Neuroscience Flashcards
absolute refractory period
a very brief period of time after an action potential, during which a neuron is completely unable to fire again.
action potential
a sudden positive change in the electrical charge of a neuron’s axon, also known as a spike or firing; action potentials a
afferent neurons
neurons that carry sensory information from the body to the CNS.
amygdala
brain area involved in processing information about emotions, particularly fear.
analogous
characteristics that are similar between species and that cannot be traced back to a common ancestor.
association cortex
areas of the cortex responsible for complex functions, including higher-order sensory processing, thinking, and planning—all of cortex that is neither purely sensory nor motor.
autonomic nervous system
portion of the peripheral nervous system that comprises the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
axon
the part of the neuron that carries information away from the cell body toward other neurons.
axon terminal
the end of a neuron’s axon, from which neurotransmitters are released.
Broca’s area
a brain region located in the frontal lobe important for speech production.
cerebellum
the part of the brain, near the base of the back of the head, important for motor coordination.
cerebral cortex
cerebral cortex
common ancestor
an organism that is common to the evolutionary history of two or more living species.
concentration gradient
the difference in concentration of sodium ions inside and outside of the neuron.
convergent evolution
the development of similar physical characteristics or behaviours in different species that do not share a common ancestor; occurs because of exposure to similar environmental conditions for different species.
corpus callosum
bundle of axons that allows communication from one side of the cortex to the other.
dendrites
the parts of neurons that receive input from other neurons.
depolarization
what occurs when the inside of the neuron membrane becomes less negative relative to the outside.
dopamine
neurotransmitter produced by neurons in the hind brain and involved in movement and reward mechanisms.
efferent neurons
neurons that carry information out from the CNS to the muscles and glands.
endocrine system
the system that controls levels of hormones throughout the body.
evolutionary psychology
field of study that examines how the process of evolution has shaped the body and brain via the interaction of our genes and the environment to produce our thoughts and behaviours.
evolution by natural selection
the differential likelihood between members of a species in their ability to survive and reproduce.
frontal lobe
lobe of the cortex involved in many functions, including movement and speech production.
glia
the cells that, in addition to neurons, make up the nervous system.
hindbrain
the part of the brain closest to the spinal cord that consists of the medulla, the pons, and the cerebellum; the reticular formation begins here and extends to the midbrain.
hippocampus
brain region important for certain types of learning and memory.
homologous
characteristics that are similar between species and that can be traced back to a common ancestor.
hyperpolarization
brain structure important for motivation and control of the endocrine system.
hypothalamus
brain structure important for motivation and control of the endocrine system.
interneuron
neurons that typically have a short axon and serve as a relay between different classes of neurons; in the spinal cord, interneurons communicate with both sensory and motor neurons.
ion channels
pores in the cell membrane that can open and close to allow certain ions into and out of the cell.
limbic system
a group of interconnected brain structures that are associated with learning, memory, basic emotions, and drives.
medulla
the part of the brain that controls basic bodily processes and regulates certain reflexes.
myelin
a fatty, white substance formed from glial cells that insulates the axons of many neurons.
neuroimaging
techniques that allow for studying brain activity and structure by obtaining visual images in awake humans.
neuron
a nerve cell.
neuroplasticity
the brain’s ability to create new neural pathways as a result of experience or following an injury.
neurotransmitter receptors
proteins in the membranes of neurons that bind to neurotransmitters.
neurotransmitters
specialized chemicals that travel across synapses to allow communication between neurons.
norepinephrine
a neurotransmitter that is important for arousal and attention.
nucleus accumbens
a brain area important for motivation and reward.
occipital lobe
lobe of the cortex at the back of the skull, important for processing very visual information.
parasympathetic nervous system
the part of the autonomic nervous system that is active during restful times.
parietal lobe
lobe of the cortex involved in processing information related to touch and complex visual information, particularly about locations
phylogeny
the development of unique species over time.
pituitary gland
brain structure that plays a central role in controlling the endocrine system.
pons
uppermost or anterior (front) part of the brainstem that includes the locus coeruleus.
postsynaptic potentials
electrical events in postsynaptic neurons that occur when a neurotransmitter binds to one of its receptors.
prefrontal lobe
portion of the frontal cortex involved in higher-order thinking, such as memory, moral reasoning, and planning.
relative refractory period
a brief period just after the absolute refractory period during which a neuron can fire only if it receives a stimulus stronger than its usual threshold level.
resting potential
the electrical charge of a neuron when it is at rest.
reticular formation
a complex neural network extending from the hindbrain into the midbrain that plays a central role in regulating consciousness and arousal.
serotonin
neurotransmitter involved in activity levels and mood regulation.
sodium-potassium pump
protein molecules in the membrane of cells that push out sodium ions and push in potassium ions.
somatic nervous system
all the peripheral nerves that transmit information about body sensation and movement to and from the central nervous system.
somatosensory strip
an area of the parietal cortex that processes tactile information coming from our body parts.
spinal cord
portion of the central nervous system that extends down from the base of the brain and mediates sensory and motor information.
substantia nigra
a brain region important in fluidity of movement and inhibiting movements.
sympathetic nervous system
the part of the autonomic nervous system that is activated under conditions of stress.
synapses
tiny spaces between the axon terminal of one neuron and the neuron through which chemical communication occurs.
synaptic vesicles
membrane-bound spheres in the axon terminals of neurons in which neurotransmitters are stored before their release.
temporal lobe
part of the cortex important in processing sound, in speech comprehension, and in recognizing complex visual stimuli, such as faces.
thalamus
an area of the brain that serves, in part, as a relay station for incoming sensory information.
threshold of excitation
the point at which the relative influence of other neurons succeeds in causing a neuron to initiate an action potential.
Wernicke’s area
an area of the temporal cortex important in helping us understand language.
