Neuroscience (Lecture and Chapter) Flashcards
serotonin
3
mood, impulsive/aggressive behavior, appetite
too little associated with depression and ocd
GABA
2
associated with the nervous system and anxiety
some anxiety meds aim to increase GABA
Glutamate
2
learning, memory
associated with migraines
norepinephrine
2
alertness and arousal
too little associated w depression, too much associated w schizophrenia
dopamine
5
tension, frisson, movement, learning, impulse control
oversensitivity related to schizophrenia, too little related w Parkinson
acetylcholine
memory, sleep, involuntary movement
dendrites
a neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that recieve and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body
short
axon
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
myelin sheath
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
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory
action potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
resting potential (of a neuron)
the positive-outside/negative-inside state of a neuron when it is not firing (at rest)
refractory period
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
all-or-none response
a neurons reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing
synapse
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.
neurotransmitters
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
reuptake
a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron
agonist
a molecule that increases a neurotranmitter’s action
antagonist
a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action
sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
motor neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
interneurons
neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor inputs
Central Nervous System (CNS)
the brain and the spinal cord
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
transmits information to and from the CNS
Spinal Cord
bridge between the brain and peripheral nerves
somatic nervous system
branch of peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles
consists of sensory input and motor output
Autonomic Nervous System
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
Parasympathetic Nervous System
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
part of autonomic nervous system, maintains a quiet state
sympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy
mobilizes body for action, energy output… part of autonomic system
EEG (Electroencephalogram)
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
MEG (magnetoencephalography)
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
PET (positron emission tomography) Scan
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
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
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
fMRI (functional MRI)
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
brainstem
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
medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
the hindbrain
pons
helps coordinate movement and control sleep; responsible for sleep paralysis
sits just above the medulla, part of the hindbrain
cerebellum
coordinates voluntary movement, balance
the hindbrain
Reticular Activating System/The Reticular Formation
brain’s secretary, prioritizes incoming messages, allows multitasking
the midbrain
The midbrain
Reticular Activating System/Formation
Hindbrain
medulla, pons, cerebellum
the forebrain
thalamas, limbic system (hippocampus, hypothalamus, amygdala), corpus callosum, basal ganglia
thalamus
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
amygdala
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
limbic system
associated with emotions and drives
hypothalamus
involved in biological drives like thirst, hunger, sex, body temp… links to the endocrine system
forebrain, part of limbic system
hippocampus
involved in memory transfer from short term to long term
forebrain, part of the limbic system
Basal Ganglia
causes involuntary movement, involved in movement disorders
linked to Huntington’s, Tourette’s, and Parkinson’s
Corpus Callosum
connects the two parts of the brain and allows it to act as a union
thin surface layer of interconnnected neural cells
association areas
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
