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PSYCH 110 - Biopsychology > Chapter 4 - Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission > Flashcards

Chapter 4 - Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission Flashcards

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1
Q

Membrane potential

A

The diffrence in electrical charge between the inside and the outside of a cell

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2
Q

Microelectrodes

A

Extremely fine recording electrodes, which are used for intracellular recording

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3
Q

Resting potential

A

The steady membrane potential of a neuron at

rest, usually about −70 mV

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4
Q

Polarized

A

In the context of membrane potentials, it is a membrane potential that is not zero

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5
Q

Ions

A

Positively or negatively charged particles

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6
Q

Ion channels

A

Pores in neural membranes through which specific ions pass

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7
Q

Sodium-potassium pumps

A

An ion transporter that actively exchanges three Na+ ions inside the neuron for two K+ ions outside

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8
Q

Transporters

A

Mechanisms in the membrane of a cell that actively transport ions or molecules across the membrane

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9
Q

Postsynaptic potentials (PSPs)

A

Potentials that move the postsynaptic cell’s

membrane potential away from the resting state

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10
Q

Depolarize

A

To decrease the resting membrane potential

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11
Q

Hyperpolarize

A

To increase the resting membrane potential

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12
Q

Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs)

A

Graded postsynaptic depolarizations, which increase the likelihood that an action potential will be generated

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13
Q

Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs)

A

Graded postsynaptic hyperpolarizations, which decrease the likelihood that an action potential will be generated

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14
Q

Graded potentials

A

All postsynaptic potentials (i.e., both excitatory
postsynaptic potentials and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials), are graded potentials, which means that the amplitudes of postsynaptic potentials are proportional to the intensity of the signals that
elicit them: Weak signals elicit small PSPs, and strong signals elicit large ones

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15
Q

Axon hillock

A

The conical structure at the junction between the axon and cell body

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16
Q

Axon initial segment

A

The segment of the axon where action potentials are generated— located immediately adjacent to the axon hillock

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17
Q

Threshold of excitation

A

The level of depolarization necessary to generate an action potential; usually about −65 mV

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18
Q

Action potential (AP)

A

A massive momentary reversal of a neuron’s

membrane potential from about −70 mV to about +50 mV

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19
Q

All-or-none responses

A

Responses that are not graded; they either

occur to their full extent or do not occur at all

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20
Q

Spatial summation

A

The integration of signals that originate at different sites on the neuron’s membrane

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21
Q

Temporal summation

A

The integration of neural signals that occur at

different times at the same synapse

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22
Q

Voltage-gated (or voltage-activated) ion channels

A

Ion channels that open and close in response to changes in the level of the membrane potential

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23
Q

Absolute refractory period

A

A brief period (typically 1 to 2 milliseconds) after the initiation of an action potential during which it is impossible to elicit another action potential in the same neuron

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24
Q

Relative refractory period

A

A period after the absolute refractory period during which a higher-than-normal amount of stimulation is necessary to make a neuron fire

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25
Q

Antidromic conduction

A

Axonal conduction opposite to the normal direction; conduction from axon terminals back toward the cell body

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26
Q

Orthodromic conduction

A

Axonal conduction in the normal direction—from the cell body toward the terminal buttons

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27
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

The gaps between adjacent myelin sheaths on an

axon

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28
Q

Saltatory conduction

A

Conduction of an action potential from one node of Ranvier to the next along a myelinated axon

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29
Q

Dendritic spines

A

Tiny protrusions of various shapes that are located on the surfaces of many dendrites

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30
Q

Tripartite synapse

A

A synapse that involves two neurons and an astroglia

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31
Q

Directed synapses

A

Synapses at which the site of neurotransmitter release and the site of neurotransmitter reception are in close proximity

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32
Q

Nondirected synapses

A

Synapses at which the site of neurotransmitter release and the site of neurotransmitter reception are not close together

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33
Q

Synaptic vesicles

A

Small spherical membranes that store neurotransmitter molecules and release them into the synaptic cleft

34
Q

Golgi complex

A

Structures in the cell bodies and terminal buttons of neurons that package neurotransmitters and other molecules in vesicles

35
Q

Coexistence

A

The presence of more than one neurotransmitter in the same neuron

36
Q

Exocytosis

A

The process of releasing a neurotransmitter

37
Q

Receptors

A

Cells that are specialized to receive chemical, mechanical, or radiant signals from the environment; also proteins that contain binding sites for particular neurotransmitters

38
Q

Ligand

A

A molecule that binds to another molecule; neurotransmitters are ligands of their receptors

39
Q

Receptor subtypes

A

The different types of receptors to which a particular neurotransmitter can bind

40
Q

Ionotrpoic receptors

A

Receptors that are associated with ligand-activated ion channels

41
Q

Metabotropic receptors

A

Receptors that are associated with signal proteins and G proteins

42
Q

G proteins

A

Proteins that are located inside neurons (and some other cells) and are attached to metabotropic receptors in the cell membrane

43
Q

Second messenger

A

A chemical synthesized in a neuron in response to the binding of a neurotransmitter to a metabotropic receptor in its cell membrane

44
Q

Autoreceptors

A

A type of metabotropic receptor located on the presynaptic membrane that bind to their neuron’s own neurotransmitters

45
Q

Reuptake

A

The drawing back into the terminal button of neurotransmitter molecules after their release into the synapse; the most common mechanism for deactivating a released neurotransmitter

46
Q

Enzymatic degradation

A

The breakdown of chemicals by enzymes—one of the two mechanisms for deactivating released neurotransmitters

47
Q

Enzymes

A

Proteins that stimulate or inhibit biochemical reactions without being affected by them

48
Q

Acetylcholinesterase

A

The enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine

49
Q

Gap junctions

A

Narrow spaces between adjacent neurons that are
bridged by fine tubular channels containing cytoplasm, through which electrical signals and small molecules can pass readily

50
Q

Amino acid neurotransmitters

A

A class of small-molecule neurotransmitters, which includes the amino acids glutamate, aspartate, glycine, and GABA

51
Q

Glutamate

A

The most prevalent excitatory neurotransmitter in

the central nervous system

52
Q

Aspartate

A

An amino acid neurotransmitter

53
Q

Glycine

A

An amino acid neurotransmitter

54
Q

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

A

The amino acid neurotransmitter that is synthesized from glutamate; the most prevalent inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system

55
Q

Monoamine neurotransmitters

A

Small-molecule neurotransmitters that are synthesized from monoamines and comprise two classes: catecholamines and indolamines

56
Q

Dopamine

A

One of the three catecholamine neurotransmitters

57
Q

Epinephrine

A

One of the three catecholamine neurotransmitters

58
Q

Norepinephrine

A

One of the three catecholamine neurotransmitters

59
Q

Serotonin

A

An indolamine neurotransmitter; the only member of this class of monoamine neurotransmitters found in the mammalian nervous system

60
Q

Catecholamines

A

The three monoamine neurotransmitters that are

synthesized from the amino acid tyrosine: dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine

61
Q

Indolamines

A

The class of monoamine neurotransmitters that are synthesized from tryptophan; serotonin is the only member of this class found in the mammalian nervous system

62
Q

Acetylcholine

A

A neurotransmitter that is created by the addition of an acetyl group to a choline molecule

63
Q

Soluble-gas neurotransmitters

A

A class of unconventional neurotransmitters that includes nitric oxide and carbon monoxide

64
Q

Nitric oxide

A

A soluble-gas neurotransmitter

65
Q

Carbon monoxide

A

A soluble-gas neurotransmitter

66
Q

Endocannabinoids

A

A class of unconventional neurotransmitters that are chemically similar to the active components of marijuana

67
Q

Anandamide

A

The first endogenous endocannabinoid to be

discovered and characterized

68
Q

Neuropeptide transmitters

A

Peptides that function as neurotransmitters, of which about 100 have been identified; also called
neuropeptides

69
Q

Pituitary peptides

A

One of the five categories of neuropeptide transmitters; it contains neuropeptides that were first identified as hormones released by the pituitary

70
Q

Hypothalamic peptides

A

One of the five classes of neuropeptide transmitters; it consists of those first identified as hormones released by the hypothalamus

71
Q

Brain-gut peptides

A

Neuropeptides that were first discovedred in the gut

72
Q

Opioid peptides

A

One of the five classes of neuropeptide transmitters; it consists of those with a structure similar to the active ingredients of opium

73
Q

Miscellaneous peptides

A

One of the five categories of neuropeptide transmitters; it include those neuropeptide transmitters that don’t fit into one of the other four categories

74
Q

Agonists

A

Drugs that facilitate the effects of a particular

neurotransmitter

75
Q

Antagonists

A

Drugs that inhibit the effects of a particular

neurotransmitter

76
Q

Receptor blockers

A

Antagonistic drugs that bind to postsynaptic receptors without activating them and block the access of the usual neurotransmitter

77
Q

Atropine

A

A receptor blocker that exerts its antagonistic effect by binding to muscarinic receptors

78
Q

Botox

A

Botulinium toxin; a neurotoxin released by bacterium often found in spoiled food. It blocks the release of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions and has applications in medicine and cosmetics

79
Q

Periaqueductal gray (PAG)

A

The gray matter around the cerebral aqueduct, which contains opiate receptors and activates a descending analgesia circuit

80
Q

Endogenous

A

Naturally occurring in the body (e.g., endogenous

opioids)

81
Q

Enkephalins

A

The first class of endogenous opioids to be discovered

82
Q

Endorphins

A

A class of endogenous opioids

PSYCH 110 - Biopsychology (18 decks)

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