Neuroscience & Behavior Flashcards
The Neuron
Basic unit of communication through the nervous system
3 basic types of neurons
motor, sensory, interneurons
The Action Potential
neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down the axon
Ion Channels
group of proteins forming a channel that spans a cell membrane, allowing the passage of ions
EX:
Na sodium
K Potassium
Threshold
level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Resting Potential
(-70mV)
before and after action potential is complete
Depolarization
sodium channels open and rush into the cell making inside more positive than outside
repolarization
sodium channels close, closes potassium channels
change in membrane potential from a positive to a negative value
Hyperpolarization
passes -70mv
refractory period
resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired, action potential can’t occur until returned to resting state
glial cells
play a role in learning and thinking
cells in the nervous system that protect, support, and nourish neurons
Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that travel across synapse and bind to receptors influencing whether a neuron will release an impulse
Acetylcholine
movement depends on release from motor neurons
Dopamine
supports anticipation of rewards
Parkinsons Diease
caused by deterioration of dopamine producing cells
difficulty starting and stopping involuntary movements
Schizophrenia
increased level of dopamine
serotonin
mood, sleep, anxiety, emotion
SSRI
norepinephrine
released into the blood as a stress hormone when the brain perceives that a stressful event has occurred
GABA
most inhibitor neurotransmitter
decrease associated with anxiety disorders and seizures
cannabinoids
endocannabinoids in the brain
motor suppression, movement, cold, pain relief
endorphins
released in response to pleasure and pain
endocrine system
glands responsible for production of hormones
somatic nervous system
nerves to and from spinal cord
carries sensory info to cns and brain
sends commands for muscle movement
autonomic nervous system
involuntary functions for survival
heartbeat
sympathetic nervous system
fight or flight system
releases adrenaline
Parasympathetic nervous system
repair system
calms body down to maintain energy
prenatal brain development
18 days past conception brain starts developing
localization
different functions in different areas
lateralization
different functions processed on primarily one side of the brain
split brain studies
two halves of the brain
left hemisphere: breaks everything down
right hemisphere: looks at whole picture, facial recognition
corpus callosum
bundle of axons that flow between two halves of the brain
between two hemispheres
forebrain
cerebral cortex, outer covering
frontal lobe
front of brain
brocas area
production of speech
temporal lobes
receives auditory info
werneickes area
lesion in lower left temporal lobe
cant comprehend language
parietal lobe
processes somatic info
occipital lobe
receives visual info
midbrain structure
relay station
signals between hindbrain and forebrain
involuntary movement and reflex movement
hindbrain structure
involuntary functions for survival
links to cerebral
dreaming and arousal
