Neural Communication Flashcards
Sensory Neurons?
Also known as Afferent which the sensory receptors send information about the environment to the brain and spinal cord.
Motor Neurons
Conduct info. from brain and spinal cord to effectors-muscles and organs.
Inter Neurons
Serve as intermediaries between sensory and motor neurons.
Phrenology
Pseudoscience founded by Franz Gall where he believed bumps on head showed intelligence.
Dendrites
Detect signals from axons of other neurons to cell body.
Soma(cell body)
nucleus-DNA.
Axon
long, thin fiber that transmits info from somas to other neurons, muscles and glands.
Myelin Sheath
Increases speed of action potentials as they travel along axon.
Nodes of Ranvier
Gaps in myelin sheath.
Terminal button, Axon Terminal
chemical messengers in brain.
Vesicles
Sacs in terminal button that store neurotransmitters.
Synapse
tiny gap between two neurons into which neurotransmitters are released.
Acetylcholine
Cause muscle contraction and involved in memory function-Alzheimer’s disease.
Dopamine
“Pleasure chemical” released with food, drugs, and sex.
Serotonin
Sleep and emotions-depression.
Norepinephrine
Learning and memory-anxiety, fear, and depression.
Endorphins
Regulates pain perception-Runner’s High
Glutamate
Excitatory neurotransmitter involved in learning.
GABA
Inhibitory neurotransmitter whose receptors respond to alcohol.
Glia
Non-firing support cells that provide structural support and nutrition and remove cell waste.
Refractory period
Minimum length of time after action potential during which another action potential can’t begin.
What’s the resting membrane potential of a neuron?
-70mV
Excitatory and Inhibitory
Increase/decrease likelihood that postsynaptic neuron is going to fire a signal called action potential. GABA and glutamate.
