotransmitter
Antagonist
Drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter
The Nervous System
network of neurons that send information throughout the body, the body’s speed, electrochemical communication system