Midterm Flashcards
How many neurons are there in the adult brain
about 90 billion
insulation made of proteins and fats that protect the nerve fiber to allow faster transmission of signals
myelin
receives impulses
dendrite
junction or gap between neurons
synapse
birth of a neuron
neurogenesis
change in the brain according to aging, disease, exposure
neuroplasticity
death of inactive synapses to make way for new pathways
synaptic pruning
orderly destruction of a nerve cell because of aging
apoptosis
which hemisphere plays a role in language
left
which hemisphere of the brain is involved in interpretation and creative info
right
lobe involved in problem solving, planning, attention, short term memory, motor learning, behavior, impulse control
frontal lobe
lobe involved in math, right/left discrimination, language, perception
parietal lobe
lobe involved in hearing, smell interpretation, language comprehension/interpretation, and facial recognition
temporal
lobe involved in visual processing, color identification, reading, writing
occipital lobe
part of the brain involved in balance and speech articulation
cerebellum
involved in basic bodily functions (heart rate, breathing, respirations) and connects the brain to the spinal cord
brain stem
cranial nerve I
olfactory - smell
cranial nerve II
optic - vision
cranial nerve III
oculomotor - eye movement
cranial nerve VI
trochlear - movement around eye
cranial nerve V
trigeminal - pain/temperature in face and mouth
cranial nerve VI
abducens - extraocular eye movements
cranial nerve VII
facial - taste receptors on tongue, muscles for facial expression and eyelid closing
cranial nerve VIII
vestibulocochlear - balance, connects inner canals of ears to brain
cranial nerve IX
glossopharyngeal - taste of tongue on very back, swallowing, gag reflex
cranial nerve X
vagus - digestion, swallowing, gag reflex, GI system
cranial nerve XI
accessory - innervates larynx, sternocleidomastoid
cranial nerve XII
hypoglossal - innervated muscles of tongue, swallowing
the brains ability to change as a result of experience
neuroplasticity
assembly line of cells that lets in a few select things into the brain, but keeps other things out to protect the brain
blood brain brarrier
what are some things that can break down the BBB
high blood pressure, heavy metals, infection, inflammation, brain tumor
lining at the back of the eyeball connected to optic nerve
retina
depression in the retina where visual acuity is the highest (focus)
fovea
center of the retina that allows you to see and take in information about color
macula
vision gets worse over time and leads to central vision loss
macular degeneration
interpreting light signals
photoreceptors
allow low light vision
rods
color vision and fine details
cones
allows eyes facing the same direction to perceive a single three dimensional image (depth perception)
binocular vision
cross eyed
strabismus
ear drum
tympanic membrane
shell shaped structure in the inner ear that produces nerve impulses in response to vibrations
cochlea
ear canal located in between middle and inner ear
eustachian tube
membrane that vibrates in response to sound waves
tympanic membrane
bone in the inner ear also known as hammer
malleolus
bone of the inner ear also known as amble
incus
bone of inner ear also known as stirrup
stapes
main cause of hearing loss
damage or loss of hair receptor cells
taste buds and interpretation of taste
gustation
smell
olfaction
what is the only sensory neuron to be continually replaced throughout life
olfactory neurons
cranial nerves associated with taste
facial nerve (VII), glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), and vagus nerve (X)
what is the only sensory system that sends sensory information directly to the cerebral cortex without first passing through the thalamus
olfactory
starts processing of smell information
olfactory bulb
what is the term to describe the tactile system
somatosensory system
what does touch come in through
thalamus
primary function of pain
safety, survival, emotions, social connections
sensory fibers that detect pain
nociceptors
hypersensitivity to pain
allodynia
malfunction of the nervous system
neuropathic pain
pain especially in the feet and hands
diabetic neuropathy
opiate like substances that are produced in the body that function a lot like morphine
endorphins
main function of the limbic system
emotions
almond shaped region that connects emotions with memory, controls fight/flight/freeze response, empathy, brains reward system
amygdala
major long term memory storage
hippocampus
contributes to decision making in terms of how you respond to sensory stimuli
cingulate gyrus
type of memory that includes true/factual data or events
declarative memory
cultural knowledge, ideas, and concepts you have accumulated about the world
semantic memories (state capitals, definitions)
unique representations of your personal experiences
episodic memories (mentally recalling sights, sounds, time, space, emotions)
the “brains executive”, controls attention, decision-making, and long term planning
prefrontal cortex
temporary type of declarative memory that is a form of short term memory that allows you to hold a phone number, a sum, a visual image, or other data point needed in the present or immediate future
working memory
discrete areas of the brain are dedicated to processing specific types of information
spatial memory
type of memory that is sorted and retrieved without conscious effort
non-declarative memory (speaking, riding a bike)
also known as the “habit center”
basal ganglia
learned emotional responses become attached to stimuli over time after repeated exposure
emotional memory
6 types of emotions
sad, anger, fear, disgust, joy, surprise
