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PSYC 100 > L06: Neurobiology > Flashcards

L06: Neurobiology Flashcards

1
Q

Human Nervous System

A

A network of neurons that transmits signals throughout the body.

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2
Q

Central Nervous System

A

Consists of the spinal cord and brain

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3
Q

Spinal cord

A

Nerve cable that emerges from the base of the brain and extends about 2/3 of the way down the vertebral column,

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4
Q

Peripheral System

A

Nervous system outside of the CNS. Includes the somatic and autonomic systems.

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5
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

Transmits signals to CNS from muscles and joints via nerves.

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6
Q

Autonomic Nervous Systems

A

Regulates the internal environment of the body. Stimulates glands and organs. Divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic signaling.

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7
Q

Sympathetic Signalling

A

Prepares the body for action. Chronic stress leads to increased activity of this system.

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8
Q

Parasympathetic Signalling

A

Returns the body to resting state

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9
Q

Endocrine System

A

A communication network that influences thoughts, behaviours, and actions through hormones.

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10
Q

The endocrine system is primarily controlled by ___

A

the hypothalamus

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11
Q

T or F The endocrine system signals slower than the nervous system

A

True

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12
Q

Glial Cell

A

An essential part of the nervous system allowing neurons to function (Glia means “glue” in Greek). There are microglia and there are macroglia

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13
Q

Microglia

A

Smaller glial cells, responsible for protecting the CNS. They can metabolize dead tissue and are involved in keeping the CNS healthy

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14
Q

Types of Macroglia

A

Astrocytes and Oligodendrocytes

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15
Q

Macroglia

A

Larger glial cells.

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16
Q

Astrocytes

A

Link neurons to blood vessels, forming part of the blood-brain barrier. They engulf synapses (where neurons connect), regulating neurotransmitter release during synaptic transmission

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17
Q

Oligodendrocytes

A

they surround axons in the CNS, forming the myelin sheath that insulates axons, which allows the electrical signal that travels in the axon to travel faster

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18
Q

Soma

A

A neuron’s cell body

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19
Q

Axon Hillock

A

The axon hillock is located at the end of the soma and controls the firing of the neuron.

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20
Q

Axon

A

carries nerve impulses away from the cell body

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21
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

An insulating layer that allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells

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22
Q

Node of Ranvier

A

Periodic gap in the insulating sheath (myelin) on the axon of certain neurons that serves to facilitate the rapid conduction of nerve impulses

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23
Q

Axon Terminal

A

The sites where synapses with other neurons are found, and neurotransmitters are stored there to communicate with other neurons via these synapses.

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24
Q

Terminal buttons

A

Located at the end of the neuron and are responsible for sending the signal on to other neurons

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25
Q

Synapse

A

A structure that permits a neuron (or nerve cell) to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron

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26
Q

Dendrite

A

Appendages that are designed to receive communications from other cells

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27
Q

Vesicle

A

Store various neurotransmitters that are released at the synapse

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28
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemical messengers in the body. Their job is to transmit signals from nerve cells to target cells.

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29
Q

Presynaptic cell/ terminal

A

the cell that releases neurotransmitters that will stimulate the postsynaptic cell. separated from the other neuron by the synaptic cleft

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30
Q

Post synaptic cell/ terminal

A

The receiving part of the synapse b/n two neurons

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31
Q

Information flow in the neuron

A
  1. A signal is received at the dendritic spines, at the post-synaptic terminals, where the neuron synapses with the axon of another neuron.
  2. This signal can produce an electric current that travels from the dendrite to the soma of the neuron.
  3. If the signal accumulating at the axon hillock in the soma is strong enough, the receiving neuron will “fire”, i.e., it will produce an electrical impulse at the axon hillock.
  4. This electrical impulse travels down the axon toward the terminal buttons (the pre-synaptic terminals).
  5. When the electrical impulse reaches the pre-synaptic terminal, it can produce a chemical signal: the release of neurotransmitters.
  6. When neurotransmitters reach the post-synaptic terminal of the receiving neuron: Go back to point 1 above.
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32
Q

Three types of neurons

A

Interneurons, sensory neurons, and motor neurons

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33
Q

Interneurons

A

Are neither sensory nor motor but connect neurons with other neurons. Located in the CNS

34
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

Act as receptors of stimuli, or are connected to receptors

35
Q

Motor Neurons

A

Connect the CNS to muscles, organs, & glands

36
Q

t or f sensory neurons are located in the CNS

37
Q

t or f motor neurons are located in the CNS

38
Q

Electrical potential

A

how much energy is stored up in a system

39
Q

what is the resting potential of a neuron?

40
Q

Diffusion

A

pushes particles against their concentration gradient

41
Q

Electrostatic pressure

A

equally electrically charged particles repel each other, and differently charged particles attract each other.

42
Q

Ion channels

A

When proteins in the neuronal membrane that form little channels connecting the inside of the neurons with the outside and allow certain types of ions to pass

43
Q

Action potential

A

Fired when electrical stimulation exceeds the threshold of excitement.

44
Q

Action potential propagation

A

Generated in the body of the neuron and propagated through its axon.

45
Q

Action potential steps

A
  1. Sodium channels open
  2. Potassium channels open
  3. Depolarization
  4. Sodium channels close
  5. Repolarization
  6. Potassium channels begin to close
46
Q

Action potential in myelinated vs. unmyelated axons

A

myelinated- faster (speed approx. 100 m/s)

unmyelinated- slower (speed approx. 1 m/s)

47
Q

effect of larger diameter on the velocity of an action potential

A

larger diameter = faster

48
Q

Sodium- potassium pump

A

maintains the internal concentration of potassium ions [K+] higher than that in the surrounding medium (blood, body fluid, water) and maintains the internal concentration of sodium ions [Na+] lower than that of the surrounding medium

49
Q

Synaptic Cleft

A

the space that separates a neuron and its target cell at a chemical synapse

50
Q

Synaptic Vesicle

A

Small, electron-lucent vesicles that are clustered within the synapse. They store neurotransmitters and release them at the synapse.

51
Q

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

A

They make it less likely that the post-synaptic neuron will fire

52
Q

Excitatory neurotransmitters

A

They make it more likely that the post-synaptic neuron will fire

53
Q

Presynaptic membrane

A

The cell membrane of an axon terminal that faces the receiving cell

54
Q

Postsynaptic membrane

A

The membrane that receives a signal (binds neurotransmitter) from the presynaptic cell and responds via depolarisation or hyperpolarisation

55
Q

Steps in signal transmission at synapse

A
  1. Transmitter is synthesized and stored in vesicles
  2. An action potential invades the presynaptic terminal
  3. Depolarization of the presynaptic terminal causes the opening of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels
  4. Influx of Ca2+ through channels
  5. Ca2+ causes vesicles to fuse with presynaptic membrane
  6. Transmitter is released into the synaptic cleft
  7. Transmitter binds to receptor molecules in postsynaptic membrane
  8. Opening or closing of post-synaptic channels
  9. Postsynaptic current causes inhibitory or exhibitory postsynaptic potential that changes the excitability of the postsynaptic cell
  10. Retrieval of vesicular membrane from the plasma membrane
56
Q

Hemispheres

A

Left- critical for language

Right- critical for spatial relationships

57
Q

Sulcus

A

a depression or groove in the cerebral cortex

58
Q

Gyrus

A

a ridge on the cerebral cortex

59
Q

Lobes

A

Front lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe

60
Q

Fissure

A

a deeper grove and is often used interchangeably with sulcus

61
Q

Corpus callosum

A

Millions of myelinated axons that connect the two hemispheres of the brain

62
Q

Contralateral hemispheric organization

A

Left side controls the right half of the body and vice versa

63
Q

Neocortex

A

Part of the human brain’s cerebral cortex where higher cognitive functioning is thought to originate from

64
Q

Frontal lobe

A

thought, planning, cognition, memory and movement

65
Q

Parietal lobe

A

touch and spatial relations. integrating info from senses

66
Q

Temporal lobe

A

hearing, memory. contains the hippocampus

67
Q

Occipital lobe

A

visual processing centre

68
Q

Somatosensory and motor homunculus

A

a topographic representation of the body parts and its correspondents along the precentral gyrus of the frontal and parietal lobes

69
Q

Medulla

A

The lowest portion of the brain stem. Critical role in transmitting signals b/n the spinal cord and higher parts of the brain.

70
Q

Pons

A

Connects the cerebral cortex with the medulla. Helps transfer nervous system messages b/n various parts of the brain and the spinal cord

71
Q

Reticular activating system

A

Network of neurons located in the brain stem that project anteriorly to the hypothalamus to mediate behaviour

72
Q

Brain stem

A

Responsible for basic survival functions such as breathing and swallowing

73
Q

Cerebellum

A

Critical for maintaining proper motor function, memory, planning, language, and emotions. “Little brain” located at the back of the head, below the temporal and occipital lobes and above the brainstem.

74
Q

Thalamus

A

Gateway to the cortex that received all sensory modalities (except odour). Located near the centre of the brain

75
Q

Basil Ganglia

A

Critical for planning and movement. Includes the nucleus accumbens which is responsible for reward processing. Located deep in the brains’ hemispheres

76
Q

Limbic system parts

A

Prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, cingulate gyrus

77
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

Located at the front of the frontal lobe. It is implicated in a variety of complex behaviors, including planning, and greatly contributes to personality development

78
Q

Hippocampus

A

Essential for episodic and spatial memories

79
Q

Amygdala

A

Processes emotions and modulates the hippocampus

80
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Located in the centre of the brain. plays an important role in hormone production

81
Q

Cingulate Gyrus

A

Involved in processing emotions and regulating behaviour. Located in the centre of the brain

PSYC 100 (12 decks)

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