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PSY290 > Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission > Flashcards

Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission Flashcards

1
Q

Membrane potential…

A

…is the difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of a cell

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2
Q

Recording membrane potential (2)

A
  1. Position tip of one electrode inside the neuron and tip of another electrode outside the neuron in extracellular fluid
  2. Tip must be fine enough to pierce neural membrane without severely damaging it
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3
Q

Microelectrodes are…

A

… intracellular electrodes

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4
Q

Resting membrane potential (2)

A

-70 milivolts (mV)
(Potential inside neuron is 70mV less than outside)
Polarized state

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5
Q

Why are resting neurons polarized? (2)

A
  1. Salts in neural tissue are separated into positive and negative ions
  2. Greater concentration of negative ions in extracellular fluid
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6
Q

Random motion (3)

A
  1. Results in even distribution of positive and negative ions
  2. Ions in neural tissue kept in constant motion
  3. More likely to move from higher to lower concentration gradients (toward equilibrium)
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7
Q

Electrostatic pressure (2)

A
  1. Results in even distribution of positive and negative ions
  2. Like ions repel one another, and therefore cause a more even dispersion of ions.
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8
Q

Types of ions which contribute to the resting potential (4)

A

Na, K, Cl, various negative ions

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9
Q

Outside a resting ion, there is a higher concentration of…

A

… Na & Cl

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10
Q

Inside a resting ion, there is a higher concentration of…

A

… K & negative protein ions (which are synthesized within neuron)

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11
Q

Differential permeability

A
  1. Passive property that results in uneven distribution of ions
  2. K and Cl pass readily through neural membrane
  3. Na passes with difficulty
  4. Negative protein ions do not pass at all
  5. Specialized pores called ion channels allow movement of specific ions
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12
Q

Sodium-Potassium pumps (2)

A
  1. Energy consuming mechanisms in the cell membrane
  2. Continually exchange 3 Na inside for 2 K outside
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13
Q

Transporters are…

A

… mechanisms in the membrane of a cell that actively transport ions/molecules across the membrane

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14
Q

Neurotransmitters bind to __________ and have 2 effects.

A

Postsynaptic receptors

  1. Depolarize receptive membrane by decreasing resting potential
  2. Hyperpolarize receptive membrane by increasing resting potential
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15
Q

Postsynaptic depolarizations… (2)

A
  • are called excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP’s)
  • increase likelyhood that neuron will fire
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16
Q

Postsynaptic hyperpolarizations…

A
  • are called inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSP’s)
  • decrease likelyhood that neuron will fire
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17
Q

Graded responses (3)

A
  1. excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP’s)
  2. inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSP’s)

The amplitudes of EPSP’s and IPSP’s are proportional to the signal intensities that elicit them.

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18
Q

Transmission of postsynaptic potentials have 2 important characteristics:

A
  1. Rapid (assumed instantaneous)
  2. EPSP and IPSP transmission is decremental (decrease in amplitude as they trave through neuron)
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19
Q

Threshold of excitation (3)

A

Sum of depolarizations and hyperpolarizations sufficient enough result in the production of an action potential at the axon hillock

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20
Q

Action potential (2)

A
  • Massive, momentary reversal of membrane potential from -70mV to +50mV
  • All or none responses
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21
Q

Integration is…

A

… the addition or combination of multiple signals into one signal (over space and time)

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22
Q

Spatial summation (3)

A

Local IPSP’s sum to form greater IPSP

Local EPSP’s sum to form greater EPSP

Local EPSP’s and IPSP’s sum to cancel each other out

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23
Q

Temporal summation (2)

A

Signals produced in rapid succession at same synapse form a greater signal over time since potentials outlast them

If a synapse is activated before the previous postsynaptic signal has dissipated, the second signal will be superimposed on the lingering signal produced by the first.

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24
Q

How can a subthreshold excitatory stimulus activate neuron firing?

A

If it is administered twice in rapid succession, temporal summation will allow neuron firing.

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25
Q

Location of a synapse determines the neuron’s potential to fire in 2 ways

A
  1. Synapses located near the axon trigger zone better influence firing since IPSP’s and EPSP’s are decremental
  2. Some neurons have specific mechanisms to apply dendritic signals even if located far from the cell body
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26
Q

Voltage-activated ion channels…

A

… open and close in response to changes in membrane potential

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27
Q

When membrane potential is reduced to threshold of excitation… (3 phases [3, 2, 1])

A
  1. Rising phase
    Na channel opens
    Na ions rush in
    K channels open
    K ions flow out
  2. Repolarization
    K ions continue to flow out
    K channels gradually close as resting potential is reached
  3. Hyperpolarization
    Since closing of K channel is gradual, membrane potential dips below resting potential
28
Q

Absolute refractory period…

A

… is the 1 to 2 milisecond interval following firing of action potential where it is impossible to fire a second action potential

29
Q

Relative refractory period (2)

A
  1. Period after firing of action potential where it is possible to fire a second action potential, but only with higher-than-normal levels of stimulation
    * *(Period where higher stimulation required to fire second action potential)**
  2. At end of period, required stimulation for firing of action potential returns to baseline
30
Q

Refractory period causes two important characteristics of neural activity:

A
  1. Action potentials travel along axons in only one direction
  2. Rate of neural firing is related to intensity of stimulation
31
Q

Unlike EPSP’s and IPSP’s, action potentials are… (2)

A
  1. nondecremental as they travel along axonal membrane
  2. conducted slower
32
Q

Which neural signals are active, and which are passive?

A

Active: postsynaptic signals (IPSP’s and EPSP’s)

Passive: action potentials

33
Q

Antidromic conduction

A

If electrical stimulation applied to terminal end of axon is strong enough, an action potential will be generated which will travel toward the cell body.

34
Q

Orthodromix conduction

A

Action potential generated in the natural direction (cell body to terminal buttons)

35
Q

Myelin is…

A

… fatty tissue which insulate axon (create myelin sheath)

36
Q

Nodes of Ranvier are…

A

… the gaps between adjacent myelin segments

37
Q

Saltatory conduction

A

transmission of action potential in myelinated axons

38
Q

Axons with a larger diameter allow for…

A

… faster transmission of action potentials

39
Q

Mammalian motor neurons… (2)

A
  1. Synapse on skeletal muscles
  2. Large and unmyelinated
40
Q

Interneurons (3)

A

Neurons without axon or with very short axons

Many do not display action potentials

Conduction is usually passive and decremental

41
Q

Axodendritic synapses

A

synapses of axon terminal buttons on dendrites

42
Q

Axosomatic synapses

A

synapses of axon terminal buttons on somas (cell bodies)

43
Q

Dendrodendritic synapses are…

A

… capable of transmission in both directions

44
Q

Axoaxonic synapses can…

A

… mediate presynaptic facilitation and inhibition, which can selectively influence a particular synapse rather than entire presynaptic neuron

45
Q

Directed synapses

A

Neurotransmitter release and reception are close in proximity

46
Q

Nondirected synapses (“string of beads synapses”) (2)

A

Neurotransmitter release and reception are distanced

Neurotransmitters emitted from varicosities (bulges/swellings) along axon

47
Q

Small neurotransmitters (3)

A
  1. Synthesized in cytoplasm of terminal button
  2. Packaged in synaptic vesicles by Golgi Complex
  3. Stored in clusters next to presynaptic membrane
48
Q

Large neurotransmitters

A
  1. Neuropeptides (3 to 36 amino acids)
  2. Assembled by ribosomes, packaged by Golgi Complex, transported by microtubules to terminal buttons
49
Q

Coexistence in neurons is…

A

… the presence of two different neutransmitters

50
Q

Exocytosis is…

A

… the process of releasing neurotransmitters

51
Q

Exocytosis mechanism (3)

A
  1. Action potential stimulated opening of Ca channels
  2. Ca enters and synaptic vesicles bind to membrane
  3. Vesicles empty contents into synaptic cleft
52
Q

Neurotransmitters are considered ligands because…

A

… each one binds to a receptor protein

53
Q

Receptor subtypes are…

A

… different types of receptions to which a specific neurotransmitter can bind

54
Q

Ionotropic receptors are…

A

… receptors associated with ligand activated ion channels (induces immediate postsynaptic signal)

55
Q

Metabotropic receptors are…

A

… receptors associated with signal proteins (inside cell) and G proteins (outside cell)

56
Q

G protein importance (3)

A
  1. When a neurotransmitter binds to a metabotropic receptor, a subunit of G protein dissociates
  2. This subunit may bind to a nearby ion channel or
  3. may trigger synthesis of “second messenger” which may influence neuron activity and bind to DNA to influence genetic expression)
57
Q

Autoreceptors (3)

A

metabotropic receptors that have two unconventional characteristics:

  1. Bind to own neuron’s neurotransmitter
  2. Monitors amount of neurotransmitters in synapse and controls release levels
58
Q

Reuptake

A

Majority of neurotransmitters immediately drawn back into buttons by transporter mechanism

59
Q

Enzymatic degredation

A

Breakdown of neurotransmitters via enzymatic activity

60
Q

4 common amino-acid neurotransmitters

A
  1. Glutamine
  2. Aspartate
  3. Glycine
  4. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
61
Q

4 monoamine neurotransmitters

A
  1. Dopamine
  2. Epinephrine
  3. Norepinephrine
  4. Serotonin
62
Q

3 catecholamines (monoamines) (4)

A
  1. Dopamine
  2. Epinephrine
  3. Norepinephrine

Synthesized from tyrosine

63
Q

Acetylcholine (3)

A
  1. Small
  2. Acetyl + choline
  3. Enzyme: acetylcholinesterase
  4. Neurons that releace ACh are cholinergic
64
Q

Soluble-gas neurotransmitters (3)

A
  1. e.g. nitric oxide and carbon monoxide
  2. passes through membranes since lipid soluble
  3. stimulate production of second messengers
65
Q

Endocannabinoids

A

e.g. anandamine

66
Q

What is the maximum velocity of conduction in human neurons?

A

60m/s

67
Q

Indolamines

A

synthesized from tryptophan

e.g. serotonin

PSY290 (4 decks)

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