Nervous System Flashcards
Action potential
the neural message, in the form of an electrical impulse, sent down the axon of a neuron when certain conditions are met p. 86
Adrenaline
(also known as epinephrine) a neurohormone that increases physiological arousal and contributes to the consolidation of emotionally arousing memories p. 143
Agonist
a type of drug that imitates neurotransmitters and works to initiate a neural response (excitatory or inhibitory) when it binds to the receptor sites of a neuron p. 439
Antagonist
a type of drug that works to prevent a neural response (excitatory or inhibitory) by blocking the receptor sites of a neuron p. 439
Autonomic nervous system
the branch of the PNS responsible for connecting the CNS and the body?s visceral (non-skeletal) organs, muscles and glands like the heart and liver p. 67
Axon
the long strand-like part of a neuron that transmits a message from one end of the neuron to the other p. 82
Axon terminals
the ends of a neuron that release a message into the synapse p. 82
Brain
the body?s information centre, responsible for initiating and processing actions, thoughts and behaviour
Brain surgery
the treatment of brain injury or disease with the use of medical instruments p. 218
Brain trauma
damage to the brain that is caused by an external force p. 218
Central nervous system
the brain and the spinal cord, responsible for transmitting neural messages to and receiving neural messages from the peripheral nervous system p. 66
Cerebellum
a brain structure which encodes and stores implicit procedural memories p. 205
Cerebral cortex
a brain structure where long-term memories are stored p. 204
Dendrites
the bushy spines of a neuron that receive a message p. 82
Dopamine
a neurotransmitter primarily responsible for the coordination of voluntary movement and experiences of pleasure and pain p. 92
Excitatory effect
when a neurotransmitter causes the postsynaptic neuron to become more likely to fire an action potential p. 86
GABA
the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter p. 86
Glutamate
the primary excitatory neurotransmitter p. 87, 143
Inhibitory effect
when a neurotransmitter causes the postsynaptic neuron to become less likely to fire an action potential p. 86
Interneurons
neurons that transfer impulses between sensory and motor neurons as part of the reflex arc p. 77
Lock-and-key process
an analogy used to describe the role and functions of neurotransmitters and receptor sites in the process of neural transmission p. 86
Long-term depression
the long-lasting and experience dependent weakening of postsynaptic responses p. 137
Long-term potentiation
the long-lasting and experiencedependent strengthening of synaptic connections p. 137, 431
Motor neurons
neurons that transmit information (motor neural messages) about voluntary movement from the CNS to the PNS p. 67
Myelin
the fatty protein substance that surrounds and insulates the axon of a neuron p. 82
Neural plasticity
the ability of the brain to physically change in response to experience p. 136
Neural reception
the process in which a neuron accepts, or receives, a message p. 81
Neural transmission
the process in which a neuron sends a message p. 81
Neurodegenerative disease
a disease characterised by the progressive loss of neurons in the brain p. 219
Neurohormone
a chemical substance sent from neurons into the bloodstream p. 142
Neuron
a nerve cell responsible for transmitting, receiving and processing information p. 81
Neurotransmitter
a chemical substance that carries information between neurons p. 85, 142
Parasympathetic nervous system
a branch of the ANS responsible for returning and maintaining the body?s visceral organs, muscles and glands at optimal and balanced functioning p. 69
Parkinson?s disease
a progressive disease of the nervous system characterised by both motor and non-motor symptoms p. 92
Peripheral nervous system
all nerves outside the CNS, responsible for transmitting information to and from the CNS p. 67
Postsynaptic neuron
the neuron that receives a message from the synapse p. 82, 85
Presynaptic neuron
the neuron that releases a message into the synapse p. 82, 85
Receptor sites
protein molecules located on the dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron, responsible for receiving neurotransmitters p. 85
Sensory neurons
neurons that transmit information (sensory neural messages) about the body?s sensations from the PNS to the CNS p. 67
Sensory receptor
a nerve ending that detects sensations in the environment and body p. 70
Sensory stimuli
anything in the environment or body that is detected by the body?s senses p. 70
Skeletal muscles
muscles connected to the skeleton that are involved in conscious, voluntary movement p. 68
Somatic nervous system
the branch of the PNS responsible for sending motor information from the CNS to the body?s skeletal muscle, and bringing sensory information from the body to the CNS in order to formulate voluntary responses p. 67
Spinal cord
a long cable of nerve tissue (neurons) connecting the brain to the peripheral nervous system, responsible for sending motor information from the brain, and sensory information from the body p. 66
Spinal reflex
an unconscious response to sensory stimuli that is initiated at the spinal cord, not involving the brain p. 76
Spinal sensory-motor circuit (reflex arc)
the path that neural messages take as part of the spinal reflex response, involving sensory messages to the spinal cord which are immediately relayed from the spinal cord as motor messages p. 77
Sympathetic nervous system
a branch of the ANS responsible for activating the body?s visceral organs, muscles, and glands for increased activity or when under threat p. 69
Synapse
the area in which neuronal transmission occurs between two neurons, including the sending end of the presynaptic neuron, the gap between two neurons, and receiving end of the postsynaptic neuron p. 82, 85
Synaptic gap
the space in between two neurons into which a message is sent p. 82, 85
Synaptic buttons
(also known as synaptic knobs, terminal buttons) the end of the presynaptic neuron?s axon terminals that release neurotransmitters p. 85
Synaptic plasticity
a type of neural plasticity that refers to the ability of synaptic connections to form, weaken or strengthen in response to activity and experience p. 137
Visceral muscles (organs or glands)
the body?s non-skeletal muscles, organs and glands that are largely self-regulating and don?t require conscious control. These are controlled by the ANS p. 68
