EXAM 1 Flashcards
the main band of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres
Corpus callosum
an individual whose corpus callosum has been severed, halting communication between the right and left hemisphere
Split brain individuals
in anatomy, pertaining to a location on the opposite side of the body
Contralateral
Which hemisphere is mute?
The right hemisphere
the simultaneous delivery of different stimuli to the right and left ears at the same time
Dichotic presentation
a test in which stimuli are very briefly presented to either the left or right visual half field
Tachistoscope test
an auditory region of the superior temporal cortex – often slightly larger in left hemisphere
Planum temporale
the perception of emotional tone-of-voice aspects of language - right hemisphere aspect of language
Prosody
the ability to recognize objects by touching and feeling them - associated with postcentral gyrus
Astereognosis
also called face blindness. A condition characterized by the inability to recognize faces
Prosopagnosia
A region on the inferior surface of the cortex, at the junction of the temporal and occipital lobes, that has been associated with recognition of faces
Fusiform gyrus
the inability to recognize objects, despite being able to describe them in terms of form and color. may occur after localized brain damage.
Agnosia
the recovery of behavioral capacity following brain damage from stroke or injury
Recovery of function
a cell, derived from an embryo, that has capacity to form any type of tissue
Embryonic stem cells
a therapy for recovery of movement after stroke or injury in which the person’s unaffected limb is constrained while they are required to perform tasks with the affected limb
Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMNT)
a form of closed head injury caused by a jarring blow to the head, resulting in damage to the tissue of the brain with short or or long-term consequences for cognitive function
Concussion
a form of dementia that may develop following multiple concussions, such as in athletes engaged in contact sports. It was formerly called dementia pugilistica or punch-drunk syndrome
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
who won the Nobel prize in 1981 for uncovering lateralized functions of the cortex?
Roger Sperry
also called nerve cell. The basic unit of the nervous system, each composed of receptive extensions called dendrites, an integrating cell body, a conducting axon, and a transmitting axon terminal.
Neuron
Non Neuronal brain cells that provide structural, nutritional and other types of support to the brain.
Glial cells/glia
the cellular location at which information is transmitted from a neuron to another cell
Synapses
Around how many synapses do we have?
10^15 (a quadrillion)
the part of a neuron that receives information from the other neurons or from specialized sensory structures. This zone usually corresponds to the cell’s dendrites.
Input zone
an extension of the cell body that receives information from other neurons. Functionally, the dendrites are the input zone of the neuron.
Dendrites
the part of a neuron that initiates neural electrical activity. This zone usually corresponds to the neuron’s cell body.
Integration zone
also called soma. The region of a neuron that is defined by the presence of the cell nucleus. Functionally, the cell body is the integration zone of the neuron.
Cell body
the part of a neuron – typically the axon – over which the action potential is actively propagated.
Conduction zone
a branch of an axon
Axon collaterals
specialized swellings at the ends of the axon, called axon terminals (or synaptic boutons), transmit the neuron’s signals across synapses to other cells
Output zone
the end of an axon or axon collateral, which forms a synapse onto a neuron or other target cell and thus serves as the output zone
Axon terminals
a neuron that transmits neural messages to muscles (or glands)
Motor neurons
a neuron that is directly affected by changes in the environment, such as light, odor, or touch.
Sensory neurons
a neuron that is neither a sensory neuron nor a motor neuron. they receive input from and send output to other neurons
Interneurons
a neuron that has many dendrites and a signal axon
Multipolar neurons
a neuron that has a single dendrite at one end and a single axon at the other end
Bipolar neurons
a neuron with a single branch that leaves the cell body and then extends in two directions’ one end is the input zone, and the other end is the output zone
Unipolar neurons
referring to the “transmitting” side of a synapse
Presynaptic
referring to the region of a synapse that receives and responds to neurotransmitter
Postsynaptic
the specialized membrane on the axon terminal of a neuron that transmits information by releasing neurotransmitter
Presynaptic membrane
the space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons at a synapse. This gap measures about 20-40 nanometers.
Synaptic cleft
the specialized membrane on the surface of a neuron that receives information by responding to neurotransmitters from a presynaptic neuron.
Postsynaptic membrane
a small spherical structure that contains molecules of neurotransmitter
Synaptic vesicles
A specialized protein that is embedded in the cell membrane, allowing it to selectively sense and react to molecules of a corresponding neurotransmitter or drug
Neurotransmitter receptors
The ability of the nervous system to change in response to experience or the environment
Neuroplasticity
the cone-shaped area on the cell body from which the axon originates
Axon hillock
to provide neural input to
Innervate
the transportation of materials from the neuronal cell body toward the axon terminals, and from the axon terminals back toward the cell body
Axonal transport
a type of glial cell that ensheath axons with myelin in the central nervous system
Oligodendrocytes
a type of glial cell that forms myelin in the peripheral nervous system
Schwann cells
the fatty insulation around an axon, formed by glial cells. This myelin sheath boosts the speed at which action potentials are conducted
Myelin
a star shaped glial cell with numerous processes (extensions) that run in all directions
Astrocytes
Extremely small motile glial cells that remove cellular debris from injured or dead cells.
Microglial cells
the outer cellular layer of the developing embryo, giving rise to the skin and the nervous system
Ectoderm
an embryonic structure with subdivisions that correspond to the future forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain
Neural tube
the frontal division of the neural tube, which in the mature vertebrate contains the cerebral hemispheres, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus
Forebrain
the middle division of the brain
Midbrain
the rear division of the brain, which in the mature vertebrate contains the cerebellum, pons, and medulla
Hindbrain
the earliest stage in a developing animal. Humans are considered to be embryos until 8-10 weeks after conception
Embryo
a developing individual after the embryo stage. Humans are considered to be fetuses from 10 weeks after fertilization until birth.
Fetus
the mitotic division of non-neuronal cells to produce neurons
Neurogenesis
the process of division of somatic cells that involves duplication of DNA
Mitosis
A region lining the cerebral ventricles from which new neurons and glial cells are born throughout life, via mitosis.
Ventricular zone
the movement of cells from site of origin to final location
Cell migration
the turning on or off of specific genes; the process by which a cell makes an mRNA transcript of a particular gene
Gene expression
the developmental stage in which cells acquire distinctive characteristics, such as those of neurons, as a result of expressing particular genes
Cell differentiation
the establishment of synaptic connections as axons and dendrites grow
Cell-cell interactions
a cell that is undifferentiated and therefore can take on the fate of any cell that a donor organism can produce
Stem cells
the creation of new neurons in the brain of an adult
Adult neurogenesis
the developmental process during which “surplus” cells die
Apoptosis
A target-derived chemical that induces innervating neurons to survive.
Neurotrophic factors
The loss of some synapses and the development of others; a refinement of synaptic connections that is often seen in development
Synapse rearrangement/synaptic modeling
a disability characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior
Intellectual disability
a frequent cause of inherited intellectual disability produced by a fragile site on the X chromosome that seems prone to breaking because the DNA there is unstable
Fragile x syndrome
reduced visual acuity of one eye that is not caused by optical or retinal impairments
Amblyopia
depriving both eyes of form vision, as by sealing the eyelids.
Binocular deprivation
the period during development in which an organism can be permanently altered by a particular experience or treatment
critical period
depriving one eye of light
Monocular deprivation
a graph that portrays the strength of response of a brain neuron to stimuli presented to either the left eye or the right eye
Ocular dominance histogram
a synapse that is strengthened when it successfully drives the postsynaptic cell
Hebbian synapses
anatomical features of the nervous system that are apparent to the naked eye
Gross neuroanatomy
the brain and the spinal cord
Central nervous system (CNS)
the portion of the nervous system that includes all the nerves and neurons outside the brain and the spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
a collection of axons bundled together outside the central nervous system
Nerves
a nerve that transmits information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands
Motor nerves
a part of the peripheral nervous system that supplies neural connections mostly to the skeletal muscles and sensory systems of the body. It consists of cranial nerves and spinal nerves
Somatic nervous system
a part of the peripheral nervous system that provides the main neural connections to the internal organs. Its two divisions (sympathetic and parasympathetic) act in opposite fashion
Autonomic nervous system
the 12 pairs of nerves that are connected directly to the brain
Cranial nerves
the 31 pairs of nerves that emerge from the spinal cord
Spinal nerves
referring to the topmost 8 segments of the spinal cord, in the neck region
Cervical
referring to the 12 spinal segments below the neck portion of the spinal cord, in the torso
Thoracic
referring to the 5 spinal segments in the upper part of the lower back
Lumbar
referring to the 5 spinal segments in the lower part of the lower back
Sacral
referring to the lowest spinal vertebra
Coccygeal
the part of the autonomic nervous system that acts as the fight-or-flight system, generally preparing the body for action
Sympathetic nervous system
the part of the autonomic nervous system that generally prepares the body to relax and recuperate
Parasympathetic nervous system
the plane that divides the body or brain into right and left portions
Sagittal plane
the plane that divides the body or brain into front and back parts
Coronal plane
the plane that divides the body or brain into upper and lower parts
Horizontal plane
toward the middle
Medial
toward the side
Lateral
above
Superior
below
Inferior
toward the bottom
Basal
toward the head
anterior/rostral
toward the tail
posterior/caudal
near
Proximal
far
Distal
carrying action potential toward the brain
Afferent
carrying action potential away from the brain
Efferent
