final exam terms Flashcards
an atom or group of atoms that has an unpaired (extra) electron and is therefore unstable and highly reactive
free radical
chemically relative molecules containing oxygen
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the bodies ability to detoxify the free radicals or repair damage
oxidative stress
enzyme that is part of the detoxification of reactive oxygen species
Superoxide dismutase (SOD)
Alzheimer’s disease
Amyloid Beta 42 peptide in amyloid plaques
neurofibrillary tangles
hyperphosphorylated tau
Lewy bodies
Alpha-synuclein
Alzheimer’s disease affects which region of the brain?
hippocampus, cortical and limbic structures
Parkinson’s disease affects which region of the brain?
substantia nigra (and linked cortical regions)
ALS affects which region of the brain?
Spinal cord (and precentral gyrus- part of the primary motor cortex)
subcortical brain structures that are crucial in planning, organizing and executing movement, addiction
basal ganglia
a nucleus in the basal ganglia involved in initiating voluntary movement. Contain a lot of dopaminergic neurons
substantia nigra
one of the three major classes of glia in nervous system, controls the ionic environment of neurons and can be involved in neurotransmitter reuptake
astrocyte
a stimulus that produces a natural, automatic reaction
unconditioned stimulus
a previously neutral stimulus that, after repeated association with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits the response produced by the unconditioned stimulus itself.
conditioned stimulus
a single neuron (or small number) whose stimulation triggers a specific naturally occurring behavior
command neuron
activated by changes in environmental temperature
Trp channels
process of synapse elimination
synaptic pruning
induces gene expression that produces proteins that strengthen the synapse
long term potential
structural or functional changes in the nervous system
plasticity
experience driven reorganization of neural pathways in the brain, forming new connections, strengthening or discard old ones
neuroplasticity
speed up nerve conduction velocities strengthening circuits- allows signals to arrive synchronously
increases in myelination
cell bodies, uninsulated axons
gray matter
myelinated axons
white matter
a nuclear complex in the temporal lobe whose major functions concern autonomic, emotional and sexual behavior. Most often connected with the major emotions such as fear and avoiding situations that induce fear
amygdala
memory of autobiographical events
episodic memory
event is linked to where you learnt something
episodic memory
“factual memory, ideas and concepts not drawn from personal experience
semantic memory
memories held briefly in mind that enable a particular task to be accomplished
working memory
ability to learn
associative memory
picks up sound waves in the environment
outer ear
convey and amplify sound waves
middle ear
translate sound waves into nerve impulses
inner ear
psychological aspect of sound related to magnitude
Loudness
psychological aspect of sound related to fundamental frequency
pitch
magnitude of displacement of a sound pressure wave
amplitude
number of times per second that a pattern of pressure change repeats
frequency
electrical signal conducted along axons (or muscle fibers) by which information is conveyed from one place to another in the nervous system
action potential
an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge
ion
