Course intro Flashcards
Neuroscience asks questions about…
how nervous systems of humans and animals are organized, developed and how they function to generate behaviour
Tool used by neuroscientists to attempt to answer questions about the NS:
Genetics & genomics Molecular & cell biology Physiology Psychology Anatomy Computer science
3 neural systems:
- Sensory systems
- Motor systems
- Associational systems
Sensory systems
Type 1 of neural systems
Report info about the state of the organism and its environment
Motor systems
Type 2 of neural systems
Organize and generate actions
Associational systems
Type 3 of neural systems
Provide ‘higher order’ brain functions (perception, attention, memory, emotions, language and thinking)
Human nervous system is divided into… (2)
- CNS
2. PNS
CNS includes
Brain
Spinal cord
PNS includes
Sensory neurons
Somatic motor division
Visceral/autonomic motor division
Camillo Golgi
Soaked brain in silver chromate sol. = cells became fully filled with dark colour
Supported ‘reticular theory’ (neurons form a network)
Reticular theory
Neurons form a network
Supported by Camillo Golgi (silver chromate sol.)
Ramon y Cajal
Supported ‘neuron doctrine’ (neurons = smallest unit)
Neuron doctrine
Against reticular theory
Neurons communicate at specialized contact points rather than through physical continuity
Supported by Ramon y Cajal and Charles Sherrington
Ultimate proof required development of electron microscopy (1950s) to visualize synapses and confirm that neurons are discrete entities
Charles Sherrington
Early 1900s
Identified point of communication of neurons as ‘synapses’
Supported ‘neuron doctrine’
2 primary cells of the brain
- Neurons
2. Glia
Neurons
Process information
Sense environmental changes
Communicate changes to other neurons via electrical signaling
Control bodily responses
*chocolate chips!
Glia
Support signalling functions of neurons
Insulate, nourish repair neurons
Maintaining the ionic milieu of neurons
Modulating the rate of AP propagation
Modulating synaptic transmission by regulating neurotransmitter uptake & metabolism at the synaptic cleft
Regulating recovery from neural injury
Interface between brain & Immune system
Facilitating flow of interstitial fluid through the brain during sleep
- Batter in chocolate chip cookies!
Types of cell morphologies (6)
- Cortical pyramidal cell
- Retinal bipolar cell
- Retinal gonglion cell
- Retinal amacrine cell
- Neurons in mesencephalic nucleus of cranial nerve V
- Cerebellar Purkinje cells
Small dendrites mean…
that the neurons purpose is to rely information
Bigger dendrites mean…
that the neurons purpose is to integrate information
Dendrites
Primary target for synaptic input from axons terminals of other neurons
Extensive branching that differs between neuron types
Complexity depends on the number of inputs a neuron receives
Complexity determines capacity to integrate information from many sources
Axon
Signal transduction from cell body; reads out information
Most neurons have only one that extends for a long distance
Some branching
Site of output to other neurons
Can branch to innervate multiple post-synaptic sites on multiple neurons
Action potential
Electrical event that carries signals
‘Spikes’ = ‘All or nothing’
Changes in electrical potential across the neuronal cell membrane
Pre-synaptic terminal
Where molecules are secreted into synaptic cleft
