Chapter 3 Quiz Flashcards
neurons
cells that transmit information
motor neurons
both voluntary and involuntary movement
sensory neurons
help with taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and feeling things
interneurons
located between other neurons that help pass signals
dendrites
sends information and receiving info
terminals
receives information
neurotransmitters
chemical “messengers”
*Packed with terminals
synapses
a gap between the neurons, stimulated by electrical activity
when neurons send impulses….
ITS ALL OR NOTHING
neurons…
don’t touch each other
absolute refractory period
a resting period, time between an action potential to the start of another
(Sends messages and then waits to send another)
synaptic cleft and action potential
when a presynaptic neuron experiences an action potential, neurotransmitters are released into the synapse. the neurotransmitters are then absorbed by the postsynaptic synapse.
reuptake
when the presynaptic neuron reabsorbs unabsorbed neurotransmitters for reuse
SSRIs - selective, serotonin, reuptake inhibitors
popular medication for depression
agonists
cause the receptor sites in the neurons to activate based on the transmitter
(Increase effects of transmitter)
antagonists
block the receptor sites from absorbing the transmitter
neuroplasticity
the ability of the neural networks in the brain to change their connections through growth and reorganization
Longterm potentiation
persistent strengthening of synapses that leads to long lasting increase in signal transmission (important to memory)
acetylcholine (Ach)
involved in arousal, attention, memory, and controls of muscle contractions
Ex: Alzheimer’s disease
norepinephrine (Ne)
involved in arousal and mood
Ex: depressive disorders
dopamine (DA)
involved in control of movement and sensations of pleasure
Ex: Parkinsonism, schizophrenic, disorders, addictive disorders
serotonin (5-HT)
involved in sleep, mood, anxiety, and appetite
Ex: depressive disorders, obsessive-compulsive. disorders, anxiety disorders
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
involved in sleep and inhibits movement
Ex: anxiety disorders
glutamate
involved in learning, memory formation, nervous system development
endorphins
involved in pain relief
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
brain….
interprets and stores info and sends orders to muscles, glands, and organs
spinal cord…
pathway connecting the brain and the peripheral nervous system
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
transmits information to and from the central nervous system
autonomic nervous system
automatically regulates glands, internal organs, and blood vessels, pupil dilation, digestion, and blood pressure
somatic nervous system
carries sensory information and controls movement of the skeletal muscles
parasympathetic division
maintains body functions under ordinary conditions, saves energy
sympathetic division
prepares the body to react and expand energy in times of stress
sensory system
carries messages from senses to CNS
motor system
carries messages from CNS to muscles and glands
hormones
are chemicals that control various bodily functions
attraction, aggression, appetite
pituitary gland
“master gland” controls all the glands in the body
EEG
a test that detects electrical activity to see what’s being stimulated in the brain
CT scan
two-dimensional x-ray to create a 3D representation of the body
PET scan
can see functioning of the brain (activity) rather than just structures (uses radioactivity tagged chemicals to see)
MRI
uses magnetic fields, radio waves, and computerized enhancement to map out brain structure creating 3D pictures
fMRI
can measure blood flow and oxygen usage so it measures activity similar to a PET
lesioning
doesn’t actually allow us to see the brain, destroys a piece of the brain
ESB
sends a weak electrical current into a brain structure to stimulate it, often used on patients with severe depression
TMS
permits scientists to temporarily enhance or depress activity in a specific area of the brain (uses magnetic fields)
brain is divided into two…..
hemispheres
left hemisphere
controls right side of body
speech language and comprehension
analysis and calculations
right hemisphere
controls left side of body
creativity
spatial ability
context/perception
reticular formation
regulates pain and intention
cerebellum
a.k.a. “little brain”, regulates balance and coordination and judging distances
cerebral cortex
(higher functioning)
outer layer of the brain, where the four lobes are
corpus collosum
allows the hemispheres to communicate, it’s the bridge between the two
thalamus
relay station between the brainstem and cortex (sensory signals)
hypothalamus
important in regulating autonomic nervous system, helps regulate body temp, sleep and fatigue play a role
hippocampus
turns information into long term memory, also important in spatial perception
pons
they relay information from the brainstem to the cerebellum and cortex
medulla oblongata
maintains regulating heart rate, breathing, digestion, and swallowing
the limbic system
helps us to process pleasant emotions and unpleasant emotion
amygdala
processes emotion, fear, and aggression responses
left side of brain:
Broca’s area
production of speech
left side of brain:
Wernicke’s area
understanding speech/language
neuroplasticity
the ability of the brain to create new neurons, from neural connections, and recruit neurons from other parts of the brain to perform functions
mirror neurons
neurons that fire both when an organism itself is doing a behavior, organism do the same
ex: yawning
heritability
a measure of the degree to which out traits are inherited
natural selection
Charles Darwin
frontal lobe (motor cortex)
reasoning, planning, speech, movement, emotions, problem solving
parietal lobe (sensory cortex)
movement, orientation, recognition, perception
temporal lobe (primary auditory cortex)
auditory perception, memory, speech
occipital lobe (primary visual cortex)
visual processing center
