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Psych 115 > Midterm 1 Vocab > Flashcards

Midterm 1 Vocab Flashcards

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1
Q

neurons

A

specialized cells that can generate action potentials

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2
Q

action potentials

A

fast electrical impulses

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3
Q

fMRI

A

a non-invasive method for measuring brain activity by using a magnetic field to compare blood oxygen level dependent signals across the brain

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4
Q

dendrites

A

treelike arborizations that receive signals from other neurons

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5
Q

soma

A

cell body containing the nucleus

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6
Q

axon

A

long branched cable that sends signals to other neurons

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7
Q

myelin sheath

A

a wrapping around the axon

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8
Q

axon terminals/synaptic boutons

A

tips of axon branches from which neurotransmitter is released onto target cells

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9
Q

synapses

A

chemical junctions that connect neurons to one another

info flows mostly in one direction across the synapse, from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic neuron

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10
Q

neurotransmitter

A

chemicals released from one neuron onto another neuron to send messages

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11
Q

excitatory neurotransmitter

A

transmitters that depolarize the postsynaptic neuron and usually increase the likelihood of a post-synaptic AP

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12
Q

inhibitory neurotransmitter

A

transmitters that hyperpolarize the postsynaptic neuron and usually decreases the likelihood of a post-synaptic AP

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13
Q

modulatory neurotransmitter

A

transmitters that can have multiple or complex effects on their postsynaptic target

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14
Q

Dale’s principle

A

a single neuron typically releases similar neurotransmitter chemical(s) from ALL of its synapses

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15
Q

efferent connections

A

neural populations that send their axons to make synapses onto other neurons

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16
Q

afferent connections

A

neural populations that receive their synaptic inputs from other neurons

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17
Q

interneurons/local circuit neurons

A

neurons that only send short-range efferents to their local neighbors

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18
Q

projection neurons/principle neurons

A

neurons that send long-range efferent projections to distant brain areas

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19
Q

voltage

A

the difference in electrical charge between two locations

a form of potential energy

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20
Q

resting potential

A

when a neuron is at rest

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21
Q

ion channels

A

pores in the cell that allow ions to pass into or out of the cell

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22
Q

driving force on an ion

A

the sum of the electrical and chemical forces determined by the magnitude and direction of both forces

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23
Q

chemical equilibrium

A

when the concentration of an ion is equal on both sides

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24
Q

electrical equilibrium

A

when the total charge summed over all ions is equal on both sides

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25
Q

equilibrium potential

A

stable membrane voltage

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26
Q

leak channels

A

ungated channels, always open

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27
Q

ligand-gated channels

A

opened or closed channels when a chemical molecule binds to them

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28
Q

voltage-gated channels

A

opened or closed channels when Vm falls into some target range

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29
Q

mechanically gated channels

A

opened or closed channels by a mechanical force

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30
Q

optically gated channels

A

opened or closed channels by light

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31
Q

IPSPs

A

a synaptic potential that makes a postsynaptic neuron less likely to generate an action potential

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32
Q

EPSPs

A

a synaptic potential that makes a postsynaptic neuron more likely to generate an action potential

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33
Q

electrolyte

A

a fluid that conducts electricity

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34
Q

closed Na+ channel states

A

Na+ ions cannot pass through the pore

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35
Q

open Na+ channel states

A

Na+ ions can pass freely through the pore

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36
Q

inactive Na+ channel states

A

Na+ cannot pass through the pore, and the channel cannot be opened even if the membrane is depolarized above spike threshold

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37
Q

central nervous system

A

brain and spinal cord

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38
Q

nucleus

A

a group of cluster of neurons in the CNS

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39
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

spinal and cranial nerves that relay sensory and motor info to and from the CNS

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40
Q

ganglion

A

a group or cluster of neurons in the PNS

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41
Q

dorsal root ganglion neurons

A

unipolar neurons in the PNS that relay somatosensory info from the skin to the spinal cord

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42
Q

nodes of Ranvier

A

small gaps in myelin sheath where the axon membrane is exposed to the cerebrospinal fluid

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43
Q

salutatory conduction

A

action potential being passed from node to node along the myelinated axon fast and far

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44
Q

passive conduction

A

axon without active channels propagates the spike fast but not far

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45
Q

active conduction

A

unmyelinated axon with active channels that propagates the spike very far

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46
Q

myelin

A

glial cell sheath around axons

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47
Q

schwann cells

A

myelin in the PNS

48
Q

oligodendrocytes

A

myelin in the CNS

49
Q

white matter

A

cortical regions that contain lots of myelin

50
Q

gray matter

A

cortical regions that contain little myelin

51
Q

synaptic vesicles

A

small sacks filled with neurotransmitter molecules at the end of each axon branch

52
Q

synaptic cleft

A

thin space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic cells

53
Q

glutamate

A

the dominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain

54
Q

GABA

A

the dominant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS

55
Q

ionotropic receptors

A

ligand-gated ion channels opened by neurotransmitter binding

56
Q

metabotropic receptors

A

G-protein coupled receptors activated when neurotransmitters bind to the extracellular domain of the receptor protein, and then float through the cytoplasm until it binds to various targets `

57
Q

agonists

A

molecules that bind to the receptor and activate it in much the same way as its normal endogenous ligands

58
Q

antagonists

A

molecules that bind to the receptor and prevent it from being activated by its normal endogenous ligand

59
Q

competitive binding

A

an antagonist where the drug attaches to the receptor and blocks the normal ligand binding site

60
Q

noncompetitive binding

A

an antagonist where the drug attaches to the receptor and prevents it from being activated, even though it does not block the normal ligand binding site

61
Q

catecholamines

A

molecules synthesized from the AA tyrosine

62
Q

mesolimbocortical projection

A

originates from dopamine neurons in the VTA, which send their axons to target in the cortex, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens

63
Q

mesostriatal projection

A

originates from dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, which send their axons to target in the caudate nucleus (striatum) and globus pallidus

64
Q

D1 metabotropic dopamine receptors

A

G-proteins are coupled to alpha subunits that excite production of the 2nd messenger cAMP by adenylyl cyclase

65
Q

D2 metabotropic dopamine receptors

A

G-proteins are coupled to alpha subunits that inhibit production of the 2nd messenger cAMP by adenylyl cyclase

66
Q

Alpha metabotropic adrenoreceptors

A

G-proteins coupled to second messenger pathways that can produce either inhibition of the postsynaptic cell, or trigger the release of calcium from intracellular stores

67
Q

Beta metabotropic adrenoreceptors

A

G-proteins coupled to second messenger pathways that usually produce excitation of the postsynaptic cell

68
Q

transporter

A

a protein complex that pushes molecules from one side of the cell membrane to the other

69
Q

competitive antagonism

A

the transporter sucks up the drug instead of the neurotransmitter, which prevents the transmitter from being taken up

70
Q

non-competitive antagonism

A

the drug causes the transporter to be internalized into the presynaptic cell membrane, so it is no longer able to remove transmitter from the synapse

71
Q

reversal

A

the drug causes the transporter to reverse direction and push the neurotransmitter in the opposite direction across the membrane

72
Q

vesicular transporters

A

transporters that dump transmitters out of vesicles into the cytoplasm

73
Q

synaptic transporters

A

transporters that dump transmitters out of the cytoplasm into the synapse

74
Q

nicotinic receptors

A

ligand-gated cation channels with a 5-subunit structure very similar to GABA-A channels

75
Q

muscarinic receptors

A

metabotropic receptors that are linked to voltage-gated potassium channels

76
Q

opiate drugs

A

exogenous ligands for opiate receptors

77
Q

retrograde transmitters

A

send signals backwards across the synapse, from the presynaptic cell to the postsynaptic cell

78
Q

ribosomes

A

translate RNA into proteins

79
Q

transcription

A

nuclear DNA is copied to make strands of mRNA done by RNA polymerase

80
Q

translation

A

the mRNA strand leaves the nucleus and moves to the cytoplasm, where it is translated into a chain of AAs by ribosomes

81
Q

gene

A

a piece of DNA that holds the instructions for making a single protein

82
Q

SCN9A gene

A

encodes a Nav1.7 protein which can serve as one of the four subunits in a voltage-gated sodium channel
loss of Nav1.7 sodium channels renders individuals unable to feel pain, and thus highly vulnerable to injury

83
Q

gene knockout

A

remove a gene from an organism to test whether it is necessary for a specific biological trait or phenotype

84
Q

gene knock-in

A

add a gene to an organism to test whether it is sufficient to endow the organism with a specific trait

85
Q

gene editing

A

modify the nucleotide sequence of a gene to change the AA sequence of the protein it encodes

86
Q

transgene

A

a gene that is artificially transferred from one species to another

87
Q

ectopic expression

A

expression of the gene in cells that don’t normally express it

88
Q

channelrhodopsin

A

a sodium channel sensitive to blue light, which causes sodium to enter and depolarize the cell

89
Q

halorhodopsin

A

a chloride pump sensitive to yellow light, which causes chloride to be pumped in, hyperpolarizing the cell

90
Q

archaerhodopsin

A

a protein pump sensitive to green light, which causes protons to be pumped out, hyperpolarizing the cell

91
Q

embryo

A

a developing human for the first 10 weeks of pregnancy

92
Q

fetus

A

a developing human after 10 weeks of pregnancy

93
Q

neurogenesis

A

the birth of cells that become neurons

94
Q

spina bifida

A

a birth defect that occurs when the neural tube fails to close at the caudal end of the ectoderm

95
Q

ipsilateral

A

on the same side as

96
Q

contralateral

A

on the opposite side from

97
Q

dorsal

A

towards the head/back

98
Q

ventral

A

towards the feel/stomach

99
Q

posterior/caudal

A

towards the back

100
Q

anterior/rostral

A

towards the stomach

101
Q

ventricular zone

A

the region of the neural tube that surrounds the canal

102
Q

marginal zone

A

the outer regions of the neural tube

103
Q

radial glia

A

a population of glial cells that form in the ventricular zone, providing a “railway” system for migrating cells

104
Q

synaptogenesis

A

formation of the connections between cells

105
Q

ischemia

A

a stroke caused when a blood vessel is blocked by an embolism or blood clot, starving the brain of oxygen and glucose

106
Q

hemorrhage

A

a stroke caused when blood vessels rupture and bleed into the brain

107
Q

medulla oblongata

A

controls respiration, heartbeat, reflexive behaviors, arousal and sleep cycles

108
Q

superior colliculus

A

visual orienting responses and reflexes

109
Q

inferior colliculus

A

auditory orienting responses and reflexes

110
Q

oculomotor nucleus

A

controls eye movements

111
Q

red nucleus

A

a major motor relay structure

112
Q

periacqueductal gray

A

pain and defensive action patterns

113
Q

vestibular cerebellum

A

critical for maintaining balance and posture

114
Q

hypothalamus

A

controls hormone release by the pituitary gland

regulates homeostasis and motivational states

115
Q

thalamus

A

sensory/motor info passes through the thalamus on its way to/from the cortex

Psych 115 (10 decks)

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