Lecture 1-4

Question 1

What was split-brain operation used for and how?

Answer 1

Woperation used for treating seizures by cutting corpus callosum.

Question 2

What is corpus callosum responsible for?

Answer 2

Exchange of information between the two hemispheres.

Question 3

What is interpreter’s theory?

Answer 3

Our behavior is controlled by unconscious processes and our left hemisphere simply tries to make sense of the world by creating narratives.

Question 4

What is a prokaryotic cell?

Answer 4

Cell membrane filled with cytoplasm, strands of DNA and ribosomes.

Question 5

What is the function of ribosomes?

Answer 5

Creating proteins by linking together amino acids.

Question 6

How was the first eukaryotic cell formed?

Answer 6

It ate a bacterium that later turned into a mitochondria inside of the cell instead of being broken down.

Question 7

What translates RNA into proteins?

Answer 7

Ribosomes

Question 8

What is golgi stain made of and what is it used for?

Answer 8

It is made of silver nitrate and potassium chromate and used to darken 2% of neuron cells as it crystallizes.

Question 9

What are ion channels?

Answer 9

Specialized protein molecules that sit in the cell membrane and let specific ions through using a pore.

Question 10

What does sodium-potassium transporter do?

Answer 10

Pumps three Na+ molecules out of the cell and two K+ molecules into the cell. Requires ATP to work.

Question 11

What does voltage-gated sodium channel do?

Answer 11

Opens and allows sodium to flow in, propagating the action potential.

Question 12

What does voltage-gated potassium channel do?

Answer 12

Opens and allows potassium to flow into the cell, restoring the resting membrane potential.

Question 13

At what charge does cell membrane have to be in order for voltage-gated sodium channels to open?

Answer 13

Membrane potential has to be less negative that -40mV.

Question 14

When do voltage-gated potassium channels open?

Answer 14

When the membrane potential rises above 0 mV.

Question 15

On what factors does a size of action potential depend?

Answer 15

There are no factors, the size of an action potential always remains constant.

Question 16

What is the rate law?

Answer 16

A law that states that the strength of a stimulus is represented by the rate of the firing axon.

Question 17

What is a promoter in genetics?

Answer 17

part of DNA that initiates a transcription of a particular gene. they indicate what cells should read the gene and when.

Question 18

What is the role of Astrocyte?

Answer 18

Providing physical support to neurons, and cleaning up debris in the brain through phagocytosis. They also help nourish neurons and control chemical composition of the surrounding environment.

Question 19

What is the role of microglia?

Answer 19

Protect an immune system for the braina nd protect the brain from invading microorganisms.

Question 20

What is the role of oligodendreocytes?

Answer 20

Production of myelin sheath which encapsulates axons. Oligodendrocytes may have up to 50 processes producing myelin sheath at the same time.

Question 21

What is the role of myelination and how does it perfom its role?

Answer 21

Myelin sheath is used to increase the speed of action potentials. When sodium molecules enter the axon, they push other sodium molecules that are found in the axon, beneath the myelin sheath, propagating the action potential. When it is done, the action potential appears to jump from one node of ranvier to another

Question 22

Define ligands

Answer 22

Signaling molecules that bind to protein receptors.

Question 23

What type of receptors are ion channels?

Answer 23

Ionotropic receptors that are ligand gated.

Question 24

What are metabotrpic receptors?

Answer 24

G-protein coupled receptors that open ion channels through intracellular signaling cascade.

Question 25

What is an enzymatic deactivation?

Answer 25

Breaking down of a neurotransmitter by an enzyme after its release.

Question 26

What is reuptake?

Answer 26

Reentry of neurotransmitter that was just released by a terminal button back through the membrane

Question 27

Define postsynaptic potential

Answer 27

Change in the membrane poteitnal of a postsynaptic neuron produced by release of neurotransmitter into the synapse

Question 28

What are the two types of postsynaptic potentials

Answer 28

Excitatory and Inhibitory

Question 29

Define EPSP

Answer 29

Brief depolarization of a membrane potential caused by neurotransmitter activation of ionotropic receptors that let sodium ions in

Question 30

Define IPSP

Answer 30

Brief hyperpolarization of the membrane poteitial caused by neurotransmitter activation of ionotropic receptors that let chloride ions in

Question 31

How can an inhibitory neuron cause movement?

Answer 31

By inhibiting another inhibitory neuron

Question 32

What are the properties of the pore of ionotropic receptors? And what are the effects of ionotropic receptor activation?

Answer 32

To determine whether it will produce EPSP or IPSP. The effects are always immediate change in permeability of the membrane to specific ions.

Question 33

What are the effects and properties of metabotropic receptors?

Answer 33

They are receptors that involve using G-protein and cause an intracellular signaling cascade that can change gene expression or opening of g-protein gated ion channels.

Question 34

What is the strong side of metabotropic receptors? What is their weakness?

Answer 34

Metabotropic receptor activation can cause the opening of many ion channels at the same time. It is not fast though, for it relies on signaling cascades and diffusion.

Question 35

What are the sites where synapses can form?

Answer 35

Dendrites, Dendridic spines, Soma, Axon terminals of other neurons

Question 36

What are two functions of axoaxonic synapses?

Answer 36

Presynaptic inhibition and presynaptic facilitation

Question 37

What is the role of presynaptic inhibition caused by axoaxonic synapses?

Answer 37

Hyperpolarization of axon terminal of the downstram neuron to prevent the opening of its voltage-gated calcuim channels and reduce the neurotransmitter release

Question 38

What is the role of presynaptic facilitation caused by axoaxonic synapses?

Answer 38

Depolarization of axon terminal of the downstream neuron to facilitate the opening of its voltage-gated calcium channels and increase the release of neurotransmitters

Question 39

Define autoreceptor

Answer 39

Receptor located on presynaptic membrane that gets activated when the cell releases its own neurotransmitter

Question 40

What type of receptors are autoreceptors?

Answer 40

They are usually metabotropic inhibiotry receptors that serve as the main souce of presynaptic inhibition