Neuroscience Quiz Flashcards
What is the name of the gap between a sending neuron and a receiving neuron?
a synapse
Where are neurotransmitters released?
synaptic vesicles
How are axons and dendrites generally categorized in terms of their roles?
Dendrites usually receive signals, while axons typically transmit them
What is the function and structure of an axon?
carry nerve impulses, also known as action potentials, away from the neuron’s cell body to communicate with other neurons, muscle cells, or glands.
What factors determine the conduction velocity of an action potential?
myelin sheath thickness and internode distance
Where do action potentials begin, and where are they regenerated?
the axon hillock
What do neurotransmitters bind to when released into the spatial junctions between neurons?
receptors
How would you describe an action potential?
a rapid sequence of changes in the voltage across a membrane.
What ions are primarily involved in the propagation of an action potential?
sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) ions
what is the term for the change in membrane voltage of the postsynaptic cell due to the influx of positively charged ions?
excitatory postsynaptic potential
What disease is associated with the deterioration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra?
Parkinson’s disease
Where are the language areas typically located in the brain?
frontal lobes and the temporal lobe
Which area of the brain is most responsible for vital functions such as respiration?
Medulla Oblongata
Which nervous system controls the heart, intestines, and other organs?
autonomic nervous system
Which brain structure is primarily responsible for homeostasis and survival behaviors like reproduction and feeding?
hypothalamus
In which lobe is the primary visual cortex located
occipital lobe
During a stress response, what gland or structure is activated by the release of pituitary tropic hormones?
anterior pituitary
To which side of the body does the right hemisphere’s somatosensory cortex primarily respond?
left
If a person’s executive functions suddenly change, which part of the brain might be affected?
frontal lobe
What is the major role of the hippocampus?
learning and memory
