Neurons & Neurotransmitters

Question 1

The dark outer ring of the brain is called the ________, which comes from the Latin for tree bark.

Answer 1

cerebral cortex

Question 2

If you were to dissect all the cerebral cortex from a human brain and lay it flat on a table, it would be the size of a large __________.

Answer 2

pillowcase

Question 3

In order to fit such a large cerebral cortex into our relatively small skulls, our brains have a ________ appearance.

Answer 3

folded

Question 4

The cerebral cortex is important because it contains the ___________________.

Answer 4

upper functions, which determine humanity and personality

Question 5

What are the four lobes of the brain?

Answer 5

• frontal lobe
• temporal lobe
• parietal lobe
• occipital lobe

Question 6

The lobe most relevant to our mental health class is the frontal lobe, which is responsible for _________ ________. It’s the CEO of the brain.

Answer 6

executive function

Question 7

The temporal lobe is responsible for ___________.

Answer 7

hearing/sound and creating/understanding speech

Question 8

The parietal lobe is responsible for what functions?

Answer 8

motor skills, spatial reasoning, reading, memory

Question 9

The occipital lobe is responsible for which function?

Answer 9

sight/vision

Question 10

Deeper in the brain is a complex system of neurons called the ______ ______. Many of the psychiatric medications interact with neurons in this system.

Answer 10

limbic system

Question 11

Parts of the limbic systems include … (4)

Answer 11

the hippocampus,
the amygdala,
the hypothalamus, and
the frontal lobe

Question 12

What is the limbic system responsible for?

Answer 12

learning,
memory,
emotions (fear, anger, pleasure),
and basic drives (hunger and sex)

Question 13

a type of individual brain cell with which psychiatric medications interact

Answer 13

neurons

Question 14

Neurons don’t actually touch but communicate with each other via chemicals called _______________.

Answer 14

neurotransmitters

Question 15

basic structures of neurons include … (5)

Answer 15

dendrites 
cell body 
axon 
myelin sheath 
axon terminals

Question 16

Match the neuron structure to its function:

1. dendrites
2. cell body
3. axon
4. action potential
5. myelin sheath
6. axon terminals

A. the electrical discharge conducted along the axon
B. internal voltage is changed by dendrite trigger
C. protective covering of axon
D. the end of the terminal that releases neurotransmitters
E. receptors triggered by neurotransmitters
F. conducts electrical charge once voltage threshold is crossed

Answer 16

1. E
2. B
3. F
4. A
5. C
6. D

Question 17

What is a synapse?

Answer 17

A tiny gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the receiving dendrite of the next neuron

Question 18

Ways neurotransmitter signals can terminate (3)

Answer 18

diffusion
enzyme degradation
reuptake

Question 19

Define “reuptake”

Answer 19

neurotransmitters are brought back inside the presynaptic terminal where they can be recycled for future use

Question 20

Describe what it means for a drug to block or inhibit reuptake

Answer 20

More of the drug remains in the synapse, continuing to be active

Question 21

Three neurotransmitters that regulate mood:

Answer 21

dopamine
and
norepinephrine
and 
serotonin

Question 22

Excessive amounts of norepinephrine can lead to _______ and _________ since it activates the “fight or flight” response

Answer 22

anxiety, agitation

Question 23

Neurotransmitter that regulates voluntary muscle movements, along with attention, concentration, pleasure, energy, motivation, and mood

Answer 23

Dopamine

Question 24

the main excitatory neurotransmitter; the brain’s gas pedal

Answer 24

glutamate

Question 25

the main inhibatory neurotransmitter; the brain’s brake pedal

Answer 25

GABA

Question 26

three effects of increased GABA activity

Answer 26

reducing anxiety
inducing sleep
stopping/preventing seizures

Question 27

This neurotransmitter regulates attention and memory; medications that increase this are often prescribed for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases

Answer 27

acetylcholine

Question 28

This neurotransmitter is produced in a small region of the brainstem called the “Raphe nuclei;” neurons in the region stretch outward into may other parts of the brain, which is why this neurotransmitter affects mood, anxiety, appetite, and sexual function.

Answer 28

serotonin