Flashcards
why learn about the brain?
knowing the “mechanics” of our brains increases our
understanding of people’s behaviour and our ability to
predict (and change) it
what are neurons?
-hold all your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
-86 billion neurons in your brain
What is the structure of cells?
● soma (cell body)
● dendrites
● axons
What does the stoma (cell body) do?
● information processing
● keeps cell alive – energy, metabolism
● nucleus: DNA chromosomes
● surrounded by porous membrane
what do dendrites do?
● receive information from other neurons
● relays information to the cell body
what does the Axon do?
● carries information from the cell body
● carries information to other neurons
● covered by myelin sheath
● insulating fatty materials
● boosts transmission speed
● composed of glial cells
● support cells for neurons
what does a synapse do?
● synapses are what allow us to think, feel, move
● junction between axon and dendrite
What are the sensory neurons specialized for
● specialized endings on dendrites sensitive to
different stimuli
● convey info from the periphery to the spinal cord
(then to the brain)
where are the motor neurons?
● from the spinal cord to muscles
facts about the interneurons?
- connect neurons to neurons
● most common neurons
● specialized from-to types of neurons
how do neurons talk to each other?
● electrochemical action
● conduction: within the neuron
- electrical
● transmission: neuron to neuron
● chemical signals across synapse
what is action potential?
● fires
● all-or-nothing
● always the same strength
● like a smoke alarm
what is the refractory period?
● need time to rebuild charge
what is conduction?
● action potentials move down the axon from neuron to
neuron
● each action potential in each neuron moves at
maximum speed
myelin sheath – conduction?
● helps speed transmission and move the action
potentials down the axon
● breaks in the myelin sheath: nodes of ravier
what are neurotransmitters?
● brain chemicals that transmit information in your brain
and throughout your body
what is acetylcholine?
● voluntary motor control
● regulate attention
● sleep
● memory
what is dopamine?
● regulate motor behaviour
● motivates seeking pleasure, the anticipation of reward
what is norepinephrine?
vigilance
what is endorphins?
endogenous (natural – produced by your brain)
painkiller
● produces calm, pleasurable “high”
increasing & blocking ( agonist )
increases action of a neurotransmitter
increasing & blocking ( antagonist)
blocks the action of a neurotransmitter
what are the major areas of the brain?
● hindbrain
● midbrain
● forebrain
