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

Chapter 4 - Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission Flashcards

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
Antidromic conduction
Axonal conduction opposite to the normal direction; conduction from axon terminals back toward the cell body
26
Orthodromic conduction
Axonal conduction in the normal direction—from the cell body toward the terminal buttons
27
Nodes of Ranvier
The gaps between adjacent myelin sheaths on an | axon
28
Saltatory conduction
Conduction of an action potential from one node of Ranvier to the next along a myelinated axon
29
Dendritic spines
Tiny protrusions of various shapes that are located on the surfaces of many dendrites
30
Tripartite synapse
A synapse that involves two neurons and an astroglia
31
Directed synapses
Synapses at which the site of neurotransmitter release and the site of neurotransmitter reception are in close proximity
32
Nondirected synapses
Synapses at which the site of neurotransmitter release and the site of neurotransmitter reception are not close together
33
Synaptic vesicles
Small spherical membranes that store neurotransmitter molecules and release them into the synaptic cleft
34
Golgi complex
Structures in the cell bodies and terminal buttons of neurons that package neurotransmitters and other molecules in vesicles
35
Coexistence
The presence of more than one neurotransmitter in the same neuron
36
Exocytosis
The process of releasing a neurotransmitter
37
Receptors
Cells that are specialized to receive chemical, mechanical, or radiant signals from the environment; also proteins that contain binding sites for particular neurotransmitters
38
Ligand
A molecule that binds to another molecule; neurotransmitters are ligands of their receptors
39
Receptor subtypes
The different types of receptors to which a particular neurotransmitter can bind
40
Ionotrpoic receptors
Receptors that are associated with ligand-activated ion channels
41
Metabotropic receptors
Receptors that are associated with signal proteins and G proteins
42
G proteins
Proteins that are located inside neurons (and some other cells) and are attached to metabotropic receptors in the cell membrane
43
Second messenger
A chemical synthesized in a neuron in response to the binding of a neurotransmitter to a metabotropic receptor in its cell membrane
44
Autoreceptors
A type of metabotropic receptor located on the presynaptic membrane that bind to their neuron’s own neurotransmitters
45
Reuptake
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
Enzymatic degradation
The breakdown of chemicals by enzymes—one of the two mechanisms for deactivating released neurotransmitters
47
Enzymes
Proteins that stimulate or inhibit biochemical reactions without being affected by them
48
Acetylcholinesterase
The enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
49
Gap junctions
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
Amino acid neurotransmitters
A class of small-molecule neurotransmitters, which includes the amino acids glutamate, aspartate, glycine, and GABA
51
Glutamate
The most prevalent excitatory neurotransmitter in | the central nervous system
52
Aspartate
An amino acid neurotransmitter
53
Glycine
An amino acid neurotransmitter
54
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
The amino acid neurotransmitter that is synthesized from glutamate; the most prevalent inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system
55
Monoamine neurotransmitters
Small-molecule neurotransmitters that are synthesized from monoamines and comprise two classes: catecholamines and indolamines
56
Dopamine
One of the three catecholamine neurotransmitters
57
Epinephrine
One of the three catecholamine neurotransmitters
58
Norepinephrine
One of the three catecholamine neurotransmitters
59
Serotonin
An indolamine neurotransmitter; the only member of this class of monoamine neurotransmitters found in the mammalian nervous system
60
Catecholamines
The three monoamine neurotransmitters that are | synthesized from the amino acid tyrosine: dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine
61
Indolamines
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
Acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter that is created by the addition of an acetyl group to a choline molecule
63
Soluble-gas neurotransmitters
A class of unconventional neurotransmitters that includes nitric oxide and carbon monoxide
64
Nitric oxide
A soluble-gas neurotransmitter
65
Carbon monoxide
A soluble-gas neurotransmitter
66
Endocannabinoids
A class of unconventional neurotransmitters that are chemically similar to the active components of marijuana
67
Anandamide
The first endogenous endocannabinoid to be | discovered and characterized
68
Neuropeptide transmitters
Peptides that function as neurotransmitters, of which about 100 have been identified; also called neuropeptides
69
Pituitary peptides
One of the five categories of neuropeptide transmitters; it contains neuropeptides that were first identified as hormones released by the pituitary
70
Hypothalamic peptides
One of the five classes of neuropeptide transmitters; it consists of those first identified as hormones released by the hypothalamus
71
Brain-gut peptides
Neuropeptides that were first discovedred in the gut
72
Opioid peptides
One of the five classes of neuropeptide transmitters; it consists of those with a structure similar to the active ingredients of opium
73
Miscellaneous peptides
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
Agonists
Drugs that facilitate the effects of a particular | neurotransmitter
75
Antagonists
Drugs that inhibit the effects of a particular | neurotransmitter
76
Receptor blockers
Antagonistic drugs that bind to postsynaptic receptors without activating them and block the access of the usual neurotransmitter
77
Atropine
A receptor blocker that exerts its antagonistic effect by binding to muscarinic receptors
78
Botox
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
Periaqueductal gray (PAG)
The gray matter around the cerebral aqueduct, which contains opiate receptors and activates a descending analgesia circuit
80
Endogenous
Naturally occurring in the body (e.g., endogenous | opioids)
81
Enkephalins
The first class of endogenous opioids to be discovered
82
Endorphins
A class of endogenous opioids

PSYCH 110 - Biopsychology (18 decks)

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