CNS and synaptic transmission

Question 1

what does PNS stand for

Answer 1

peripheral nervous system

Question 2

what does the CNS do

Answer 2

processes sensory information and directing responses as it is the body’s control centre

Question 3

what does the PNS do

Answer 3

transmits nerve impulses from the CNS to the rest of the body

Question 4

where is the amygdala

Answer 4

near the base of the skull above the ear in the temporal lobe

Question 5

what is the role of the amygdala

Answer 5

processes strong emotions and acts as an emotional alarm

right side= negative emotions
left side= positive emotions

Question 6

where is the hippocampus

Answer 6

middle of temporal lobe

Question 7

what is the role of the hippocampus

Answer 7

converts STM into LTM by organising, storing and retrieving memories

Question 8

where is the hypothalamus

Answer 8

in the mid brain, under the thalamus

Question 9

where is the corpus callosum

Answer 9

centre of the brain between the left and right hemispheres

Question 10

what is the role of the hypothalamus

Answer 10

controls vital functions like hunger, thirst and body temperature

essential for maintaining homeostasis

Question 11

what is the role of the corpus callosum

Answer 11

sends messages between the 2 brain hemispheres

Question 12

what is the corpus callosum

Answer 12

connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain

Question 13

where is the limbic system

Answer 13

beneath the cerebral cortex and the brains outer layer but above the brainstem

Question 14

what makes up the limbic system

Answer 14

hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala

Question 15

what is the role of the limbic system

Answer 15

to be involved in the formation of memories and how we experience emotions

Question 16

what are the parts of a neurone

Answer 16

cell body, dendrites, myelin sheath, axon, axon terminal

Question 17

what is a neurotransmitter

Answer 17

a chemical messenger that transmits signals between neurones across a synapse

Question 18

what is the cell body(soma)

Answer 18

the central part of the neurone containing the nucleus

Question 19

what is the function of the soma

Answer 19

maintain cell health and produce the necessary proteins

Question 20

what are dendrites

Answer 20

branch like structures extending from the soma

Question 21

what is the function of the dendrites

Answer 21

to receive chemical signals from other neurones and convert them into electrical impulses

Question 22

what is the axon

Answer 22

a long strand of projection from the cell body

Question 23

what is the function of the axon

Answer 23

to conduct electrical impulses away from the soma and toward other neurones, muscles or glands

Question 24

what is the axon hillock

Answer 24

a region where the axon connects to the soma

Question 25

what is the function of the axon hillock

Answer 25

to initiate nerve impulses (action impulses) if the signal is strong enough

Question 26

what is the myelin sheath

Answer 26

a layer of fatty substances acting as an insulator

Question 27

what is the function of the myelin sheath

Answer 27

to increase the speed of electrical impulse transmission along the axon

Question 28

what are the nodes of Ranvier

Answer 28

gaps in the myelin sheath along the axon

Question 29

what is the function of the nodes of Ranvier

Answer 29

to allow impulses to 'jump' from one node to the next to enable rapid signal transmission

Question 30

what are the axon terminals

Answer 30

branches at the end of the axon

Question 31

what is the function of the axon terminals

Answer 31

to release neurotransmitters into synapse to communicate with the next neurone or target cell

Question 32

what are the terminal buttons

Answer 32

small knobs at the end of the axon

Question 33

what is the function of terminal buttons

Answer 33

to release neurotransmitters

Question 34

what is dopamine used for

Answer 34

mood regulation, sleep, stress response, blood flow, motor movement, feelings of focus, motivation and alertness part of the pleasure/reward system

Question 35

what can happen when someone has low levels of dopamine

Answer 35

lack of motivation, tiredness, unhappiness ADHD, Parkinson's and restless leg syndrome

Question 36

what can happen when someone has high levels of dopamine

Answer 36

euphoria, high sex drive, high energy, aggression, impulsion obesity, mania, addiction

Question 37

what is associated with high and low levels of dopamine

Answer 37

schizophrenia

Question 38

where is serotonin projected from

Answer 38

the brain stem

Question 39

what is the role/function of serotonin

Answer 39

it affects behaviour, mood, sleep, physical health acts as a natural mood stabiliser stimulates the part of the brain that controls sleep helps bone health, depression and helps heal wounds by blood clots

Question 40

what happens when someone has low serotonin

Answer 40

negative emotions, insomnia, impulsivity, poor appetite

Question 41

how can serotonin levels be increased

Answer 41

medication

Question 42

what does noradrenaline do

Answer 42

increases heart rate, gives you energy, maintains metabolism and biorhythms, ensures proper organ function

Question 43

when is noradrenaline released

Answer 43

all the time but production is the highest in the morning and the lowest in the evening

Question 44

what happens when someone has too much noradrenaline

Answer 44

anxiety, sleep problems, irritability and panic attacks

Question 45

what happens when someone has too little noradrenaline

Answer 45

depression, poor memory, lack of energy, ADHD

Question 46

what is the role of acetylcholine

Answer 46

plays a key role in motor control and muscle contractions is necessary for memory and cognitive functions like alertness and attention

Question 47

what does acetylcholine do

Answer 47

expresses some emotions like anger and sexuality

Question 48

how does synaptic transmission begin

Answer 48

when an action potential reaches the axon terminal which triggers a release of neurotransmitters for synaptic vesicles from the synaptic cleft

Question 49

describe the process of neural communication

Answer 49

sensory nerves collect information from the body and sends it to the brain via the spinal cord the brain processes information and sends messages back to the spinal cord via the body the communication within the brain and spinal cord happens through neurones

Question 50

describe the process of synaptic transmission

Answer 50

the action potential reaches the axon terminal of the presynaptic neurone and triggers the release of neurotransmitters from vesicles the chemicals diffuse across the synaptic cleft and binds to the receptors on the post synaptic neurone if the neurotransmitters fit the receptor, the message is transmitted the neurotransmitters are broken down by enzymes or reabsorbed by the presynaptic neurone(this is called uptake)