Exam 2; Neuroscience Flashcards
Neuroscience
the study of how the brain and nervous system affect our mental processes and behavior
Neurons
cells in the nervous system that transmit information
Myelin
a fatty, waxy substance that insulates portions of some neurons in the nervous system
Glia
brain cells that provide important support functions for the neurons and are involved in the formation of myelin
Cell body
the part of the neuron that contains the nucleus and DNA
DNA
chemical found in the nuclei of cells that contains the genetic blueprint that guides development in the organism
Dendrites
branchlike structures on the head of the neuron that receive incoming signals from other neurons in the nervous system
Axon
a long tail-like structure growing out of the cell body of a neuron that carries action potentials that convey information from the cell body to the synapse
Myelin sheath
the discontinuous segments of myelin that cover the segments of myelin that cover the outside of some axons in the nervous system
Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that carry neural signals across the synapse
Synapse
the connection formed between two neurons when the axon bulb of one neuron comes into close proximity with the dendrite of another neuron
Presynaptic neuron
the neuron that is sending the signal a synapse in the nervous system
Postsynaptic neuron
the neuron that is receiving the signal at a synapse in the nervous system
Ions
charged particles that play an important role in the firing of an action potentials in the nervous system
Resting potential
the potential difference that exists in the neuron when it is resting (~70mv in mammals)
Threshold of excitation
the potential difference at which a neuron will fire an action potential (55mv)
Action potential
a neural impulse fired by a neuron when it reaches 55mv
All-or-none law
all action potentials are equal in strength; once a neuron begins to fire an action potential, it fires all the way down an axon
Refractory period
a brief period of time after a neuron has fired an action potential during which the neuron is inhibited and unlikely to fire another action potential
Excitation
when a neurotransmitter makes the postsynaptic cell more positive inside, it becomes more likely to fire an action potential
Inhibition
when a neurotransmitter makes the postsynaptic cell more negative inside, it becomes less likely to fire an action potential
Reuptake
the process through which neurotransmitters are recycled back into the presynaptic neuron
Neuromodulators
chemicals in the nervous system that affect neural signaling without directly changing the resting potential of the postsynaptic cell
Acetylcholine (ACh)
a neurotransmitter related to muscle movement and perhaps consciousness, learning, and memory
Aki’s dentist gave him a drug that froze the sodium ion channels along his neural axons. What is the likely effect of this drug?
A) Aki’s neurons will fire more action potentials than normal
B) Aki’s neurons will fire stronger action potentials
C) Aki’s neurons will fire weaker action potentials
D) Aki’s neurons will fail to fire action potentials
D) Aki’s neurons will fail to fire action potentials
Sabrina has contracted a disease that is destroying her myelin sheath. What effect would you expect this disease to have on the functioning of Sabrina’s nervous system?
A) it will speed up the neural signals traveling through her nervous system
B) It will slow down the neural signals traveling through her nervous system
C) it won’t affect the functioning of her nervous system in any measurable way
D) her nervous system will speed up and slow down in a random fashion
B) it will slow down the neural signals traveling through her nervous system
Sara hypothesizes that taking a drug that increases a neurotransmitter, serotonin, in the brain will decrease anxiety. Sara’s hypothesis would be best tested in a(n)_________.
A) naturalistic observation
B) experiment
C) correlational study
D) case study
B) experiment
Dopamine
a neurotransmitter that plays a role in reward, movement, motivation, learning, and attention
Serotonin
a neurotransmitter that plays a role in many different behaviors, including sleep, arousal, mood, eating, and pain perception
Norepinephrine (NOR)
a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating sleep, arousal, and mood
Gamma amino butyric (GABA)
the body’s chief inhibitory neurotransmitter, which plays a role in regulating arousal and pain
Glutamate
the chief excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, found at more than 50% of the synapses in the brain
Endorphins
neuromodulators that act as natural pain killers
Lakisha developed a disease that reduces the amount of dopamine in the brain. What symptoms would you expect Lakisha to have?
A) hallucinations
B) trouble with motor skills
C) loss of consciousness
D) seizures
B) trouble with motor skills
Jackson is a normal, healthy adult. Jackson’s brain likely contains more _______ than any other neurotransmitter.
A) glutamate
B) GABA
C) dopamine
D) acetylcholine
A) glutamate
ACh is thought to play a role in memory processing in the brain. Sasha has half her research participants drink an herbal tea that boosts the body’s ability to manufacture ACh. The other half of the participants drink warm water. Later, Sasha measures all participants’ memory. In this study, the type of drink is the ______ variable.
A) independent
B) dependent
C) control
d) confounding
A) independent
Nervous system
an electrochemical system of communication within the body that uses cells called neurons to convey information
CNS - central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
PNS - peripheral nervous system
all of the nervous system except the brain and the spinal cord
Sensory neurons
neurons that transmit information from the sense organs to the CNS
Motor neurons
neurons that transmit commands from the brain to the muscles of the body
Somatic nervous system
branch of PNS that governs sensory and voluntary motor action in the body
Autonomic nervous system
branch of the PNS that primarily governs involuntary organ functioning and actions in the body
Parasympathetic nervous system
the branch of the autonomic nervous system most active turning times of normal functioning
Sympathetic nervous system
the branch of the autonomic most active during times of danger or stress
During a bad storm, Juanita saw what looked like a tornado forming in the sky above her home. Immediately after she saw the tornado, which division of the nervous system was most likely in control of Juanita’s internal organ functions?
A) parasympathetic
B) sympathetic
C) endocrine
D) spinal
B) sympathetic
Moving your legs as you walk is an example of a behavior that is governed by which branch of the nervous system?
A) somatic nervous system
B) autonomic nervous system
C) sympathetic nervous system
D) parasympathetic nervous system
A) somatic nervous system
The sensory neurons in your fingertips are part of the __________ nervous system?
A) central
B) peripheral
C) autonomic
D) sympathetic
B) peripheral
Hindbrain
a primitive part of the brain that comprises the medulla oblongata, ponds, and cerebellum
Forebrain
The brain structures, including the limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus, and cortex, that govern higher-order mental processes
Midbrain
the brain structure that connects the hindbrain with the forebrain
Medulla oblongata
A part of the hindbrain that controls basic, life-sustaining functions such as respiration, heart rate, and BP
Pons
a hindbrain structure that plays a role in respiration, consciousness, sleep, dreaming, facial movement, sensory processes, and the transmission of neural signals from one part of the brain to another
Cerebellum
a hindbrain structure that plays a role in balance, muscle tone, and coordination of motor movements
Reticular formation
a part of the midbrain that regulates arousal and plays an important role in attentions, sleep, and consciousness
Limbic system
a system of structures, including the amygdala and hippocampus, that govern certain aspects of emotion, motivation, and memory
Cerebral cortex
thin, wrinkled outer covering of the brain in which high-level processes such as thinking, planning, language, interpretation of sensory data, and coordination of sensory and motor information take place
Cerebral hemispheres
the right and left sides of the brain that to some degree govern different functions in the body
Amygdala
a part of the limbic system that plays a role in the emotions of fear and aggression
Hippocampus
a part of the brain that plays a role in the transfer of information from short-to-long term memory
Neuroplasticity
the nervous system’s ability to rewire its structures as a result of experience
Thalamus
a part of the forebrain that functions as a sensory relay station
Hypothalamus
a part of the forebrain that plays a role in maintaining homeostasis in the body, involving sleep, body temperature, sexual behavior, thirst, and hunger; also the point where the nervous system intersects with the endocrine system
Homeostasis
an internal state of equilibrium in the body
Frontal lobe
the cortical area directly behind the forehead that plays a role in thinking, planning, decision making, language, and motor movement
Parietal lobe
the cortical area on the top and sides of the brain that play a role in touch and certain cognitive processes
Occipital lobe
the cortical area at the back of the brain that plays a role in visual processing
Temporal lobe
the cortical area directly below the ears that plays a role in auditory processing and language
Broca’s area
a region in the left frontal lobe that plays a role in the production of speech
Broca’s aphasia
a condition resulting from damage to Broca’s area of the brain that leaves the person unable to produce speech
Wernicke’s area
a region of the left temporal lobe that plays a role in the comprehension of speech
Wernicke’s aphasia
a condition resulting from damage to Wernicke’s area of the brain that leaves a person unable to comprehend speech
Corpus callosum
a thick band of neurons that connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain
Split brain
a brain with its corpus callosum severed; sometimes done to control the effects of epilepsy in people who do not respond to other therapies
Association cortex
areas of the cortex involved in the association or integration of information from the motor-sensory areas of the cortex
Primary motor area
A strip of cortex at the back of the frontal lobe that governs the execution of motor movement in the body
Primary somatosensory area
a strip of cortex at the front of the parietal lobe that governs the sense of touch
Primary visual area
a region of cortex found at the back of the occipital lobes that processes visual information in the brain
Auditory cortex
a region of cortex found in the temporal lobe that governs the processing of auditory information in the brain
Damage to which of the following brain structures would be most likely to cause locked-in-syndrome, such as seen in the case of Jean-Dominique Bauby?
a) occipital lobe
b) amygdala
c) pons
d) hippocampus
C) pons
Billy had a stroke on the left side of his brain. Most of his left frontal lobe was destroyed. What symptoms would you most expect to see in Billy as a result of this damage?
a) paralysis on the right side of his body and an inability to speak
b) paralysis on the right side of his body and an inability to understand speech
c) paralysis of his left leg, partial deafness, and stuttering
d) paralysis on the left side of his body and an inability to understand speech
a) paralysis on the right side of his body and an inability to speak
Isabel experienced a brain injury that left her with an inability to store new memories for events and concepts. Which part of her brain was most likely damaged?
a) hippocampus
b) hypothalamus
c) thalamus
d) pons
a) hippocampus
Physicians and researchers often use EEGs on sleeping participants. What is this technology most likely to tell them about the participant’s brain?
a) it will tell them whether or not some of the brains structures are malformed
b) it will yield a highly detailed picture of the brains structures
c) it will tell them where blood flow is greatest in the brain
d) it will show them the patterns of electrical activity in the brains lobes
d) it will show them the patterns of electrical activity in the brains lobes
Which of the following technologies for studying the brain is most invasive and therefore used only when absolutely necessary in humans?
a) fMRI
b) Brain stimulation
c) PET scans
d) CAT scans
b) brain stimulation
Which of the following techniques for studying the brain does not yield information on the activity that is taking place in the brain?
a) MRI
b) fMRI
c) PET scan
d) EEG
a) MRI
Endocrine
a chemical system of communication in the body that uses chemical messengers, called hormones, to affect organ function and behavior
endocrine glands
the organs of the endocrine system that produce and release hormones into the blood
hormones
chemical messengers of the endocrine system
pituitary gland
the master gland of the endocrine system the controls the action of all other glands in the body
gonads
endocrine glands that directly affect sexual reproduction by producing sperm (testes) or eggs (ovaries)
estrogens
a class of female sex hormones that regulate many aspects of sexuality and are found in both males and females
androgens
a class of male hormones that regulate many aspects of sexuality and are found in both males and females
adrenal medulla
the center part of the adrenal gland that plays a crucial role in the functioning of the sympathetic nervous system
Adrenal cortex
the outside part of the adrenal gland that plays a role in the manufacture and release of androgens, and therefore influences sexual characteristics
The ____ releases male sex hormones in the body.
a) adrenal cortex
b) adrenal medulla
c) hippocampus
d) ovary
a) adrenal cortex
A malfunction in which of the following endocrine glands would be most disruptive to the overall functioning of the endocrine system?
a) ovaries/testes
b) thalamus
c) pituitary
d) adrenal
c) pituitary
Alena was just frightened by a snake. Which of the following endocrine glands most likely played the biggest role in her response to stress?
a) testes
b) adrenal cortex
c) ovaries
d) adrenal medulla
d) adrenal medulla
