Neurons Flashcards
Neuron
A type of cell that sends and receives messages back and forth from the brain to the body
Dendrite
Receive signals from other neurons
Excitatory(+)
Increases likelihood of a neuron firing
Inhibitory(-)
Decreases likelihood of a neuron firing
Cell Body
Sums up the pluses and minuses
Axon
Where the neuron firing happens when you reach a certain amount of pluses(much longer than dendrites)
Myelin sheath
Fatty tissue surrounding the axon
Sensory neuron
Take in information from the environment
Motor neuron
Goes from the brain to your motor control
Interneurons
Connects different neurons with making contact with the outside world
Subcortical structures
Structures below the cortex in the center of the brain
Medulla
Autonomic functions - heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, swallowing, etc.
Cerebellum
Autonomic functions - complicated motor movements, mental + sensory tasks, automation of tasks
Hypothalamus
Autonomic functions - hunger, thirst, body temperature, etc.
Cerebral cortex
The outer layer on top of the cerebrum; where reasoning and language comes from
