Neuroscience and Behavior - Week 1

Question 1

Neuron

Answer 1

Specialized cell that receives and transmits information

Question 2

Glial Cells

Answer 2

Provide support and aid in information processing

Question 3

Dendrites

Answer 3

Information Input Zone. Thicker than axons. Fuzzy due to dendric spines.

Question 4

Stoma - Cell body

Answer 4

Information Integration Zone

Question 5

Axon Terminals (Synaptic Bouton)

Answer 5

Output Zone. Swelling at the end of axons

Question 6

Axon (Nerve Fiber)

Answer 6

Conduction Zone. Thinner. Surrounded by the myelin sheath in some mammals.

Question 7

Multipolar neurons

Answer 7

They have many dendrites and appear a mess

Question 8

Unipolar neurons

Answer 8

Single extension that branches into two after leaving stoma. Transmit touch information from body into spinal cord.

Question 9

Bipolar Neurons

Answer 9

Single dendrite, single axon. Found in the sensory system (like vision).

Question 10

Three components of a synaptic neuron

Answer 10

1) Specialized presynaptic membrane
2) Synaptic cleft
3) Specialized postsynaptic receptor

Question 11

Synaptic vesicles

Answer 11

Contain molecules of neurotransmitter. Found in axon terminals.

Question 12

Neurotransmitter

Answer 12

Special chemical used for communication between the presynaptic cell and the postsynaptic cell.

Question 13

How does neurotransmitter transfer occur?

Answer 13

Synaptic vesicles in the axon terminal get excited by electrical signaling and transfuse into the synaptic cleft. Neurotransmitter gets released into the cleft and interacts/binds with that neurotransmitter’s specific receptor on the postsynaptic cell membrane. This causes activity in the postsynaptic cell. After the binding, neurotransmitter cells diffuse away - THEY DO NOT ENTER THE POSTSYNAPTIC CELL.

Question 14

Axon Hillock

Answer 14

Cone-Shaped Enlargement on cell body from which an axon extends.

Question 15

Anterograde Transport

Answer 15

Moves material toward axon terminals.

Question 16

Axonal Transport

Answer 16

Moves organic material within the axon in both directions.

Question 17

Retrograde Transport

Answer 17

Moves materials toward stoma for recycling.

Question 18

Two functions of the axon

Answer 18

1) Rapid transmission of electrical signals along outer membrane (like a wire)
2) Slower transportation of substances within the axon (like a pipe)

Question 19

Three types of research design

Answer 19

1) Somatic Intervention
2) Behavior Intervention
3)Correlation

Question 20

Somatic Intervention

Answer 20

Alteration in the structure of brain or body to observe a change in behavior
Examples: Administering hormones, destroying brain regions.

Question 21

Behavioral Intervention

Answer 21

The behavior of an organism is altered and the somatic changes in the body and/or brain are observed
Example: Placing male mice in a cage together and measuring their testosterone levels.

Question 22

Correlation

Answer 22

Measure of how changes in one variable affect another variable
Examples: Extent to which memory alibi is related to a certain brain structure.
IT CANNOT ESTABLISH CAUSALITY!

Question 23

Reductionism

Answer 23

Understanding complex systems by dissecting the simpler parts.

Question 24

The Four Types of Glial Cells

Answer 24

1) Oligodendrocytes - Myelinate the axons of the brain and spinal cord
2) Schwann cells - Insulate axons with myelin in the rest of the body
3) Astrocytes - Star shaped and weave between blood vessels.
3)Microglial cells - Contain and clean sites of injury. Tiny and mobile

Question 24

Order of levels of analysis

Answer 24

Social Interactions with Others - Behaviors - Neural System - Circuit Level - Cellular Level and Synapse - Molecular Level

Question 25

Central Nervous System

Answer 25

Brain and Spinal Cord

Question 26

Peripheral Nervous Sysytem

Answer 26

Everything else that is not the brain and spinal cord

Question 27

The Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 27

Axons bundled together - nerves.
Two Branches: Somatic Nervous System and Autonomic (Visceral) Somatic System

Question 28

Somatic Nervous System

Answer 28

Nerves that connect the brain with the muscles and sensory systems.

Question 29

Autonomic (Visceral Nervous System)

Answer 29

Nerves that connect the brain with the viscera (internal organs). These are the involuntary movements of the muscles of the body.

Question 30

The Cranial Nerves of the Central Nervous System

Answer 30

1. Olfactory - Sensory
2. Optic - Sensory
3. Oculomotor - Motor
4. Trochlear - Motor
5. Trigeminal - Both
6. Abducens - Motor
7. Facial - Both
8. Vesibucochlear - Both
9. Glosssopharyngeal - Sensory
10. Vagus -Both
11. Spinal accesory - Motor
12. Hypoglossal -Motor

Question 31

Spinal Nerves of the Central Nervous System

Answer 31

8 cervical (neck)
12 thoracic (torso)
5 lumbar (lower back)
5 sacral (pelvis)
1 coccygeal (bottom)

Question 32

The Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 32

Divided into:
The Sympathetic Nervous System (Fight or Flight)
The Parasympathetic Nervous System (Rest and Digest)

Question 33

Sympathetic Division Functions

Answer 33

-Delivers the neurotransmitter norepinephrine to sympathetic nerves. .
-Dilates pupils, speeds heartbeat, relaxes airways, slows down the digestive system, constricts blood vessels in skin.

Question 34

Parasympathetic Division Function

Answer 34

• Delivers the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to parasympathetic nerves.
• Constricts Pupil, Constricts airways, slows heartbeat, stimulates digestion, dilates blood vessels in skin.