Nervous System

Question 1

Adrenaline

Answer 1

(also known as epinephrine) a neurohormone that increases physiological arousal and contributes to the consolidation of emotionally arousing memories p. 143

Question 2

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Axon

Answer 3

the long strand-like part of a neuron that transmits a message from one end of the neuron to the other p. 82

Question 4

Axon terminals

Answer 4

the ends of a neuron that release a message into the synapse p. 82

Question 5

Brain

Answer 5

the body?s information centre, responsible for initiating and processing actions, thoughts and behaviour

Question 6

Central nervous system

Answer 6

the brain and the spinal cord, responsible for transmitting neural messages to and receiving neural messages from the peripheral nervous system p. 66

Question 7

Cerebellum

Answer 7

a brain structure which encodes and stores implicit procedural memories p. 205

Question 8

Cerebral cortex

Answer 8

a brain structure where long-term memories are stored p. 204

Question 9

Dendrites

Answer 9

the bushy spines of a neuron that receive a message p. 82

Question 10

Dopamine

Answer 10

a neuromodulator primarily responsible for voluntary motor movement, the experience of pleasure, and reward-based learning

Question 11

Excitatory effect

Answer 11

when a neurotransmitter causes the postsynaptic neuron to become more likely to fire an action potential p. 86

Question 12

GABA

Answer 12

the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter p. 86

Question 13

Glutamate

Answer 13

the primary excitatory neurotransmitter p. 87, 143

Question 14

Inhibitory effect

Answer 14

when a neurotransmitter causes the postsynaptic neuron to become less likely to fire an action potential p. 86

Question 15

Interneurons

Answer 15

neurons that transfer impulses between sensory and motor neurons as part of the reflex arc p. 77

Question 16

Lock-and-key process

Answer 16

an analogy used to describe the role and functions of neurotransmitters and receptor sites in the process of neural transmission p. 86

Question 17

Long-term depression

Answer 17

Process of a long-term weakening of synaptic connections
Post synaptic neuron becomes less responsive to neurotransmitter released by the pre-synaptic neuron.
As a result of LTD, less neurotransmitter (i.e., Glutamate) will be released from the pre-synaptic neuron, and there will be a reduction in the number of receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron (reduction of dendritic spines).

Question 18

Long-term potentiation

Answer 18

Refer to the long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections, resulting in enhanced or more effective synaptic transmission.
The post-synaptic neurons become more and more responsive to the pre-synaptic neurons, as a consequence of repeated (and high-frequency) stimulation by neurotransmitters.

Question 19

Motor neurons

Answer 19

neurons that transmit information (motor neural messages) about voluntary movement from the CNS to the PNS p. 67

Question 20

Myelin

Answer 20

the fatty protein substance that surrounds and insulates the axon of a neuron p. 82

Question 21

Neural plasticity

Answer 21

the ability of the brain to physically change in response to experience p. 136

Question 22

Neural reception

Answer 22

the process in which a neuron accepts, or receives, a message p. 81

Question 23

Neural transmission

Answer 23

the process in which a neuron sends a message p. 81

Question 24

Neurochemical

Answer 24

a chemical substance that transmits neural information within the nervous system

Question 25

Neurohormone

Answer 25

a chemical substance sent from neurons into the bloodstream p. 142

Question 26

Neuron

Answer 26

a nerve cell responsible for transmitting, receiving and processing information p. 81

Question 27

Neuromodulator

Answer 27

a chemical molecule that has an effect on multiple postsynaptic neurons

Question 28

Neurotransmitter

Answer 28

a chemical substance that carries information between neurons p. 85, 142

Question 29

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 30

all nerves outside the CNS, responsible for transmitting information to and from the CNS p. 67

Question 31

Postsynaptic neuron

Answer 31

the neuron that receives a message from the synapse p. 82, 85

Question 32

Presynaptic neuron

Answer 32

the neuron that releases a message into the synapse p. 82, 85

Question 33

Pruning

Answer 33

the elimination of synaptic connections that are not adequately activated

Question 34

Receptor sites

Answer 34

protein molecules located on the dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron, responsible for receiving neurotransmitters p. 85

Question 35

Rerouting

Answer 35

the ability of a neuron that is connected to a damaged neuron to create an alternative synaptic connection with an undamaged neuron

Question 36

Sensory neurons

Answer 36

neurons that transmit information (sensory neural messages) about the body?s sensations from the PNS to the CNS p. 67

Question 37

Sensory receptor

Answer 37

a nerve ending that detects sensations in the environment and body p. 70

Question 38

Sensory stimuli

Answer 38

anything in the environment or body that is detected by the body?s senses p. 70

Question 39

Serotonin

Answer 39

neuromodulator primarily responsible for the regulation of mood and sleep

Question 40

Skeletal muscles

Answer 40

muscles connected to the skeleton that are involved in conscious, voluntary movement p. 68

Question 41

Somatic nervous system

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Spinal cord

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Spinal reflex

Answer 43

an unconscious response to sensory stimuli that is initiated at the spinal cord, not involving the brain p. 76

Question 44

Spinal sensory-motor circuit (reflex arc)

Answer 44

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

Question 45

Sprouting

Answer 45

the ability of dendrites or axons to develop new extensions or branches

Question 46

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 46

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

Question 47

Synapse

Answer 47

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

Question 48

Synaptic gap

Answer 48

the space in between two neurons into which a message is sent p. 82, 85

Question 49

Synaptic buttons

Answer 49

(also known as synaptic knobs, terminal buttons) the end of the presynaptic neuron?s axon terminals that release neurotransmitters p. 85

Question 50

Synaptic plasticity

Answer 50

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

Question 51

Visceral muscles (organs or glands)

Answer 51

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