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PSYC513 Exam One- brain,language, communication, memory and knowledge > neural basis - matt roser, L2 > Flashcards

neural basis - matt roser, L2 Flashcards

1
Q

Who measured the speed of axon potentials and what was the speed?

A

Von Helmholtz measured the speed of axon potentials at 90 ft/sec

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2
Q

What hypothesis did Von Helmholtz refute?

A

The hypothesis of ‘vitalism’ which suggested that neural signals were a vital force of nature

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3
Q

Who is credited with the invention of the method for staining neurons?

A

Camillo Golgi invented the method of staining neurons with silver nitrate, known as the ‘Golgi’ method

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4
Q

What concept did Santiago Ramón y Cajal discover regarding neurons?

A

Cajal discovered the synapse and the functional polarity of neurons

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5
Q

What was the disagreement between Golgi and Cajal?

A

Golgi believed the nervous system was a continuous mass, while Cajal believed it was composed of individual units

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6
Q

What significant publication did Donald Hebb release in 1949?

A

The Organization of Behaviour

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7
Q

What does Hebb’s theory propose about brain activity?

A

It proposes that complex psychological phenomena might be produced by brain activity

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8
Q

What are neurons considered in the nervous system?

A

Neurons are the basic, distinct units of the nervous system

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9
Q

What is the resting potential of a neuron?

A

-70mV

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10
Q

What is the role of astrocytes in the central nervous system?

A

Astrocytes supply nutrients, structural support, clean-up, and chemical protection for neurons

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11
Q

What are the two primary types of glial cells in the peripheral nervous system?

A

Schwann cells and satellite cells

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12
Q

What is the function of the sodium-potassium pump?

A

It exchanges 3 Na+ (sodium) ions for 2 K+ (potassium) ions to maintain ion concentrations
-sodium ions must be kept in greater concentration outside the cell by low permeability

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13
Q

What happens when depolarization reaches a threshold in a neuron?

A

An action potential is generated

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14
Q

What is the synaptic cleft?

A

The space separating pre- and post-synaptic membranes

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15
Q

What are excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSPs) caused by?

A

Opening Na+ channels leading to depolarization

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16
Q

What do inhibitory post-synaptic potentials (IPSPs) do?

A

Hyperpolarize the neuron and move the potential away from the firing threshold
-K+ channels

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17
Q

What is temporal summation in neural processing?

A

PSPs in close succession overlap and add together

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18
Q

What is the most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain?

A

Glutamate

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19
Q

What is the role of GABA in the brain?

A

It acts as the most common inhibitory neurotransmitter

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20
Q

What effect does dopamine have in the brain?

A

It can be excitatory, inhibitory, or modulatory depending on the receptor

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21
Q

What is the mesolimbic system associated with?

A

Reward and learning

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22
Q

What is the difference between agonists and antagonists in drug action?

A

Agonists facilitate post-synaptic effects, while antagonists inhibit them

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23
Q

What is positive reinforcement?

A

The presentation of an appetitive stimulus in association with a behavior

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24
Q

What is the result of anterograde amnesia?

A

Inability to form new long-term memories following injury

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25
Q

What did Cajal propose about synaptic connections?

A

They are modified by learning and can persist as memory

26
Q

What is the effect of dopamine antagonists on reinforcement learning?

A

They block reinforcement learning

27
Q

What is the role of the hippocampus in memory?

A

It is involved in memory consolidation

28
Q

Fill in the blank: The brain’s most common inhibitory transmitter is _______.

A

GABA

29
Q

True or False: The synapse is the junction where neurons communicate with each other.

A

True

30
Q

What is the process of classical conditioning?

A

Association between two stimuli and an automatic response

31
Q

What is terograde amnesia?

A

Inability to form new long term memories following insult / injury

32
Q

What is retrograde amnesia?

A

Inability to recall memories preceding insult

33
Q

Which brain structures are primarily involved in memory consolidation?

A

Medial Temporal Lobe & Hippocampus

34
Q

What does ECT stand for?

A

Electroconvulsive therapy

35
Q

Who is Henry Molaison commonly referred to in studies of memory?

A

H.M.

36
Q

What type of surgery did H.M. undergo?

A

Bilateral resection of medial temporal lobe including the hippocampus

37
Q

What type of memory remained intact after H.M.’s surgery?

A

Previous declarative memory

38
Q

What type of amnesia did H.M. experience?

A

Dense anterograde amnesia

39
Q

Is the hippocampus necessary for short term memory?

A

No

40
Q

What is the critical function of the hippocampus?

A

Consolidation of new memories

41
Q

What principle explains the strengthening of synapses through simultaneous input?

A

Hebbian learning

42
Q

What must occur for long-term potentiation (LTP) to be induced?

A

*The postsynaptic cell must be depolarized (by strong input)
*The postsynaptic cell must receive additional input (weak input)

43
Q

When was long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) first observed?

A

1966

44
Q

What is the cellular basis of all long-term learning?

A

Use-dependent strengthening of synaptic connections

45
Q

What does Hebb’s law state?

A

‘Cells that fire together wire together’

46
Q

What neurotransmitter is involved in long-term potentiation?

A

Glutamate

47
Q

What type of receptors are NMDA receptors?

A

Double gated – transmitter & voltage

48
Q

What happens when glutamate binds to NMDA receptors?

A

Opens Ca2+ channel, activating enzyme

49
Q

What triggers the insertion of more AMPA receptors into the membrane?

A

Activation of enzyme by Ca2+

50
Q

What is the result of low-frequency stimulation of a synapse?

A

Long-Term Depression

51
Q

What happens to inputs that do not contribute to postsynaptic firing?

A

They are weakened

52
Q

What do neurons work as in processing information?

A

A network of units

53
Q

How do drugs affect synaptic transmission?

A

In many ways

54
Q

What is reinforced behavior likely to do?

A

Increase the likelihood of reoccurring

55
Q

How are learned behaviors, experience, and memory instantiated in the brain?

A

As patterns of synaptic strength

56
Q

what does the cell body contain?

A

nucleus - DNA coding production of proteins which serve functions within the cell
mitochondria - produce adenosine phosphate - energry
-both used in processes within dendrites, axon and terminal buttons

57
Q

what are the supporting cells?

A

neuroglia
-half of brains volume
-central ns glia cells are astrocytes and oligodendrocytes
-peripheral ns glia cells are schwann and satelitte cells

58
Q

what is the role of oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system?

A

form processes which produce the myelin sheath

59
Q

how neurons work?

A

transmission - one direction, dendrites -> terminals
-dendrites & soma recieve input from previous neurons
-input changes potential of the neuron
-resting potential is the charge across the membrance at rest - membrane is polarized
-charge is caused by differences in ion concentractions and maintained by diffusive & electrostatic pressures

60
Q

what is the process of depolarization?

A
depolarisation
61
Q

what happens in the process of neural transmission?

A

NT molecule binds with a receptor -> opens ion channels and changes to the polarisation of the post synaptic membrane
-effects depend on ion channel opened: excitatory and inhibitory

62
Q
A

PSYC513 Exam One- brain,language, communication, memory and knowledge (5 decks)

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