Neuron Structure And Function Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Sensory neuron

A

-tells rest of brain about external and internal environment by processing Info taken from senses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Motor neuron

A

-carries electrical signal to a muscle, which will cause muscle to either contract or relax

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Relay Neuron

A
  • carry messages from one part of CNS to another

- connect motor and sensory Neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What’s Hebb’s theory of Learning and Neuronal Growth

A

-states that when one neuron sends a signal to another neuron, and the second neuron becomes activated, the connection between them becomes strengthened

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is Hebbian Learning

A
  • ‘What fires together, wires together’, so with every new experience, the brain rewires it’s physical structure
  • occurs through Long term potentiation (LTP)
  • this results in stronger connections between nerve cells and leads to longer lasting changes in synaptic connections —> responsible for learning and memory
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a synapse

A

-specialised gap between Neurons which the electrical impulse from the neuron is transmitted chemically

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is synaptic transmission

A

Refers to the process whereby messages are sent from neuron to neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What happens during synaptic transmission

A
  • electrical nerve impulse travels down neuron, prompting release of neurotransmitters at pre-synaptic terminal, then this is release into the synaptic fluid in synapse
  • the adjacent Neurons must then take up the neurotransmitters from fluid and convert them into and electrical impulse to travel down the neuron to the next synaptic terminal, this is repeated
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Examples of neurotransmitters

A

-serotonin and dopamine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is an excitatory potential

A
  • makes it more likely for neuron to fire

- if synapse is more likely to cause a post-synaptic neuron to fire, it’s called an excitatory synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What’s an inhibitory potential

A
  • makes it less likely to fire

- if the message is likely to be stopped at the post-synaptic neuron, it’s called an inhibitory synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly