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Psychology 104 > Neuroscience > Flashcards

Neuroscience Flashcards

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1
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

Receive information from external world and relays them to the brain via spinal cord

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2
Q

Motor Neurons

A

Carries signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement

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3
Q

Interneurons

A

Connects sensory, motor, and/or other interneurons

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4
Q

Does location matter for nerve cell specialization?

A

Yep

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5
Q

True or False: We use only 10% of our brains

A

False.
Why would we only use 10% of our brains? That’s a lot of space and a lot of blood wasted

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6
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

-Brain
-Spinal Cord
-Optic Nerve
-Retina

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7
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

Cranial Nerves

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8
Q

Neurons

A

The cell that receives and sends signals
-Depends on oxygen and glucose being constantly delivered to them
-Cell body, dendrite, axon

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9
Q

Glial Cells

A

Provide structural, nutritional, and other types of support to the brain

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10
Q

Dendrites

A

Tapered extensions of the cell body

Receive information from other neurons and pass them to the soma

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11
Q

Axon

A

Single cylindrical; may be many centimetres long; may be myelinated or unmyelinated

Conduct info to other neurons

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12
Q

Axon terminals

A

Transmit information to other neurons

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13
Q

Synaptic terminal

A

Spherical sac containing neurotransmitters

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14
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemical messengers that move between neurons

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15
Q

Synapse

A

-Synaptic cleft is the actual gap
-An intracellular site where fast, highly localized transmission of chemical and electrical signals occur

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16
Q

Can any receptor pick up any signal?

A

NO

Receptors are specific to specific neurotransmitters

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17
Q

Unipolar Neuron

A

Single process extending from the cell body
-Common in invertebrates

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18
Q

Bipolar Neuron

A

Two processes extending from the cell body
-Often sensory neurons

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19
Q

Multipolar Neuron

A

Multiple processes extending front the cell body
-Most common in vertebrates

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20
Q

What is the charge and chemical gradient of a neuron

A

“The Salty Banana”

Lots of potassium (K) inside the neuron
(-) charge in neuron

Lots of sodium (Na) outside the neuron
(+) charge outside the neuron

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21
Q

Resting potential

A

~ -60-70 mV Difference in electrical charge across the neurological membrane
-When the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited

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22
Q

Depolarization

A

-The reduction of a membrane’s resting potential so it becomes less negative
-Starts a chain reaction
-Leads to action potential

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23
Q

Refractory Period

A

When the neuron cannot fire = Absolute refractory period

Relative refractory period (action potential ma happen, but it needs to be a lot)

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24
Q

How do neutrons increase the intensity of a response

A

In order to increase intensity of response, neurons shoot more frequently

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25
Q

What do myelin sheaths do?

A

They make nerve impulses faster

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26
Q

Do neurotransmitters only trigger neurons?

A

No. Neurotransmitters can also tell neurons not to fire

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27
Q

Postsynaptic potential (PSP)

A

A voltage at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane

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28
Q

Excitatory PSP

A

A positive voltage shift that increases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials
-Caused by excitatory neurotransmitters

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29
Q

Inhibitory PSP

A

-Makes membrane potential more negative
-Makes it harder to cause an action potential

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30
Q

Reuptake

A

Reabsorption of neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane

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31
Q

Does a single neuron create a response?

A

ONE NEURON IS KINDA USELESS
You need millions to send signals

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32
Q

List four neuropeptides

A

-Endorphins
-Pituitary peptides
-Hypothalamic peptides
-Brain-gut peptides
-Opioid peptides
-Miscellaneous peptides

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33
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

First transmitter discovered
-Plays a large role in voluntary muscle movement
-Contributes to the regulation of attention, arousal, and memory
-Plays a role in sleep
-Often found in poisons (black widow spider venom have this)
-Causes massive release of ACh (leads to muscle pain, tremors, nausea)
-Botox causes paralysis by blocking ACh at synapses
-Alzhiemers is associated with low levels of ACh
-Nicotine behaves like ACh by binding to its receptors

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34
Q

Agonist

A

A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter

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35
Q

Antagonist

A

A chemical that fight the neurotransmitter

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36
Q

Dopamine (DA)

A

Contributes to voluntary muscle movements
-The reward pathway?
-Degeneration of DA is associated with Parkinson’s disease
-Over action of dopamine is associated with schizophrenia

37
Q

Serotonin (5-HT)

A

-Involved in regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating, and aggression
-Prozac and similar antidepressant drugs affect serotonin circuits
-Serotonin is not the solution to all mental issues, causes are multifactorial
-5-HT refers to the chemical name

38
Q

Norepinephrine (NE)

A

Both a neurotransmitter and hormone
-Associated with brain arousal, mood, hunger, sleep, and sexual behaviour
-Generates fight or flight response
-Increases heart rate, blood pressure, increased blood flow
-Drugs like meth and other amphetamines more

39
Q

GABA

A

Gamma-aminobutyric acid
-Only has inhibitory effects
-Contributes to regulation of anxiety and sleep/arousal

40
Q

Glutamate

A

Main excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system: participates in relay of sensory information and learning

41
Q

Anandamide

A

Binds to the same neurotransmitters as THC, the active ingredient in cannabis leaves (devils lettuce)
-Comes from the sanskrit word “ananda” which means joy
-Likely plays a role in eating, memory, motivation and sleep
-Occurs in both the central and peripheral nervous system
-Pain, fear, and healing?

42
Q

Endorphins

A

Neuropeptide

-Naturally occurring analgesic (painkiller)
-Both a hormone and neurotransmitter
-Mostly regulated by the peripheral nervous system
-Insensitivity to pain (oversupply)
-Hypersensitivity to pain (undersupply)
-Subtle euphoric effect

Exercise gives you endorphins, and endorphins make you happy, and happy people don’t kill their husbands

43
Q

Endocrine System

A

Series of glands the produce chemical substances known as hormones
-Slow chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream
-Effect linger longer, and effect more of the body

Pituitary gland is the master gland - It regulates many other hormone glands

44
Q

Neural Plasticity - Neuroplasticity

A

Your brain can change and adapt

45
Q

Early Development Neuroplasisity

A
  1. Growth of dendrites and axons
    -We need those
  2. Synaptogenesis
    -Formation of new synapses
  3. Pruning
    -Removal of extra synapses to increase the efficiency of a neural network
    -Occurs until about 10
    -Approx. 70% of neurons die off
  4. Myelination
    -Insulation of axons with myelin sheath
46
Q

Neural Plasticity and learning

A

Long-Term Potentiation of synapses
-A long lasting enhancement in signal transmission between two neurons that results from stimulation the synchronously
-Increasing the efficiency of neurons; making it more likely that neurons will fire
-Neurons that fire together, wire together

Structural changes
-Axonal growth
-Dendritic growth

47
Q

Neural Plasticity following Injury

A

Brain regions sometimes take over function previously performed by others
-Neurons don’t regrow or regenerate in the brain, but other regions can sometimes compensate

48
Q

What are the potential uses of stem cells in treating brain damage and disorders

A

Stem Cells
-Potential to offer treatment for Alzhiemers, stroke, Parkinson’s, Diabetes, Bindless, Deafness, Infertility, and numerous other thing

49
Q

Neurogenesis

A

Creation of new neurons in the brain
-Certain areas of the brain allow creation of new neurons (not common)

50
Q

Maninges

A

Three protective membrane that cover the brain and spinal cord
-Dura mater
-Arachnoid mater
-Pia mater

51
Q

Cerebral Ventricles

A

Small pockets that contain cerebrospinal fluid, that cushion the brain

52
Q

Franz Joseph Gall (1758-1828)

A

-All mental functions arise from the brain
-Mind and the body are not separate entities
-Brain consists of functional regions
-Also a proponent of phrenology (not very good)
-Brain has distinct functional regions

53
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

Outermost part of forebrain, responsible for analyzing sensory processing and “higher” brain functions

Cerebral hemispheres
-The two halves of the cerebral cortex

54
Q

Frontal Lobe and its parts

A

Consciousness

Primary motor cortex
-Responsible for body movement

Prefrontal cortex (frontiest part)
-Thinking, planning, language

Broca’s Area
-Language area in the prefrontal cortex that helps to control speech production and some aspects of speech comprehension

55
Q

Phineas Gage

A

Got impaled straight through the skull, and survived

Major personality changes (became more antisocial)

56
Q

Parietal lobe

A

Processes touch information, integrates vision and touch

Primary Somatosensory Cortex
-Regions of the cerebral cortex that initially process information form the senses
-Soma = Body Sensory = Feeling

57
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

Processes auditory information language and autobiographical memory
-Identified by the lateral Fissure/Sulcus

Wernicke’s Area
-Part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech
-Damage to it makes speech hard to understand (also makes people spew word salads)

58
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

Specialised for vision

59
Q

The Basal Ganglia

A

A group of nuclei located beneath the cerebral cortex
-Involved in goal-directed motor control
-Contains dopamine neurons and is closely associated with reward and motivation

60
Q

The Limbic System

A

A loosely connected network or structures located roughly along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas
-Plays a role in olfaction, motivation, memory

61
Q

Thalamus

A

Gateway from sense organs to the primary sensory cortex
-All sensory information (except smell) is relayed through the thalamus

Think mailroom in an office building

62
Q

Hypothalamus

A

The part of the brain that regulates the pituitary gland and is responsible for maintaining a constant internal state
-The four “f”s (fleeing/fighting/feeding/sexual behaviour (fortification))
-Body temp
-Hunger/thirst
-Sleep
-Emotional regulation

63
Q

Hippocampus

A

Part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory and may be necessary for the formation of new memories
-Damage to this region often makes it difficult to form new memories

64
Q

Clive Wearing

A

Had retrograde amnesia and anterograde amnesia
-Often confused and angry
-Was a conductor and musician
Able to play music because it relied in procedural memory

65
Q

Amygdala

A

Part of limbic system that plays a key role in fear, excitement, and arousal
-Makes you view facial expressions as emotional stimuli
-A contributor in fear conditioning

66
Q

Brain Stem

A

Consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla

67
Q

Midbrain

A

Part of your brain that contributes to movement, tracking of visual stimuli, and reflexes triggered by sound
-Plays a role in hostage situations? Snipers are trained to shoot this

68
Q

Pons

A

Connects the brainstem to the cerebellum

69
Q

Medulla

A

Part of the brainstem that regulates breathing and heart rate

70
Q

Cerebellum

A

Hindbrain structure
-Responsible for smoothie and finessing fine motor control initiated by other brain regions

Likely plays a role in;
-Executive function
-Spatial abilities
-Aspects of language

71
Q

Spinal Cord

A

The main way your body communicates with your brain
Sensory nerves send info to brain
Motor nerves send info to body
Interneurons are the intermediary

Interneurons connect sensory and motor nerves so info doesn’t need to go to the brain
Reflex Arc

72
Q

What are the two branches of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

Somatic Nervous system

Autonomic nervous system
-Sympathetic
-parasympathetic

73
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

Active during high stress states
-Gets you ready for action (fight or flight)
-Increase in heart rate
-Increases in respiration and perspiration

74
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

The system that activates during rest and digestion
-Sexual Arousal
-Digestion
-Urination

75
Q

Phenology

A

Was never accepted mainstream medical opinion
-The domain of immature doctors
-Popular in the victorian area
-Claims were anecdotal

Assumed they could measure the brain by looking at the bumps on a person’s head
“Getting your head checked out”

Note- your brain has the consistency of jello, it won’t change your skull shape

76
Q

Stereotaxic Methods

A

Ex. mapping a rat’s brain to lesion parts of the brain, then induce damage with precision, stitch head back up and examine behavioiur

Brain surgery is always performed while the subject is awake and alert
-Only local anaesthesia
-Advantageous for surgeons because the doctor can see if what they do is causing damage

Localized brain functions can be assessed by examining brain damage and seeing what behavioural issues arise from it
-Neuropsychological testing

77
Q

Electroencephalograph

A

Records the brain’s electrical activity at the surface of the skull

Pros
-Used in human and nonhuman animals
-Detects rapid changes in electrical activity
-Non-invasive

Cons
-Low spatial resolution (you can’t pinpoint the electrical activity with high levels of precision)

78
Q

Non-Functional Brain Scans

A

CAT scan
MRIs

79
Q

Computed Tomography (CT) - “CAT scan”

A

Uses multiple X-rays to construct three-dimensional images

80
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A

-Uses strong magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure
-Better suited than CAT scans to image soft tissue

81
Q

Functional Brain Scans

A

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Functional MRI (fMRI)

82
Q

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A

Invasive imaging technique that measures consumption of glucose-like molecules, yielding a picture of neurological activity

CONS:
People don’t like needles
They don’t like needles with radioactive materials

83
Q

Functional MRI (fMRI)

A

Uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using the BOLD response
-BOLD = Blood oxygen level dependent (active brain cells need more blood)
-Highly sensitive to motion
-Questions about data analysis (subtraction method makes it hard to really tell what the info means? is a signal excitatory or inhibitory?)

84
Q

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A

Enhances or interrupts brain function
-Noninvasive

85
Q

What is the problem in measuring neurons

A

Main problem in viewing brains is that neurons are so densely packed

86
Q

Golgi Stain

A

A neural stain that completely darkens a few of the neurons in each slice of tissue, thereby revealing their silhouettes
-Doesn’t colour all neurons

87
Q

Nissl Stain

A

Has an affinity for structure in neuron cell bodies

88
Q

Electron Microscopy

A

A microscopy technique used to study the fine details of cellular structures

Psychology 104 (10 decks)

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