Lecture 1- Intro

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

nervous system’s initial response to contact with something in the environment

Question 2

Synaptic Vesicle

Answer 2

packages containing neurotransmitter molecules. They fuse to the cell membrane and dispense their NTs through a process called exocytosis

Question 3

Neurotransmitter molecules

Answer 3

chemical substance released from the presynaptic axon terminal that acts on the postsynaptic cell

Question 4

Axon terminal

Answer 4

part of the end of the axon that forms a synapse with a postsynaptic dendrite, axon, or soma

Question 5

Synaptic gap/ cleft

Answer 5

(synapse) a small space separating the presynaptic and postsynaptic cell

Question 6

Receptor

Answer 6

binding site for a neurotransmitter. The neurotransmitter must fit in the receptor in a lock and key fashion, and when it binds it opens an ion channel that allows ions to flow into or out of the postsynaptic cell

Question 7

Diffusion

Answer 7

tendency for molecules to move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration

Question 8

Electrostatic pressure

Answer 8

force by which two ions with similar charges will repel eachother, and the force by which two ions with opposite charges will be attracted to one another

Question 9

Negative resting potential

Answer 9

when all the ion channels are closed

Question 10

action potential

Answer 10

dependent upon the exchange of the ions that lie on either side of the membrane

Question 11

enzymes

Answer 11

one method that is used to remove NT from the synapse (protein causes chemical reactions)

Question 12

reuptake

Answer 12

another method used to remove NTs is to have it taken back up the cell that released it (via transporter proteins in the cell membrane)

Question 13

dendrites

Answer 13

the part of the neuron that is sensitive to the neuron’s environment. it is the “main input” to the neuron

Question 14

soma

Answer 14

cell body of a neuron. contains cell nucleus and directs protein synthesis for the cell

Question 15

nucleus

Answer 15

found within cell body, contains genetic material for the cell

Question 16

axon

Answer 16

part of the neuron that extends from the soma. “main output” from the neuron

Question 17

myelin sheath

Answer 17

lipid-based substance around the axon of a neuron that serves as insulation to allow the action potential to conduct rapidly toward the terminal buttons

Question 18

nodes of ranvier

Answer 18

gaps in the myelin sheath that allow for the exchange of ions to reinforce the action potential

Question 19

sensory neurons

Answer 19

receive info from the outside world

Question 20

interneurons

Answer 20

process the sensory input from our environment into meaningful representations, “plan” the appropriate behavioural response, and connect to motor neurons to execute behavioural plans

Question 21

bipolar neurons

Answer 21

involved in sensory perception (retina of eye), 1 axon, 1 dendrite

Question 22

unipolar neurons

Answer 22

1 axon, 0 dendrites

Question 23

multipolar neurons

Answer 23

sensory and motor info, 1 axon, many dendrites

Question 24

sensation

Answer 24

nervous system responds to external stimuli

Question 25

perception

Answer 25

forming an understanding of these sensory inputs

Question 26

psychophysics

Answer 26

being able to tell the difference between 2 slightly different sensory inputs