Midterm 1 Flashcards
The brain reaches what percent of its normal adult volume by age 6?
90%
Following conception, the nervous system starts to develop after ___ weeks
3 weeks
True or False: at birth you have more neurons than you will at any point in your life
True, you are born with all of your neurons
When born, are your axons myelinated?
No, myelination happens postnatally because myelin would make a baby too heavy to birth
What are the 7 stages of neural development, in order?
- Neurogenesis
- Neuronal migration
- Neuron differentiation
- Dendrite and axon growth
- Formation of synapses
- Neuron death/pruning
- Formation of myelin
What occurs in the Neurogenesis stage?
It begins with segregation of the neuronal plate from the ectoderm
The neuronal plate folds to form the neuronal groove
The process of neural stem cells differentiating into different mature neural cell types is called
Embryogenesis
What cells differentiate to produce neurons?
Neuroblasts
What cells differentiate to produce glia?
Glioblasts
Brain cells are post-mitotic, what does that mean?
It means that they are matured at birth and they cannot divide anymore
What are the only 3 regions in the adult brain that can do neurogenesis?
Dentate gyrus (in the hippocampus)
Striatum
Subventricular zone and olfactory bulb
What cells from myelin in the CNS? Can they regenerate?
Oligodendrocytes
No, they cannot be repaired once damages
What cells form myelin in the PNS? Can they regenerate?
Schwann cells
Yes, they are able to regenerate/repair themselves after being damaged
When do astrocytes and oligodendrocytes begin to develop?
After most neurogenesis is complete
What are the 3 main modes of neuronal migration
Radial Migration
Tangential Migration
Axophilic Migration
Radial Migration
During corticogenesis, younger neurons migrate past older ones, moving along radially-oriented glial cells (called somal translocation)
Tangential Migration
Mainly cortical interneurons that follow trophic chemicals produced by targets sought by axons
Axophilic Migration
Neurons that migrate along the anterior-posterior axis follow the pre-existing tracts
Dendritic Development
- Progressive arborization
- Growth of dendritic spines
- Slow process, continues after birth
Morphogen
The chemicals that direct the differentiation and growth of neurons into a specific shape
Exuberant Synaptogensis
The dramatic proliferation of synapses during early brain development
> But synapses happen all throughout the lifetime
Synaptic Pruning
A reduction of the number of synapses of adults following the “use it or lose it” rule
5 Phases of Synaptic Formation and Pruning
1 & 2: Generated independently of experience
- Rapid growth
- Plateau and rapid elimination throughout puberty
- Plateau in middle age and stead decline with age
Experience-expectant neuronal changes
Genetically driven development of neuronal infrastructure
Experience-dependent neuronal changes
Results from the personal experiences of an individual
True or false, the brain has growth spurts
True
Environmental characteristics affect brain development at ___age(s)
All
> Mostly prenatal and early postnatal
Neuroplasticity
The ability of nervous tissue to change the mapping of neural function to neural structure
Can all brain regions be changed by experience?
No, some are genetically predetermined and stay the same no matter what you do, like the hypothalamus.
Why do we have neuroplasticity?
It is evolutionarily adaptive to be able to adapt to our environment. The brain must be able to calibrate itself to the other body systems because it cannot “know” about the characteristics of body parts as they were independently inherited.
What are “critical periods” in neuroplasticity?
Limited time frames when brain regions show maximum plasticity.
2 general types of plasticity
Ones that have a critical period
Ones that are plastic forever
7 pieces of evidence for neuroplasticity
- Change in behaviour
- Change in brain anatomy
- Change in functional brain maps
- Changes in synaptic organization
- Changes in physiological organization
- Changes in molecular structure
- Cellular mitosis
Transduction/Detection
Converting stimulus events into neural events
Larger brain size allows for: (4)
- More memory capacity
- Abstract thinking
- Symbols are possible and used to communicate information
- Improved ability to communicate with each other
Most neurons are which type of neuron?
Interneurons
Neurons use __x as much ATP as other cells
3 times
Transmembrane Potential
The voltage difference across the cell membrane
The typical resting potential of a cell
~-70mV
Depolarization (less polarized)
Reduction (towards 0 V) of the membrane potential of a cell from its normal resting potential
Hyper-polarization (more polarized)
An increase in membrane potential of a cell relative to the resting potential
Action potentials propagated along the length of axons act as a communication signal from the ___ ___ to the ___ ___ at the end of the axon.
Axon Hillock
Synaptic buttons
Signals transmitted within a neuron are mainly ___
Electrical
Signals transmitted between neurons are mainly ___
Chemical
After a cell fires it goes into a refractory period, what does that mean?
After a cell fires it needs to regenerate its resting potential, in this time the cell is unable to fire