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Psychobiology > Neurons, Neural Communication & Synaptic Transmission > Flashcards

Neurons, Neural Communication & Synaptic Transmission Flashcards

1
Q

what is the brain simply a mass of?

A

The brain is simply a mass of billions of neurons.

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2
Q

how much metabolic energy is from the brain

A

20%

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3
Q

what are neuron’s?

A

Neurons are specialised cells that receive and transmit information throughout the central nervous system.

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4
Q

how many neurons does the average brain contain?

A

80-100 billion neurons.

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5
Q

what does the soma of a neuron contain?

A

the cell nucleus

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6
Q

what is inside the cell nucleus

A

Chromosones and DNA

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7
Q

what is the cytoplasm

A

The bulk of the cell is made of cytoplasm

Cytoplasm is all the organelles (except the nucleus), structures and fluid within the cell.

houses the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and plasma membrane

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8
Q

what does the mitochondria do

A

Extract energy from the breakdown of nutrients to provide energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)- uses nutrients (predominantly glucose and oxygen)

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9
Q

what are the 2 types of Endoplasmic reticulum

A

Rough ER: contains ribosomes, involved in protein synthesis

Smooth ER: involved in lipid metabolism - It’s also involved in regulating calcium ions and processing toxins.

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10
Q

what is the Golgi apparatus

A

an organelle that processes and packages proteins and lipids for use inside and outside of a cell

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11
Q

what is the all or nothing law

A

The size and the strength of an action potential is independent of the intensity of the stimulus that generates it. Any stimulus that is sufficient to cause depolarisation to the threshold can stimulate an action potentia

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12
Q

can action potentials occur anywhere in the neuron?

A

no

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13
Q

what does the sodium-potassium pump use to transport relevant ions

A

Active transport

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14
Q

what is the resting potential of a neuron

A

-70mv

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15
Q

what is a refractory period

A

The refractory period is a state of recovery that occurs after a neuron has fired an action potential. During this period, another action potential cannot be easily produced.

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16
Q

during a refractory period can a action potential be sent

A

It depends on whether the neuron is in its absolute or relative refractory period.

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17
Q

where does an action potential begin in a neuron

A

axon hillock

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18
Q

How many sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) are transported by the sodium-potassium pump and to where?

A

2 K+ ions into the cell with 3 Na+ ions out of the cell.

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19
Q

4 major structures of the neuron

A
  • axon
  • dendrite
    -soma
  • terminal button
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20
Q

how strong is an action potential at the end of the fire compared to the start?

A

The same

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21
Q

what are antagonists

A

Antagonist neurons are neurons that are affected by antagonist compounds, which reduce the effect of neurotransmitters

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22
Q

how do antagonists work

A

Bind to synaptic receptors
Block neurotransmitters from binding to receptors
Reduce the amount of time neurotransmitters are in the synaptic cleft
Prevent the activation of a synaptic receptor

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23
Q

what are agonists

A

agonists mimic or increase
the action of neurotransmitters.

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24
Q

what is the function of nitric oxide in neural activity?

A

to augment blood flow to the neuron’s (increasing delivery neural fuel resources)

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25
Q

what is the purpose of Monoamine Oxidase A (MOA A)

A

an enzyme that breaks down serotonin before re uptake into the pre-synaptic neuron

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26
Q

what is neuroplasticity

A

the capacity of the brain to adapt and modify neural connections in response to experience

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27
Q

what is exocytosis

A

This is the process of the fusing of the vesicles with the cell membrane and the release of
neurotransmitters in the synapse

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28
Q

what is inside the cytoplasm

A

mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and plasma membrane

29
Q

what does the Golgi apparatus produce?

A

Produces Lysosomes to break down unwanted substances out of the cytoplasm & produces small packages used to transport chemicals (neurotransmitters).

30
Q

what is the plasma membrane

A

The layer that separates the in and outside of the cell. Selectively permeable ( some substances are able to pass through the membrane, while other substances are not able to pass through.) Holds everything together

31
Q

where is information in a neuron sent along

A

the axon

32
Q

how is information sent along an axon

A

electrical impulse called an action potential

33
Q

what is the myelin sheath

A

a fatty layer that wraps around nerve cells, protecting them and allowing electrical impulses to travel quickly.

34
Q

what are nodes of ranvier

A

there are breaks in the myelin called Nodes of Ranvier – Important!

35
Q

which 2 ways to neurons communicate

A

Electrical communication- within neuron
Chemical communication- between 2 neurons

36
Q

where is info in a neuron received from

A

dendrites

37
Q

where do synapses line

A

dendrites

38
Q

how is info received from other neurons and where

A

information is received from other neurons (via their terminal button) across a tiny gap called the synapse.

39
Q

when an action potential reaches the terminal buttons what chemical substance do they release

A

neurotransmitter

40
Q

what is a presynaptic neuron

A

a neuron that sends a message

41
Q

what is a postsynaptic neuron

A

a neuron that receives a message

42
Q

what is a catabolic reaction

A

breaks things down

43
Q

what is a anabolic reaction

A

builds things up

44
Q

neurotransmitters either ___ (stimulate) or _____ (blocks) the __ synaptic receptors on the dendrites of another neuron

A
  • excite
    -inhibit
    -post synaptic
45
Q

what is an action potential

A

how neurons communicate with one another

46
Q

what happens if a neurotransmitter excites the post synaptic neuron

A

the neuron is more likely to send a signal

47
Q

what happens if a neurotransmitter inhibits the post synaptic neuroon

A

the neuron is less likely to send a signal

48
Q

where does the action potential start

A

axon hillock- between cell body and axon

49
Q

how does an action potential move- what does it move by

A

saltatory conduction- action potential jumps down the axon rather than passing- jumping between unmyelinated areas (nodes of rangier). This saves energy and is much faster

50
Q

what is a nociceptor

A

a pain receptor

51
Q

what is the difference between A alpha nociceptor and C fibre nociceptor

A

A Alpha= myelinated- fast conduction, very quick and sharp pain

C fibre= unmyelinated so messages send slower, slow conduction, dull pain sensation,

52
Q

what is the membrane resting potential

A

electrical charge difference across. neurons membrane when it is not actively sending a signal

53
Q

where is a neuron more negatively charged

A

inside

54
Q

what is a neurons resting potential

A

-70mv

55
Q

when is a resting potential disrupted

A

voltage change

56
Q

what provides the energy for a action potential

A

unequal distribution of charged potassium and sodium ions in the membrane

57
Q

what is the starting point for an action potential

A

the membrane resting potential

58
Q

how many sodium ions and potassium ions are in a neuron and how many are pumped in and out

A

3 sodium ions pumped out and 2 potassium ions pumped in- maintains the negative charge in neurons

59
Q

what is an electrostatic gradient

A

positively charged ions attracted to negatively charged ions and vice versa

60
Q

why does sodium (NA+) try to get into the cell and why does potassium (K+) try to leave

A

na trying to get in as less na inside

potassium tries to leave as less potassium outside

61
Q

what is the diffusion gradient

A

high concentrations of ions are attracted to areas of low concentrations of ions

62
Q

if the voltage in a neuron becomes more positive then what is it called

A

it is called an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP).

63
Q

what is a Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP).

A

when the voltage in a neuron becomes more negative

64
Q

how is it decided wether a neuron becomes IPSP OR EPSP

A

depends on the flow of potassium and sodium ions in and out of the membrane.
And the flow of the ions is dependent on stimulation of the neuron by neurotransmitters

65
Q

what electrical pattern is seen in a action potential

A

0- resting potential
1- depolarisation
2- repolarisation
3- hyperpolarisation

66
Q

how does resting potential become more positive in EPSP

A

depolarisation

67
Q

describe action potential EPSP

A

EPSP depolarises postsynaptic neuron making it more likely to send a action potential

  1. resting potential- wants to be kept at -70mv. More sodium outside axon than inside - maintained by ion pumps
  2. depolarisation- when stimulated past the threshold (-55mv)- sodium channels open and sodium rushes into axon causing a region of positive charge - change of threshold makes inside less negative than outside
  3. repolarisation- sodium channels shut anf potassium channels open and potassium exits the axon. Cell returns to its resting state after depolarisation- occurs after cell reaches highest voltage after depolarisation

3.hyperpolarisation- potassium continues to exit after repolsaritaion causing brief undershoot in charge (too negative) - ion pumps restore balance - allows for refractory period- sodium out- potassium in.

68
Q

describe action potential IPSP

A

Makes resting membrane more negative

decreases likelihood of a action potential

when inhibiting neurotransmitters like GABA or Glycine kind to receptors on a post synaptic neuron causing hyperpolarisation

don’t involve NA+ influx

chloride ions enter and potassium exit- making inside more negtaive

membrane potential moves away from threshold (-55mv)

membrane may become -75mv or lower making it harder fr a neuron to fire

inhibitory neurotransmitters open CL- or K+ channels

69
Q
A

Psychobiology (5 decks)

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