Lecture 5 (6) Basic Neurobiology Flashcards
Bridging the gap between the nervous system and our mind, and behaviour, allows us to what
span multiple levels of analysis
what is one of the fastest moving areas in Psychology
Progress in exploring the neurobiology of mind has made considerable advances in the past decade.
is the involved neurobiology the seat of the behaviour (such as a thought, a memory, a perception), or does their activation give rise to the experience (i.e., allows the organism to experience a thought, a memory, a perception)?
that is the big question! we are not too sure
In memory research, and similar in other areas of mind research, some hold the view that memories do not exist physically in the brain, where does it come from
In memory research, and similar in other areas of mind research, some hold the view that memories do not exist physically in the brain. But physical brain processes give rise to these memories, i.e., this generates the experience, which cannot be located itself
what are the two subsections of the nervous system
central nervous system
peripheral nervous system
what is included in the central nervous system
brian
spinal cord
what is included in the peripheral nervous system
somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system
what is in the somatic nervous system
skin, muscles and joints send signals to the spinal cord and brain
brain and spinal cord send signals to the muscles and joints and skin
what is under the autonomic nervous system
glans and internal organs send signals to the spinal cord and brain
brain and spinal cord send signals t the glands and internal organs
wat is under “brain and spinal cord send signals t the glands and internal organs”
sympathetic nervous system
parasympathetic nervous system
what ARE A BASIC COMPONENT OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEURONS
what are the BUILDING BLOCKS OF CNS
NEURONS AND GLIAL CELLS
what is the Function of neurons
Function of neurons is communication in form of propagating electrical signals
what do Glial cells do
Glial cells are an essential part of the nervous system allowing neurons to function (Glia means “glue” in Greek)
what are the 2 types of glial cells
microglia and there are macroglia
what do the Microglia do
Microglia protect CNS neurons. They are smaller than the other glial cells, and are mobile within the brain. They can metabolise dead tissue and are involved in keeping the CNS healthy
what are examples of macroglia
Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are macroglia
what are Astrocytes:
link neurons to blood vessels, forming part of the blood-brain barrier. They engulf synapses (where neurons connect), regulating neurotransmitter release during synaptic transmission
what are Oligodendrocytes:
they surround axons in the CNS, forming the myelin sheath that insulates axons, which allows the electrical signal that travels in the axon to travel faster
how does INFORMATION FLOW IN REFLEXES (pricking finger on a nail)
- sensory receptors in skin
- information to sensory neurons
- information through interneuron (in section of spinal cord)
- motor neurons
- muscle contraction raises forearm
what are the 3 functional types of neurons
Sensory (receptor or afferent) neurons
Motor (efferent or effector) neurons
Interneurons or associative neurons
what is a neuron
a specialized cell
what is the cell body of a neutron called
soma
from the soma, 2 kinds of cytoplasmic processes extend, what are they
a) one or more dendrites, and b) a single axon
are all neutrons the same
no, Neurons can have different shapes, depending on their function and location
what are the Sensory (receptor or afferent) neurons.
Act as receptors of stimuli or are connected to receptors
what are the Motor (efferent or effector) neurons.
Send information from CNS to the body’s effectors (muscles/glands)
what are the Interneurons or associative neurons.
Are neither sensory nor motor but connect neurons with other neurons
where are the Afferent and efferent neurons:
mostly outside (CNS); interneurons entirely within CNS (99% of neurons in body)
how does information flow int he neuron
- A signal is received at the dendritic spines, at the post-synaptic terminals, where the neuron synapses with the axon of another neuron.
- This signal can produce an electric current that travels from the dendrite to the soma of the neuron.
- If the signal accumulating at the axon hillock in the soma is strong enough, the receiving neuron will “fire”, i.e., it will produce an electrical impulse at the axon hillock.
- This electrical impulse travels down the axon toward the terminal buttons (the pre- synaptic terminals).
- When the electrical impulse reaches the pre-synaptic terminal, it can produce a chemical signal: the release of neurotransmitters.
- When neurotransmitters reach the post-synaptic terminal of the receiving neuron: Go back to point 1 above.
what is resting potential
At rest, when a neuron is not active, the electrical charge inside and outside the neuron is different
This difference in charge is called a potential. It is the potential electrical charge that could be released
A neuron at rest has the resting potential of ____
A neuron at rest has the resting potential of around -70 millivolts (-70mV; i.e., there are more negatively charges inside the neuron than outside of it)
what is Electrical potential
refers to how much energy is stored up in a system
If the electrical stimulation is strong enough, what happens to the neutron
If the electrical stimulation is strong enough, it exceeds the threshold of excitation and the axon of the stimulated neuron will fire an action potential
what happens During the action potential
During the action potential, the neuron is briefly depolarized, so the membrane potential reaches about +40mV
what is Diffusion
refers to the phenomenon that particles tend to move from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration, eventually reaching equilibrium of equal dispersion
Diffusion is a force that pushes particles along their concentration gradient (from high to low)
what does Diffusion result from
from Brownian movement, which correlates with temperature
what is Electrostatic pressure
refers to the fact that equally electrically charged particles repel each other, and differently charged particles attract each other
