Neuroscience

Question 1

What does a neuron consist of?

Answer 1

Cell body, dendrites and axon

Question 2

What is a synapse?

Answer 2

The small gap between axons where neurotransmitters are released, permitting signalling between neurons.

Question 3

What is an action potential?

Answer 3

A sudden change (depolarization and repolarization) in the electrical properties of the neuron membrane and in an axon.

Question 4

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 4

Chemicals that are released by one neuron and that affect the properties of other neurons.

Question 5

True or False? A small proportion of neurons also signal electrically.

Answer 5

True (e.g. the retinal gap junction)

Question 6

True or False? Neurons can regenerate.

Answer 6

True (e.g. dentate gyrus neurons)

Question 7

What are gatekeepers?

Answer 7

Sodium and potassium ions which keep the balance between the inside/outside of the neuron membrane (-70mV) resting potential

Question 8

Give examples of neurotransmitters.

Answer 8

-GABA (inhibition), glutamate (excitation) =these are found throughout the brain
-Serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, noradrenaline

Question 9

What are gray and white matter made up of?

Answer 9

Gray matter=neuronal cell bodies
White matter=axons and support cells (glia)

Question 10

How many ventricles does the brain has filled with cerebrospinal fluid?

Answer 10

4

Question 11

What is the central nervous system made up of?

Answer 11

Brain and spinal cord

Question 12

What is the brain made up of?

Answer 12

Hindbrain, midbrain, diencephalon, forebrain

Question 13

What is the hindbrain made up of?

Answer 13

Cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata

Question 14

What is the midbrain made up of?

Answer 14

Substantia nigra, superior and inferior colliculi

Question 15

What is the diencephalon made up of?

Answer 15

Thalamus, hypothalamus, mamillary bodies

Question 16

What is the forebrain made up of?

Answer 16

Cerebrum/Telencephalon (Cerebral cortex, limbic system) and Basal ganglia (Cingulate cortex, Caudate+ Putamen=Striatum, Putamen+Globus pallidus=Lentiform nucleus)

Question 17

What is the cerebral cortex made up of?

Answer 17

Frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital lobes.

Question 18

What are the 4 ways to divide the regions of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 18

-Pattern of gyri and sulci
-Broadmann’s areas (cythoarchitecture)
-Function
-Connectivity

Question 19

What is the function of basal ganglia?

Answer 19

Motor activity (programming and termination of action)

Question 20

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 20

Sensory relay for all senses (except smell)

Question 21

What is the function of superior and inferior colliculi?

Answer 21

The superior colliculi integrates information from the senses (vision, hearing, touch), and the inferior one auditory processing

Question 21

Hemispatial neglect is caused by:

Answer 21

Damage to the right parietal lobe (inferior parietal lobule typically), part of the dorsal/ where stream

Question 22

Explicit memory is located in:

Answer 22

Medial temporal lobe

Question 23

Implicit memory is located in:

Answer 23

-Priming -> neocortex
-Procedural -> striatum
-Conditioning -> amygdala (emotional) and cerebellum (motor)
-Non-associative learning (habituation/sensitization) -> reflex pathways

Question 24

What do James-Lange and Cannon-Bard theories of emotion state?

Answer 24

James-Lange: body states first, emotion second
Cannon-Bard: perception first (brain state), emotion second

Question 25

What is Kluver-Bucy’s syndrome caused by?

Answer 25

Damage to amygdala (problem with fear processing)

Question 26

Disgust and interoception are processed in:

Answer 26

Insula

Question 27

Orbito-frontal cortex’s function is:

Answer 27

Processing of contextual emotions and feelings (+exctinction)

Question 28

Anterior cingulate cortex is responsible for response evaluation, automatic responses, pain. True or false?

Answer 28

True

Question 29

Ventral striatum is responsible for rewards. True or false?

Answer 29

True