Neuroscience and Behavior Flashcards
Neuroscience and Behavior
> many factors create why people function
>a mix of biology and psych
The Brain
> source of all thoughts, emotions, anxieties, fears, goals, and attitudes
all conscious experience in 2-3 lbs.
rest of body is life-support
neurons pass info to others
size: 100 billion neurons (connects to hundreds-of-thousands of others)
capacity: 100 trillion to 280 quintillion bits (DNA equals 5 billion bits)
The Nervous System
> processes information to make personality
neurons are found in brain, nerves, and senses
nerves: spinal cord, senses: passes info back to brain
some sensor receptors are modified neurons
Neural Network
> thousands of connections between each neuron
experiences change brain at neuro-circutry level
no two brains exactly alike
The Neuron
> basic brain cell (all shapes/sizes)
make up nerves & sensory cells
info flows as electrical signal (only out/down)
Dendrites
> passes info to other neurons (branch-like)
Axons
> takes messages away from cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands
Multiple Sclerosis- caused by degeneration of axons
Cell Body
> the cell’s life-support center
Neural Impulse
> electrical signal traveling down axon
Terminal Branches of Axon
> form junctions with other cells
Myelin Sheath
> “Schwann Cells”
speeds up/maintains neural impulses’ info
like insulators on wires (covers some neuron’s axon)
Synapse
> synapse/synaptic gap- space between one neuron and next (axon tip->dendrite/cell body)
1) vesicles contain neurotransmitters/electrical signals
2) neurotransmitters- allow chemical electrical signals to jump gap
3) receptor sites capture neurotransmitters
Action Potential
> when brain reacts and sends electrical signal(s)/nerve impulses
negative ions rush out, positive ions rush in
units: mV is 1/1000 of a volt
Resting Potential
> when neuron has no activity (result is negative number)
Refractory Period
> recharge stage of neuron after firing
>NEURON WON’T FIRE
Repolarization
> neuron restores negative charge with Na-K pump
Action Potential Properties
> all-or-none response (either fires or does not)
strong stimulus can change firing rate, but not fire strength or speed
changes pattern/rate/frequency to differ messages
intensity remains same throughout axon (always same size/shape/speed)
Neurotransmitters
> transport info across synaptic gap
>types: ACh, Dopamine, Serotonin
Acetylcholine
> deals with movement/learning/memory
Cholinesterase
> Cholinesterase (enzyme) breaks down ACh
cleans/recycles ACh
enzymes end in “-ase”
Dopamine
> deals with movement/learning/attention
>too much/too little causes problems
Serotonin
> regulation of mood/hunger/sleep/arousal (awakeness)
Parkinson’s Disease
Neurotransmitters & Diseases
> Parkinson’s- lose ability to move (low dopamine)
neuro-mottor condition
signals aren’t generated
treatment 1: artificially create LDope (raw component of dopamine), but does not cure disease
treatment 2: Deep Brain Stimulation- plant electro/battery pack (sends electric signals to stimulate cells)