Neuroscience (Lecture and Chapter) Flashcards

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1
Q

serotonin

3

A

mood, impulsive/aggressive behavior, appetite

too little associated with depression and ocd

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2
Q

GABA

2

A

associated with the nervous system and anxiety

some anxiety meds aim to increase GABA

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3
Q

Glutamate

2

A

learning, memory

associated with migraines

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4
Q

norepinephrine

2

A

alertness and arousal

too little associated w depression, too much associated w schizophrenia

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5
Q

dopamine

5

A

tension, frisson, movement, learning, impulse control

oversensitivity related to schizophrenia, too little related w Parkinson

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6
Q

acetylcholine

A

memory, sleep, involuntary movement

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7
Q

dendrites

A

a neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that recieve and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body

short

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8
Q

axon

A

the segmented neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

may be very long, projecting several feet through the body

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9
Q

myelin sheath

A

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

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10
Q

glial cells

A

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

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11
Q

action potential

A

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

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12
Q

resting potential (of a neuron)

A

the positive-outside/negative-inside state of a neuron when it is not firing (at rest)

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13
Q

refractory period

A

in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state

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14
Q

all-or-none response

A

a neurons reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing

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15
Q

synapse

A

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the recieving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap.

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16
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

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17
Q

reuptake

A

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

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18
Q

agonist

A

a molecule that increases a neurotranmitter’s action

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19
Q

antagonist

A

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action

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20
Q

sensory neurons

A

neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

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21
Q

motor neurons

A

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

22
Q

interneurons

A

neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor inputs

23
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

the brain and the spinal cord

24
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

transmits information to and from the CNS

25
Q

Spinal Cord

A

bridge between the brain and peripheral nerves

26
Q

somatic nervous system

A

branch of peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

consists of sensory input and motor output

27
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

part of PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart)

regulates glands, blood vessels, and internal organs

consists of parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system

28
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

part of autonomic nervous system, maintains a quiet state

29
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy

mobilizes body for action, energy output… part of autonomic system

30
Q

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

A

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

31
Q

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

A

a brain-imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electrical activity

Researchers create special rooms that cancel out other magnetic signals, to isolate the brain’s magnetic signals
-when participants complete activites, neurons create electrical pulses, which create magnetic fields… the speed and strength allows researchers to understand how certain tasks influence brain activity

32
Q

PET (positron emission tomography) Scan

A

a technique for detecting brain activity that displays where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given tast

-Shows each brain area’s consumption of glucose; the scan can track the gamma rays released by this food as tasks are performed.
-PET-scan hot spots show the most active brain areas as the person does tasts

33
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy

-head is put in a strong magnetic field, which aligns the spinning atoms of brain molecules
-then a radio-wave pulse momentarily disorients the atoms; when the atoms return to their normal spin, they emit signals that providea detailed picture of soft tissues

34
Q

fMRI (functional MRI)

A

a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing succesive MRi scans. fMRI scans show both brain function as well as structure

-researches can watch as specific brain areas activate, showing increased oxygen-laden blood flow

35
Q

brainstem

A

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

brain’s oldest and innermost region

36
Q

medulla

A

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

the hindbrain

37
Q

pons

A

helps coordinate movement and control sleep; responsible for sleep paralysis

sits just above the medulla, part of the hindbrain

38
Q

cerebellum

A

coordinates voluntary movement, balance

the hindbrain

39
Q

Reticular Activating System/The Reticular Formation

A

brain’s secretary, prioritizes incoming messages, allows multitasking

the midbrain

40
Q

The midbrain

A

Reticular Activating System/Formation

41
Q

Hindbrain

A

medulla, pons, cerebellum

42
Q

the forebrain

A

thalamas, limbic system (hippocampus, hypothalamus, amygdala), corpus callosum, basal ganglia

43
Q

thalamus

A

the brain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory recieving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

forebrain

acts like a relay between motor and sensory systems

44
Q

amygdala

A

linked to emotion; healthy people with smaller-than-average amygdala’s display reduced arousal to threatening stimuli

forebrain, part of limbic system

related to our fear and aggression responses

45
Q

limbic system

A

associated with emotions and drives

46
Q

hypothalamus

A

involved in biological drives like thirst, hunger, sex, body temp… links to the endocrine system

forebrain, part of limbic system

47
Q

hippocampus

A

involved in memory transfer from short term to long term

forebrain, part of the limbic system

48
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

causes involuntary movement, involved in movement disorders

linked to Huntington’s, Tourette’s, and Parkinson’s

49
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

connects the two parts of the brain and allows it to act as a union

thin surface layer of interconnnected neural cells

50
Q

association areas

A

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking