Lecture one - Introduction to Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Flashcards
What are the two parts of the Nervous sytem?
- The Central Nervous system - brain and spain.
- The peripheral nervous system
What do afferent neurons do?
What do efferent neurons do?
Afferent neurons carry messages from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system, such as signals from sensory neurons.
Efferent neurons carry signals from the CNS to the PNS, called motor neurons, telling the body to move for example.
The CNS has 86 billion neurons with over 100 trillion connections between them.
T/F?
True.
Where do neurotransmitters originate?
In small clusters of neurons called nuclei deep within the brain.
What is the difference between neurotransmitters and hormones?
Neurotransmitters act between pre- and post-synaptic neurons.
Hormones can act on all different cells.
Neurotransmitters travel from neuron to neuron, whereas hormones travel through the blood and are produced in by endocrine glands.
Neurotransmitters/modulators belong to the nervous system and hormones belong to the endocrine system.
Hormones can modulate the neurotransmitter/modulator production?
T/F?
True.
Why do we have a blood-brain barrier?
Gives us ‘CNS’ privilege. The brain and spine are protected from external pathogens more than PNS.
95% of serotonin in the body is produced in the gut. What does this serotonin do?
It acts on neurons in the gut to help peristalsis and other gut functions.
Is the Enteric Nervous System part of the PNS or CNS?
The PNS.
What is the Enteric Nervous System?
The ENS is the ‘gut brain’ - the collection of neurons in the gut. It can act independently of the brain.
Almost all neurotransmitters in the brain are also found in the gut.
90% of connections are from gut to brain, as opposed to brain to gut.
What is the difference between the microbiome and microbiota?
Microbiome is the combined genetic material present in an area, such as the gut, from the microorganisms present.
Microbiota is the microorganisms themselves.
What are some of the reasons for ‘sickness behaviour’?
Sickness behaviour refers to the behavioural, cognitive, and affective changes that occur when we have a cold or flu, for example.
Some changes are reduced energy levels, lowered mood, reduced appetite.
These changes occur as a defence mechanism for the organism. It helps preserve energy to fight off the infection or pathogen.
This behaviour is thought to be modulated by cytokines. Cytokines cannot cross the blood brain barrier, but they can activate receptors that lead to the release of cytokines in the brain, which drive the ‘sickness behaviour’.
