Neuropsych

Question 1

CNS

Answer 1

The central nervous system, which consists of the brain and the spinal cord

Question 2

Sensory information

Answer 2

Information which is picked up by the sense organs of the body and passed on to the central nervous system

Question 3

Stimulus

Answer 3

Something that is detected by the sense receptors which the nervous system will react to

Question 4

Neuron

Answer 4

A specialized nerve cell which generates and transmits an electrical impulse

Question 5

Sensory neurons

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Motor neuron

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

Relay neuron

Answer 7

Passes messages to other neurons within the CNS

Relay neurons make millions of connections between each other, the sensory neurons, and the motor neurons.

Question 8

Excitation

Answer 8

When a neurotransmitter binds with a receptor on the next neuron and increases the chance that the next neuron will fire an electrical impulse

Question 9

Inhibition

Answer 9

When a neurotransmitter binds with a receptor on the next neuron and decreases the chance that the next neuron will fire an electrical impulse

Question 10

Neuronal growth

Answer 10

When a neuron repeatedly excited another neuron, leading to a change in one or both of the neurons

Question 11

Neurotransmitter

Answer 11

A chemical which is released into the synapse by one neuron, and picked up by the next neuron

Question 12

Reuptake

Answer 12

A process by which neurotransmitter is reabsorbed into the synaptic knob after it has been used during synaptic transmission.

Question 13

Synapse

Answer 13

The small gap between the dendrite of one neuron and the receptor site of the next one

Question 14

Synaptic transmission

Answer 14

• 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.

Question 15

Hebb’s theory of learning and neuronal growth

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Frontal lobe

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Parietal lobe

Answer 17

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

Question 18

The temporal lobe

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Occipital lobe

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Cerebellum

Answer 20

Small, wrinkled structure at the back of the brain which coordinates motor movement, dexterity, and balance, among other things

Question 21

Cerebral cortex

Answer 21

The folded outer layers of the cerebrum

Question 22

Localized function

Answer 22

A function such as language or vision, which is found in a particular area on the cerebral cortex

Question 23

Motor area

Answer 23

The area of the cerebral cortex concerned with movement

Question 24

Somatosensory area

Answer 24

The area of the cerebral cortex concerned with sensory feeling