Neurobiology Flashcards
What are the functions of each of the following Central Core brain areas:
- medulla
- pons
- cerebellum
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
- medulla: regulates respiration, heart rate, blood pressure
- pons; regulates sleep wake cycles
- cerebellum: regulates reflexes and balance, coordinates movement.
- thalamus: major sensory relay center, regulates higher brain centers and peripheral nervous system
- hypothalamus: emotion and motivation, stress reactions
Describe the function of each of the following brain regions of the Limbic System:
- hippocampus
- amygdala
Hippocampus: formation of new memories
amygdala: governs emotions related to self-preservation
Describe the function of each of the follow brain regions of the Cerebral Cortex:
- occipital lobe
- temporal lobe
- parietal lobe
- frontal lobe
Occipital: receives and processes visual information
Temporal: smell, hearing, balance and equilibrium, emotion and motivations, language comprehension, complex visual processing
Parietal: sensory projection and association areas, visual/spatial abilities
Frontal: goal-directed behavior, concentration, emotional control and temperment, motor projection, coordinates messages from other lobes, complex problem solving, personality.
What are the common Excitatory and inhibitory NT?
Excitatory: Ach, NE, Glutamate
Inhibitory: Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
Basic functions of each of the following NT in the CNS: (function and malfunction)
- Ach
- Dopamine
- Serotonin
- NE
- GABA
- Glutamate
Ach:
- function: muscle action, learning, memory
- malfunction: dementia, alzheimers
Dopamine:
- function: movement, learning, attention, emotion, motivation, mood
- malfunction: too much = schizophrenia, too little = depression or parkinsons
Serotonin:
- function: mood, hunger, sleep, general level of arousal
- malfunction: not enough = depression, too much = mania
NE:
- function: alertness and arousal
- malfunction: not enough = depression
GABA:
- function: inhibitory (dials down brain function)
- malfunction: not enough can lead to seizures, tremors, insomnia
Glutamate:
- function: excitatory
- malfunction: too much = seizures
Describe how NT work and its involvement in an AP.
- synthesis of NT and formation of vesicles
- transport of NT down axon
- Action potential travels down axon
- AP causes calcium to enter presynaptic terminal evoking the release of NT
- NT attaches to reception on post synaptic neuronal cell body either exciting or inhibiting.
- NT may then be recycled and taken up back into the presynaptic cleft.
Describe the NT malfunction of depression?
molecules flow back to their original site (presynaptic membrane) instead of to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane.
What NT are involved in each of the following disorders and are they in excess or insufficiency?:
- Schizophrenia
- Alzheimers
- Depression
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- ADD/ADHD
- Drug Addiction
Schizo: EXCESS Dopamine. GABA, glutamate, and Ach may be also associated.
Alzheimers: Ach
Depression:
-INSUFFICIENCY of NE, Serotonin, and dopamine.
Generalized anxiety: NE and Serotonin
ADD/ADHD: dopamine and NE
Drug addiciton: dopamine levels affect by…
- amphetamines; excess
- cocaine: insufficiency of dopamine
- Nicotine: excess dopamine and glutamate
