Lecture 1 - M1 Flashcards
Intro, cellular elements and electrical signaling in nervous system
List the different levels of analysis that can be employed when conducting neurobiology experiments.
(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)
T/F Neurons come in many shapes and sizes
T
What is neurobiology?
cellular mechanisms that underlie neuronal and circuit function
List the cellular elements of the brain
Glial cells and neurons
Role of dendrites
input; receive
Information
Role of cell body
contains nucleus
Role of axon
moves information as
action potentials to the
terminal
Role of axon terminal
output
Role of synapse
site of
communication
between neurons
What is the difference between the Reticular Theory vs the Neuron Doctrine? Which one is correct?
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
What does synapse output depend on?
The combination of inputs coming from different sources
What do glial cells do?
Support neuronal function
List the 4 most prominent glial cell types
Astrocytes, myelinating glia, microglia, and glial STEM cells
Describe astrocytes
-Most numerous
– Housekeeping
– Regulate
extracellular space,
blood:brain barrier
– Development
– Signaling
Describe myelinating glia
– 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)
Describe microglia
– immune cells, mobile, at injury site - phagocytose debris
Describe glial STEM cells
most forms of brain
cancer are mediated by glial overgrowth or
metastasis from other organs
Explain some non-traditional functions of glial cells
-prevention/slow down of Alzheimer’s disease
-modulate synapses and synaptic learning as they are reservoirs of neurotransmitters
-glial STEM cells
Organization of the Vertebrate Nervous System - What are the 2 types of nervous systems?
Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System
Describe the CNS
enclosed in bone: brain and spinal cord
Describe the PNS
everything outside of the CNS
-Sensory and motor
Sensory: afferent or efferent? // What does it do?
afferent; carry information from the outside world/internal organs+glands to the CNS
Motor: afferent or efferent? // What does it do?
efferent; carry information
away from the CNS to muscles,
organs, and glands
What is the difference between local segmental control and high degree of cephalization? Which one is typically found in intervetebrates? Vertebrates?
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
