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Behavioral Neuroscience > Neurophysiology > Flashcards

Neurophysiology Flashcards

1
Q

Neurophysiology

A

The study of electrical and chemical processes in neurons

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2
Q

Ion

A

An atom or molecule that has acquired an electrical charge by gaining or losing one or more electrons

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3
Q

Anion

A

A negatively charged ion, such as a protein or chloride ion

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4
Q

Cation

A

A positively charged ion, such as a potassium or sodium ion

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5
Q

Intracellular Fluid

A

CYTOPLASM - The watery solution found within cells

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6
Q

Extracellular Fluid

A

The fluid in the spaces between cells (interstitial fluid) and in the vascular system

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7
Q

Cell Membrane

A

The lipid bilayer that ensheathes a cell

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8
Q

Lipid Bilayer

A

The structure of the neuronal cell membrane, which consists of two layers of lipid molecules. Various specialized proteins, such as ion channels and receptors, are embedded within the membrane

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9
Q

Micro-electrode

A

An especially small electrode used to record electrical potentials from living cells

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10
Q

Resting Membrane Potential

A

A difference in electrical potential across the membrane of a nerve cell during an inactive period

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11
Q

Millivolt (mV)

A

A thousandth of a volt

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12
Q

Negative Polarity

A

A negative electrical-potential difference relative to a reference electrode

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13
Q

Ion Channel

A

A pore in the cell membrane that permits the passage of certain ions through the membrane when the channel is open

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14
Q

Potassium Ion (K+)

A

A potassium atom that carries a positive charge because it has lost one electron

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15
Q

Selective Permeability

A

The property of a membrane that allows some substances to pass through, but not others

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16
Q

Diffusion

A

The spontaneous spread of molecules of one substance among molecules of another substance until a uniform concentration is achieved

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17
Q

Concentration Gradient

A

Variation of the concentration of a substance within a region

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18
Q

Sodium-Potassium Pump

A

The energetically expensive mechanism that pushes sodium ions out of a cell, and potassium ions in

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19
Q

Sodium Ion (NA+)

A

A sodium atom that carries a positive charge because it has lost one electron

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20
Q

Equilibrium

A

Here, the state in which the of ions crossing a membrane in one direction is matched by the number crossing in the opposite direction

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21
Q

Electrostatic Pressure

A

The propensity of charged molecules or ions to move toward areas with the opposite charge

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22
Q

Nernst Equation

A

An equation predicting the equilibrium potential for a given ion based on the concentrations of the ion on opposite sides of a permeable membrane

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23
Q

Equilibrium Potential

A

The voltage across a permeable membrane that exactly counteracts the movement of ions from the side with the high concentration to the side with a low concentration

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24
Q

Goldman Equation

A

An equation predicting the potential difference across a membrane based on the concentrations of ions on the opposite sides of the membrane, as well as its relative permeability to each ion

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25
Q

Calcium Ion (Ca^2+)

A

A calcium atom that carries a DOUBLE positive charge because it has lost two electrons

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26
Q

Action Potential

A

The propagated electrical message of a neuron that travels along the axon to the presynaptic axon terminals

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27
Q

Hyper-polarization

A

An increase the membrane potential (the interior of the neuron becomes even more negative)

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28
Q

Depolarization

A

A reduction in membrane potential (the interior of the neuron becomes less negative)

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29
Q

Local Potential

A

An electrical potential that is initiated by stimulation at a specific site, which is a graded response that spreads passively across the cell membrane, decreasing in strength with time and distance

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30
Q

Threshold

A

The stimulus intensity that is just adequate to trigger an action potential

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31
Q

All-Or-None Property

A

The fact that the amplitude of the action potential is independent of the magnitude of the stimulus

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32
Q

Afterpotential

A

The positive or negative change in membrane potential that may follow an action potential

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33
Q

Voltage-Gated Na+ Channel

A

A Na+ selective channel that opens or closes in response to changes in the voltage of the local membrane potential; it mediates the action potential

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34
Q

Refractory

A

Referring to transiently inactivated or exhausted axonal membrane

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35
Q

Absolute Refractory Phase

A

A period of reduced sensitivity during which only strong stimulation produces an action potential

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36
Q

Axon Hillock

A

A cone-shaped area from which the axon originates out of the cell body. Functionally, the integration zone of the neuron

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37
Q

Conduction Velocity

A

The speed at which an action potential is propagated along the length of an axon (or section of peripheral nerve)

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38
Q

Node of Ranvier

A

A gap between successive segments of the myelin sheath where the axon membrane is exposed

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39
Q

Saltatory Conduction

A

The form of conduction that is characteristic of myelinated axons, in which the action potential jumps from one node of Ranvier to the next

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40
Q

Channelopathy

A

A genetic abnormality of ion channels, causing a variety of symptoms

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41
Q

Tetrodototoxin (TTX)

A

A toxin from puffer fish ovaries that blocks the voltage-gated sodium channel, preventing action potential conduction

42
Q

Saxitoxin (STX)

A

An animal toxin that blocks sodium channels when applied to the outer surface of the cell membrane

43
Q

Batrachotoxin

A

A toxin, secreted by poison arrow frogs, that selectively interferes with Na+ channels

44
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

The chemical released from the presynaptic axon terminal that serves as the basis of communication between neurons.

Also called synaptic transmitter, chemical transmitter, or simply transmitter

45
Q

Postsynaptic Potential

A

A local potential that is initiated by stimulation at a synapse, can vary in amplitude, and spreads passively across the cell membrane, decreasing in strength with time and distance

46
Q

Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP)

A

A depolarizing potential in the postsynaptic neuron that is caused by excitatory connections.

EPSPs increase the probability that the postsynaptic neuron will fire an action potential

47
Q

Synaptic Delay

A

The brief delay between the arrival of an action potential at the axon terminal and the creation of a postsynaptic potential

48
Q

Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential (IPSP)

A

A hyper-polarizing potential in the postsynaptic neuron that is caused by inhibitory connections.

IPSPs decrease the probability that the postsynaptic neuron will fire an action potential

49
Q

Chloride Ion (Cl-)

A

A chlorine atom that carries a negative charge because it has gained one electron

50
Q

Spatial Summation

A

The summation at the axon hillock of postsynaptic potentials from across the cell body. If this summation reaches threshold, an action potential is triggered

51
Q

Temporal Summation

A

The summation of postsynaptic potential that reach the axon hillock at different times. The closer in time the potentials occur, the more complete the summation

52
Q

Exocytosis

A

The process by which a synaptic vesicle fuses with the presynaptic terminal membrane to release neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft

53
Q

v-SNARE

A

Specialized protein anchored to vesicles to aid their fusing to the presynaptic membrane to release neurotransmitter

54
Q

t-SNARE

A

Specialized protein anchored to the presynaptic “target” membrane to bind v-SNAREs to dock vesicles, making them ready for release

55
Q

Synaptotagmin

A

A specialized protein that responds to calcium ions to trigger vesicular exocytosis

56
Q

Botulinum Toxin

A

A toxin that cleaves SNAREs, disabling neurotransmitter release

57
Q

Tetanus Toxin

A

A toxin that cleaves SNAREs, disabling neurotransmitter release

58
Q

Ligand

A

A substance that binds to receptor molecules, such as those at the surface of the cell

59
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

A neurotransmitter produced and released by parasympathetic post-ganglionic neurons, by motor neurons, and by neurons throughout the brain

60
Q

Receptor Molecule

A

A protein that binds and reacts to molecules of a neurotransmitter or hormone.

Also called a receptor

61
Q

Endogenous Ligand

A

Any substances that is produced within the body and selectively binds to the type of receptor that is under study

62
Q

Exogenous Ligand

A

Any substance that originates outside the body and selectively binds to the type of receptor that is under study

63
Q

Curare

A

An alkaloid neurotoxin that causes paralysis by blocking acetylcholine receptors in the muscle

64
Q

Bungarotoxin

A

A neurotoxin from the venom of the banded krait that selectively blocks acetylcholine receptors

65
Q

Agonist

A

A molecule, usually a drug, that binds a receptor molecule and initiates a response like that of another molecule, usually a neurotransmitter

66
Q

Antagonist

A

A molecule, usually a drug, that interferes with or prevents the action of a transmitter

67
Q

Up-Regulation

A

A compensatory increase in receptor availability at the synapses of a neuron

68
Q

Down-Regulation

A

A compensatory reduction in receptor availability at the synapses of a neuron

69
Q

Ionotropic Receptor

A

A receptor protein that includes an ion channel that is opened when the receptor is bound by an agonist

70
Q

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel

A

An ion channel that opens or closes in response to the presence of a particular chemical

Also called a chemically gated ion channel

71
Q

Metabotropic Receptor

A

A receptor protein that does not contain an ion channel but may, when activated, use a G protein system to alter the functioning of the postsynaptic cell

72
Q

G Proteins

A

A class of proteins that reside next to the intracellular portion of a receptor and that are activated when the receptor binds an appropriate ligand on the extracellular surface

73
Q

Second Messenger

A

A slow-acting substance in the postsynaptic cell that amplifies the effects of synaptic activity and signals synaptic activity within the postsynaptic cell

74
Q

Degradation

A

The chemical break-down of a neurotransmitter into inactive metabolites

75
Q

Reuptake

A

The process by which released synaptic transmitter molecules are taken up and reused by the presynaptic neuron, thus stopping presynaptic activity

76
Q

Transporter

A

Specialized receptor in the presynaptic membrane that recognizes transmitter molecules and returns them to the presynaptic neuron for reuse

77
Q

Autoreceptor

A

A receptor for a synaptic transmitter that is located in the presynaptic membrane, telling the axon terminal how much transmitter has been released

78
Q

Axo-Dendritic

A

Referring to a synapse in which a presynaptic axon terminal synapses onto a dendrite of the postsynaptic neuron

79
Q

Axo-Somatic

A

Referring to a synapse in which a presynaptic axon terminal synapses onto the cell body (soma) of the postsynaptic neuron

80
Q

Axo-Axonic

A

Referring to a synapse in which a presynaptic axon terminal synapses onto another axon’s terminal

81
Q

Retrograde Synapse

A

A synapse in which a signal (usually a gas neurotransmitter) flows from the postsynaptic neuron to the presynaptic neuron, thus counter to the usual direction of synaptic communication

82
Q

Dendro-Dendritic

A

Referring to a synapse in which a synaptic connection forms between the dendrites of two neurons

83
Q

Ectopic Transmission

A

Cell-cell communication based on the release of neurotransmitter in regions outside traditional synapses

84
Q

Varicosity

A

The axonal swelling from which neurotransmitter diffuses in a nondirected synapse

85
Q

Non-Directed Synapse

A

A type of synapse in which the presynaptic and postsynaptic cells are not in close apposition; instead, neurotransmitter is released by axonal varicosities and diffuses away to affect wide regions of tissue

86
Q

Neural Chain

A

A simple kind of neural circuit in which neurons are attached linearly, end to end

87
Q

Knee-Jerk Reflex

A

A variant of the stretch reflex in which stretching a tendon below the knee leads to an upward kick of the leg

88
Q

Convergence

A

The phenomenon of neural connections in which many cells send signals to a single cell

89
Q

Divergence

A

The phenomenon of neural connections in which one cell sends signals to many other cells

90
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

A recording of gross electrical activity of the brain recorded from electrodes placed on the scalp

91
Q

Epilepsy

A

A brain disorder marker by major sudden changes in the electrophysiological state of the brain referred to as seizures

92
Q

Seizure

A

An epileptic episode

93
Q

Tonic-Clonic Seizure

A

Also called grand mal seizure

A type of generalized epileptic seizure in which nerve cells fire high-frequency bursts

94
Q

Simple Partial Seizure

A

Also called absence attack

A seizure that is characterized by a spike-and-wave EEG and often involves a loss of awareness and inability to recall events surrounding the seizure

95
Q

Complex Partial Seizure

A

In epilepsy, a type of seizure that is characterized by a spike-and-wave EEG and often involves a loss of awareness and inability to recall events surrounding the seizure

96
Q

Aura

A

In epilepsy, the unusual sensations or premonition that may precede the beginning of a seizure

97
Q

Kindling

A

A method of experimentally inducing an epileptic seizure by repeatedly stimulating the brain region

98
Q

Event-Related Potential (ERP)

A

EVOKED POTENTIAL

Averaged EEG recordings measures brain responses to repeated presentations of a stimulus

99
Q

Optogenetics

A

The use of genetic tools to induce neurons to become sensitive to light, such that experimenters can excite or inhibit a cell by exposing it to light

100
Q

Channelrhodopsin

A

A protein that, in response to light of the proper wavelength, opens a channel to admit sodium ions which results in excitation of the neuron

101
Q

Halorhodopsin

A

A protein that, in response to light of the proper wavelength, opens a channel to admit chloride ions, which results in inhibition of neurons

Behavioral Neuroscience (1 decks)

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