Lecture 1: Intro to CNS

Question 1

Function of the cerebral cortex

Answer 1

consciousness, perceiving and integrating sensory information, storing and retrieving memories
decision about voluntary behaviour
higher thought and reasoning

Question 2

Function of basal ganglia

Answer 2

initiate voluntary movement
reward system
predicts what will happen next
reinforces actions that promote survival

Question 3

Function of hypothalamus

Answer 3

endocrine system - hormone regulation
stress response
hunger and satiety

Question 4

Function of amygdala

Answer 4

negative emotion (fear, anger)

Question 5

Function of hippocampus

Answer 5

Memory formation and retrieval
spatial memory, autobiographical memory

Question 6

Types of junctions in the blood brain barrier

Answer 6

Tight junctions and adherens junctions that restrict movement of charged molecules
charged molecules can be actively transported by transporters (glucose, amino acids)
or transcytosis (transferrin, insulin, leptin receptor)

Question 7

3 regions that are not protected by BBB

Answer 7

pituitary gland (hormone secretion)
pineal gland (melatonin secretion)
area postrema (vomiting)

Question 8

Glutamate

Answer 8

excitatory neuron
every neuron requires glutamate to be activated

Question 9

GABA

Answer 9

inhibitory neuron
turns off neuron

Question 10

Where are autoreceptors located?

Answer 10

presynaptic terminal
autoreceptors are sensors that detect the synaptic levels of the neurotransmitter
often have higher affinity than postsynaptic receptor

Question 11

How does autoreceptors regulate signalling?

Answer 11

When bind to neurotransmitter, triggers intracellular events to reduce amount of neurotransmitter released

Question 12

Agonist and antagonist of autoreceptors at dopamine receptor

Answer 12

agonist - reduce firing and release of dopamine
antagonist - inhibit reduce of dopamine which leads to increase dopamine at synaptic cleft

Question 13

Influx of Na+

Answer 13

depolarization

Question 14

Efflux of K+

Answer 14

hyperpolarization

Question 15

Influx of Cl-

Answer 15

hyperpolarization

Question 16

Influx of Ca2+

Answer 16

activates enzyme