Lecture 1 - M1

Question 1

List the different levels of analysis that can be employed when conducting neurobiology experiments.

Answer 1

(Individual behaving in a social interaction) Organ system: Brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and eyes ➤ Neural system: brain and eyes ➤ Brain region: visual cortex ➤ Local neural circuit ➤ Synapse ➤ Interactions at the molecular level (Katey Many)

Question 2

T/F Neurons come in many shapes and sizes

Answer 2

T

Question 3

What is neurobiology?

Answer 3

cellular mechanisms that underlie neuronal and circuit function

Question 4

List the cellular elements of the brain

Answer 4

Glial cells and neurons

Question 5

Role of dendrites

Answer 5

input; receive
Information

Question 6

Role of cell body

Answer 6

contains nucleus

Question 7

Role of axon

Answer 7

moves information as
action potentials to the
terminal

Question 8

Role of axon terminal

Answer 8

output

Question 9

Role of synapse

Answer 9

site of
communication
between neurons

Question 10

What is the difference between the Reticular Theory vs the Neuron Doctrine? Which one is correct?

Answer 10

Reticular Theory: neurons are directly connected with each other - no gaps

Neuron Doctrine: there are gaps (aka synapses) between neruons and some “signal” goes between them

The Neuron Doctrine is the correct one

Question 11

What does synapse output depend on?

Answer 11

The combination of inputs coming from different sources

Question 12

What do glial cells do?

Answer 12

Support neuronal function

Question 13

List the 4 most prominent glial cell types

Answer 13

Astrocytes, myelinating glia, microglia, and glial STEM cells

Question 14

Describe astrocytes

Answer 14

-Most numerous
– Housekeeping
– Regulate
extracellular space,
blood:brain barrier
– Development
– Signaling

Question 15

Describe myelinating glia

Answer 15

– Oligodendrocyte in
CNS
– Schwann cell in PNS
– Wrap around axons
– Serve as insulation so
action potentials can
move faster
– Gaps in myelin sheath
called Nodes of
Ranvier, where action
potential is regenerated
-eliminate AB waste from the extracellular
fluid (mostly during sleep)

Question 16

Describe microglia

Answer 16

– immune cells, mobile, at injury site - phagocytose debris

Question 17

Describe glial STEM cells

Answer 17

most forms of brain
cancer are mediated by glial overgrowth or
metastasis from other organs

Question 18

Explain some non-traditional functions of glial cells

Answer 18

-prevention/slow down of Alzheimer’s disease
-modulate synapses and synaptic learning as they are reservoirs of neurotransmitters
-glial STEM cells

Question 19

Organization of the Vertebrate Nervous System - What are the 2 types of nervous systems?

Answer 19

Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System

Question 20

Describe the CNS

Answer 20

enclosed in bone: brain and spinal cord

Question 21

Describe the PNS

Answer 21

everything outside of the CNS
-Sensory and motor

Question 22

Sensory: afferent or efferent? // What does it do?

Answer 22

afferent; carry information from the outside world/internal organs+glands to the CNS

Question 23

Motor: afferent or efferent? // What does it do?

Answer 23

efferent; carry information
away from the CNS to muscles,
organs, and glands

Question 24

What is the difference between local segmental control and high degree of cephalization? Which one is typically found in intervetebrates? Vertebrates?

Answer 24

Local segmental control - nervous system is located throughout the body

High degree of cephalization - nervous system is located in one area (like the human brain)

Invertebrates - local segmental control
Vertebrates - cephalization