Lecture 17 Flashcards
What triggers an action potential in a neuron?
Sufficient input to the postsynaptic neuron can trigger an action potential.
What is the role of action potentials in neuronal communication?
Action potentials are the electrical signals that allow neurons to transmit information to other neurons.
How is an action potential defined?
An action potential is a rapid change in the voltage of the cell’s membrane, indicating that the neuron has fired.
What is single cell recording, and what is its purpose?
Single cell recording involves recording action potentials from an individual neuron. Its purpose is to measure the activity of a single cell while it is exposed to various stimuli, helping researchers understand which types of stimuli can trigger action potentials in that neuron.
What is a receptive field in the context of visual neurons?
A receptive field is the limited region of space to which a visually sensitive cell responds.
How is a neuron’s receptive field determined in experiments?
In experiments, the receptive field of a neuron is determined by presenting stimuli at various positions in the visual field and observing the stimulus position that causes the neuron to fire the fastest.
What do maps of neural activity, like the one shown in the text, reveal about the organization of neurons in the brain?
Maps of neural activity reveal how the organization of neurons in a specific area of the brain corresponds to the representation of the visual field or other sensory input.
How does fMRI estimate the number of neurons involved in a cognitive process?
fMRI measures changes in metabolic activity, which is roughly proportional to neuronal activity. Brain scans during cognitive tasks help estimate the number of neurons involved based on activity patterns.
Why do different scents evoke distinct spatial patterns of neural activation in the olfactory bulb?
Different scents activate unique olfactory receptors, resulting in specific patterns of neural activation. These patterns enable scent discrimination.
What are topographic maps, and where are they found in the brain?
Topographic maps are spatial representations of sensory information. They exist in areas like primary auditory, motor, and somatosensory cortices, organizing sensory data systematically.
