Cracking The Neural Code (Week 1) Flashcards
2 main types of brain cells
neurons and glia
neurons function
signal changes in the environment, internal states and plans of action
glia functions
regulate chemical context of space between cells (extracellular spaces) and insulate axons of neurons
what are the main cells types representing information
neurons
what types of glial cells regulate chemical context of space between cells (extracellular spaces) ?
astrocytes
what type of glial cells insulate axons of neurons
oligodendrocytes and Schwann Cells
are there more glial cells or neurons in the brain
glia
dendrite function
connect at synapses with other neurons to receive information from them ; post synaptic part of neuron
what is the cell membrane of a neuron
phospholipid bilayer
axon function
provide input to other neurons through electrical pulses/ spikes
axon hillock
site where action potential is generated
axon terminal
part of axon that is part of synapse; pre synaptic part of synapse
cell body (soma) function
gene expression (nucleus), protein synthesis (ribosomes, rough ER), protein sorting(smooth er and golgi), cellular respiration (mitochondria)
important ions for neuron signaling
K+, Na+, Ca2+, Cl-
electric potential
energy needed to move a positive ion towards positive source
when does a positive ion have more stored energy/electric potential?
when it is closer to the positive source
what does positive ion have less potential energy/ loose potential energy
as it moves towards the negative source of the electric field
what ions are more abundant outside of the cell
Na+
what ions are more abundant inside of the cell
K+
what allows ions to move through membrane
ion channel (peptide subunit) facilitates membrane transport due to selectively permeable membrane
what is resting membrane potential
-65 mV; reflects charge separation across cell membrane
why is the resting potential more negative inside of the cell
leaky K+ channels move K+ out of the cell which makes the inside of the cell less positive
depolarization
membrane potential of cell becomes less negative
hyperpolarization
membrane potential of cell becomes more negative