Neuron & The Brain Flashcards
Dendrite
The neuron receives chemical neurotransmitter signals from other neurons
Soma and Hillock
Chemical signal = electrical current
Hillock
The decision zone - if the electrical current is sufficiently strong, it triggers the neuron to fire and sends an electrical signal down the axon to the terminal.
Axon Terminal
Part of the neuron that releases neurotransmitters through the synapse
Synapse
The space between two neurons where the neurotransmitter is transferred to another neuron.
Ions with Positive Charge
Sodium, Calcium, and Potassium
Ions with Negative Charge
Chloride
Frontal Cortex (Forehead area)
Planning, decision making, and movement
Somatosensory cortex (top of head)
Sense of touch (tactile sensory)
The brain has a map of each part of the brain
Visual Cortex (back of head, behind the ears)
a sense of the visual world
Association Cortex (temple area)
Sensory information together (sight, sound, smell, touch)
Processes sound and speech and generates language
Hippocampus
Memory formation and retrieval Spatial memory, and autobiographical memory
Amygdala
Negative emotion (fear, anger)
Mid-brain
Houses the neuron cells that travel through the brain
Regulates mood, appetite, motivation, pleasure, pain, attention, sleep, wakefulness, and sexual arousal.
Receptor
The protein that is altered by the drug through a physical interaction between the drug and the protein.
“Key” (drug) needs a specific shape to turn the “lock” (the receptor).
Two types of neuronal receptors
- Ion channel
2. G-protein (GPCR)
G-protein (GPCR)
Caffeine, opiates, hallucinogens, antipsychotics
Agonist
The receptor sends a message to the inside of the cell to communicate that it has been activated.
Antagonist
The receptor remained INACTIVE and no signal is sent to the inside of the cell.
Therapeutic Target
The target (receptor) that is believed to be the reason why the drug is effective to treat a disease condition.
Off-target effects
The interaction of the drug with other proteins that are not part of the therapeutic effect.
Can contribute to unwanted side-effects
Mechanism of Action
Change in neuron activity that ultimately changes brain function.
Affinity
The strength of the attraction between the drug and the receptor
Selectivity
Number of proteins that can be affected by a given drug
Basal Banglia
Initiating voluntary movement
Reward System (pleasure)
Decision making - predicting what happens next
Thalamus
Information Filter
Involved with consciousness
Hypothalamus
Endocrine system - hormone regulation - stress response hunger and satiety
