Neuroscience and Behaviour Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Cell Body

A

coordinates information processing tasks and keeps the cell alive. Contains nucleus with chromosomes containing DNA.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Dendrites

A

Receives information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Axons

A

Transmits info to other neurons, muscles or glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

insulating layer of fatty material

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Glial cells

A

support cells found in the nervous system that provide structure and insulate nerve cells. Make up myelin sheath

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Components of neurons

A

Cell body, dendrites, axons, myelin sheath, glial cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Multiple Sclerosis

A

where myelin sheath deteriorates causing a slowdown in transmision of info between neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Synapse

A

Junction between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

Receive info from the external worls and convey this to the brain via the spina chord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Motor neurons

A

carry signals from the spinal chord to the muscles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Interneurons

A

Connect sensory, motor neurons or other interneurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Purkinje cells

A

type of interneuron that carries info from cerebellum to the rest of the brain and spinal chord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Bipolar cells

A

type of sensory neuron found in retina of eye

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Resting potential

A

difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of a neurons cell membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Action potential

A

an electrical signal that is conducted along the length of a neurons axon to a synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Refractory period

A

the time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Terminal buttons

A

Knoblike structures that branch out from an axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

chemicals that transmit info across the synapse to a receiving neurons dendrites

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Receptors

A

Parts of cell membrane that receive neurotransmitters and initiate a new electric signal. It is a protein embedded in the membrane that matches the molecular shape of a specific neurotransmitter molecule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Acetylcholine

A

a neurotransmitter involved in a number of functions, including voluntary motor control

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Dopamine

A

a neurotransmitter that regulates motor behaviour, motivation, pleasure and emotional arousal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Glutamate

A

a major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in info transmission throughout the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (Gaba)

A

primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Noradrenalin

A

a neurotransmitter that influences mood and arousal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Serotonin

A

a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating and aggressive behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Endorphins

A

chemicals that act within the brain pathways and emotion centres in the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Agonists

A

drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Antagonist

A

drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

connects the CNS to the bodys organs and muscles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

a set of nerves that conveys information into and out of the CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs and glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

prepares the body for action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

helps the body return to a normal resting state

34
Q

Spinal reflexes

A

Simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions

35
Q

Hind brain

A

area of the brain that coordinates information coming in and out of the spinal chord. Made up of medulla, reticular formation, cerebellum and pons.

36
Q

Medulla

A

extension of the spinal chord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation and respiration

37
Q

Reticular Formation

A

inside the medulla, regulates sleep, wakefulness and levels of arousal

38
Q

Cerebellum

A

Behind medulla, controls fine motor skills

39
Q

Pons

A

relays info from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

40
Q

Tectum

A

In the midbrain. Orients an organism in the environment. Moves it in a coordinated way towards a stimulus

41
Q

Tegmentum

A

In the midbrain. Involved in movement and arousal

42
Q

Forebrain

A

Controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory and motor functions. Made up of cerebral cortex and subcortical structures

43
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

Outermost layer of the brain. Made up of Corpus callosum, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, frontal lobe

44
Q

Subcortical structures

A

areas of the forebrain under the cerebral cortex. Include thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, limbic system, hippocampus, amygdala, basal ganglia

45
Q

Thalamus

A

relays and filters info from the senses and transmits the info to the cerebral cortex

46
Q

Hypothamalus

A

regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst and sexual behaviour

47
Q

Pituitary gland

A

master gland. Releases hormones that direct the functions of many other glands in the body

48
Q

Limbic system

A

Include amygdala and hippocampus. Involved in motivation, emotion, learning and memory

49
Q

Hippocampus

A

Creating new memories

50
Q

Amygdala

A

At top of hippocampus. Essential role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of emotional memories

51
Q

Basal ganglia

A

direct intentional movements

52
Q

Association areas

A

Areas of cerebral cortex that are composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to info registered in the cortex

53
Q

Primary visual cortex

A

Outermost layer of the occipital lobe, area where visual info is processed

54
Q

Primary auditory cortex

A

outermost layer of the temporal lobe where auditory info is processed

55
Q

Corpus callosum

A

connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of info across hemispheres

56
Q

occipital lobe

A

processes visual info

57
Q

Parietal lobe

A

processes info about touch

58
Q

Temporal lobe

A

responsible for hearing and language

59
Q

Frontal lobe

A

specialised areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory and judgement

60
Q

Heritability

A

a measure of the variability of behavioural traits among individuals that can be accounted for by genetic factors

61
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

used to record electrical activity in the brain

62
Q

Computerised axial tomography

A

recombines multiple X-ray photographs into a single image

63
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

uses magnet to cause charged molecules to realign to produce measurable field distortions

64
Q

Positron emission tomography (PET)

A

uses radioactive markers to measure blood flow in the brain

65
Q

functional mri (FMRI)

A

uses magnet to cause haemoglobin molecules to realign to measure blood flow in the brain

66
Q

Blood-Brain barrier

A

Semi-permeable barrier between blood and brain. Protects and helps to regulate the chemical balance of the brain

67
Q

How does the brain get nutrients

A

Small molecules like O2 and CO2 diffuse across BBB. Glucose and amino acids cross via active transport

68
Q

Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852-1934)

A

Used newly-developed staining
techniques to show that neurons are
separable

69
Q

Why does a neuron have a resting

potential of -70mV (rather than 0)?

A

It makes it possible for the neuron to respond quickly and actively to a stimulus via an action potential

70
Q

What is Hyperpolarization

A

increased (even more negative) polarization of the neuron. A type of Inhibitory postsynaptic potential
(IPSP)

71
Q

What is Depolarization

A

reduction of the neuron’s polarization towards zero. A type of Excitatory postsynaptic potential
(EPSP)

72
Q

What happens to sodium and potassium ions during action potential

A

Na+ channels open and ions flood into neuron. Then Na+ channels close and K+ channels open. K+ flow out of neuron. Then both channels close after refractory period

73
Q

saltatory conduction

A

how an action potential moves down an

axon towards another cell (in a myelinated axon)

74
Q

Who discovered the synapse

A

Charles Scott Sherrington (1857-1952)

75
Q

What occurs at the synapse

A

Neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles in the
axon terminals of the presynaptic neuron. When an action potential arrives at the terminals of the presynaptic neuron, voltage gated calcium channels open due to depolarization. Ca+ enters the neuron. this leads to release of neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. Neurotransmitters cross the cleft and attach to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.

76
Q

Ionotropic receptors

A

neurotransmitter directly opens some type of ion channels. The effect is fast and short-lived. E.g. muscle activity

77
Q

Metabotropic receptors

A

neurotransmitter opens ion channels indirectly & produces slower but longer-lasting effects. E.g. hunger

78
Q

Temporal Summation

A

rapid repeated sub-threshold stimulations of a presynaptic neuron added together

79
Q

Spatial summation

A

When IPSPs & EPSPs inputs arriving simultaneously at different locations on the dendrites and cell body are combined

80
Q

3 ways of terminating the neurotransmitter action

A
  1. Serotonin, dopanime, norepinephrine detach from the receptor and are re-absorbed by the presynaptic neuron (‘re-uptake’) for re-use. 2. Acetylcholine is broken down by acetylcholinesterase into acetate and choline (‘enzymatic degradation’). 3. Glial cells can reabsorb transmitters at some synapses (& influence synaptic activity by granting or withholding such absorption)
81
Q

Norepinephrine

A

is same as noradrenalin. Helps control mood and arousal

82
Q

Midbrain

A

The superior colliculi help guide eye movements and fixation of gaze. The inferior colliculi help sound localisation. The substantia nigra plays a role in reward, addiction, projects to the basal ganglia to integrate movements