Module 4 Flashcards
nervous system
electrochemical communication network that connects brain and spinal cord to organs, muscles, and glands
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
somatic (voluntary) and autonomic nervous system (involuntary- sympathetic and parasympathetic)
internal organs that nerve cells reach out to
somatic nervous system
deals with nerve cells, controlling muscles that you can control
automatic nervous system
sympathetic and parasympathetic
sympathetic
area of activating body for activity
reduce unnecessary areas
dilates pupil, increases heart rate, activates sweat glands, respiration, adrenaline, inhibits digestion
parasympathetic
constricts pupil, decreases heart rate, cools down sweat glands, respiration, stimulates digestion
brain cells
nerve cells and glial cells
nerve cells
building blocks of brain functions, who you are- personality and perception
more than a billion cells
babies have 1,000,000 neural connections per second, why they learn so fast
this slows into adulthood, but connections are made: 1 cell connects up to 50,000 cells
main purpose: receive, integrate, and send messages
nerve cell growth
nerve cells branch out with new and more experiences, growth of engrams, more networking and long term potentiation
multiply in size through increased growth and complexity, not number (only 1-2% grow in number)
neuroplasticity
capacity of nervous system to change in response to experience (flexibility)
neurogenesis
production of new brain cells
learning, memory, emotions, and ability to adapt
networking»_space; using other networking to make up for what is gone
neuron structure
many different types depending on function and location in brain (shape, size, structure matters
ex: purkinje cell (cerebellum), association cell (thalamus)- stays within brain, short axon, axon motor neuron (spinal cord)
body and body extension
soma (cell body)
nucleus (DNA + RNA)/command function
dendrites
branches out from cell body
like the roots of a tree
axon
one extension (long) to reach spinal cord
branches out like tree trunk
axon bulbs/synaptic bulb/terminal button
synaptic vesicles
neurotransmitters carried by synaptic vesicles
neurotransmitters
synthesize in cell body and transport by vesicles to axon bulb
receptor sites
reuptake
reabsorbed and stored in vesicles
types of neurons
afferent neurons, efferent neurons, interneurons
afferent neurons (sensory)
carry messages from fingers to spinal cord and brain
efferent neurons (motor)
carry messages and commands from brain to muscles, glands, and organs
next to muscles, stimulate muscle actions
interneurons
connect and transfer info from one neuron to another (mostly in spinal cord)
reflexes
Glia cells
provide structural support to nerve cells, nutrients, insulate, remove wastes, and repair neurons
assist in learning, thinking, and memory
myelin sheath
insulates and increases the speed of transmission for neurons
reduce in age and get thinner into later lied
aid quick responses and learning
communication among neurons
polarize state, depolarization, refractory period, and receptor effects
ions
4: Na+ (sodium), K+ (potassium), Chloride (Cl-), Anions (A-)
polarize state
resting state and prepare for action (-60 to -70 millivolts)
ready for activity and action»_space; polarized (charged up)
more negative than positive neurons
depolarization
ions enter nerve cell
“turn on flashlight”, opening of receptor sites, ions enter in
doesn’t occur just on dendrites, occurs on axon as well and axon bulb
threshold
minimum energy needed for an action potential (nerve firing)
action potential
all or non response
electrical energy is activated
refractory period
after action potential, a neuron resists producing another action potential
dips below resting state of -70 (-80 or -90)
hyperpolarized state, potassium-sodium pump releases positive ions
receptor effects
excitatory and inhibitory
excitatory
receptor sites allow positive ions to flow in, triggering an action potential
inhibitory
receptor sites allow negative ions to flow in, which reduces an action potential
preventing nerve cell firing
soma gathers info to determine threshold is met for action potential
types of neurotransmitters
amino acids, glutamate, GABA, Acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, endorphins
chemical messengers that mediate behaviors (e.g., learning, anxiety)
amino acids
organic compounds (e.g., food) help make proteins, hormones, and neurotransmitters
glutamate
excitatory (helps with movement, thinking)
GABA
inhibitory (help prevent nerve cell firing)
acetylcholine
regulates muscles and cognition (memory, learning, sleeping, etc.)
dopamine
regulates muscles and mental disorders
too little: Parkinson’s Disease (L-dopa drug)
too much: Schizophrenia (Thorazine drug)
serotonin
regulates sleeping, earing, mood, pain, and depression
too little: depression (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil)
too much: hallucination
endorphins
brain’s natural producing pain reducer
