Neuropsych Flashcards
CNS
The central nervous system, which consists of the brain and the spinal cord
Sensory information
Information which is picked up by the sense organs of the body and passed on to the central nervous system
Stimulus
Something that is detected by the sense receptors which the nervous system will react to
Neuron
A specialized nerve cell which generates and transmits an electrical impulse
Sensory neurons
Carry information from the sense organs to the CNS.
They have a cell body with two ‘stems’ on either side. One end receives information from the sense organs, and the other passes it on.
Each stem ends in small branches called dendrites, which spread out and connect with other cells
Motor neuron
Stimulates the muscles for movement. Motor neurons send messages from the brain to the muscles.
They begin in the spinal cord, and a long axon leads to the muscle where it divides into a spread-out set of dendrites called the motor end plate which connects with the muscles.
Relay neuron
Passes messages to other neurons within the CNS
Relay neurons make millions of connections between each other, the sensory neurons, and the motor neurons.
Excitation
When a neurotransmitter binds with a receptor on the next neuron and increases the chance that the next neuron will fire an electrical impulse
Inhibition
When a neurotransmitter binds with a receptor on the next neuron and decreases the chance that the next neuron will fire an electrical impulse
Neuronal growth
When a neuron repeatedly excited another neuron, leading to a change in one or both of the neurons
Neurotransmitter
A chemical which is released into the synapse by one neuron, and picked up by the next neuron
Reuptake
A process by which neurotransmitter is reabsorbed into the synaptic knob after it has been used during synaptic transmission.
Synapse
The small gap between the dendrite of one neuron and the receptor site of the next one
Synaptic transmission
- Neurons pass messages to other neurons by releasing neurotransmitters into synapses
- They are relapsed from synaptic knobs at the end of each dendrite
- The synaptic knobs contain vesicles that opens and spill the neurotransmitters into the synapse when an electrical impulse reaches the synaptic knob
- The chemicals are then picked up at the receptor sites on the next neuron.
Hebb’s theory of learning and neuronal growth
Suggests that if a neuron repeatedly or persistently excited another neuron, neuronal growth takes place, so the synaptic knob becomes larger. This means that when certain neurons act together frequently, they become established as a connection and form neural pathways.
He argued that whenever we learn to do something we are developing stronger cell assemblies and the more we use them, the better we learn and hold onto the information in that neural pathway.
Frontal lobe
Controls thought, memory, planning, problem solving, cognitive and social behavior, and movement.
This brain region is often affected by traumatic brain injuries, particularly those caused by the forces that occur in motor vehicle accidents
Parietal lobe
Responsible for integrating information from other areas to form the basis of complex behavior, including all behavior involving the senses, so we are aware of our body position. it also helps with languages
The temporal lobe
Helps us understand and process what we hear. Responsible for the comprehension and production of spoken language. It is also involved in how we learn and organize information.
Occipital lobe
Where all visual information is processed such as color, shape and distance. Injury or damage to the primary visual cortex can cause vision impairments such as blindness or blind sports
Cerebellum
Small, wrinkled structure at the back of the brain which coordinates motor movement, dexterity, and balance, among other things
Cerebral cortex
The folded outer layers of the cerebrum
Localized function
A function such as language or vision, which is found in a particular area on the cerebral cortex
Motor area
The area of the cerebral cortex concerned with movement
Somatosensory area
The area of the cerebral cortex concerned with sensory feeling
