Physiological Psychology: Chapter 2 Flashcards

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

Absolute Refractory Period

A

time immediately after an action potential, when the sodium gates close and the membrane cannot produce an action potential in response to stimulation of any intensity

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

Action Potential

A

rapid depolarization and slight reversal of the usual polarization caused by stimulation beyond the threshold

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

Active Transport

A

protein-mediated process that expends energy to pump chemicals from the blood into the brain

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

Afferent Axon

A

neuron that brings information into a structure

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

All-or-None Law

A

principle stating that the size, amplitude, and velocity of the action potential are independent of the intensity of the stimulus that initiated it

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

Astrocyte

A

relatively large, star-shaped glia cell

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

Axon

A

single thin fiber of constant diameter that extends from a neuron

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

Axon Hillock

A

swelling of the soma, the point where the axon begins

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

Blood-Brain Barrier

A

mechanism that keeps many chemicals out of the brain

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

Cell Body

A

soma; structure of a cell that contains the nucleus

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

Concentration Gradient

A

difference in distribution of ions across a membrane

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

Dendritic Spine

A

short outgrowth along the dendrites

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

Depolarization

A

reduction in the level of polarization across a membrane

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

Efferent Axon

A

neuron that carries information away from a structure

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

Electrical Gradient

A

difference in positive and negative charges across a membrane

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

Endoplasmic Reticulum

A

network of thin tubes within a cell that transports newly synthesized proteins to other locations

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

Glia

A

type of cell in the nervous system that, in contrast to neurons, does not conduct impulses to other cells

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

Glucose

A

a simple sugar, the main fuel of vertebrate neurons

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

Graded Potential

A

membrane potential that varies in magnitude and does not follow the all-or-none law

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

Hyperpolarization

A

increased polarization across a membrane

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

Interneuron

A

neuron whose axons and dendrites are entirely contained within a given structure

22
Q

Intrinsic Neuron

A

neuron whose axons and dendrites are all confined within a given structure

23
Q

Local Anesthetic

A

drug that attaches to the sodium channels of the membrane, preventing sodium ions from entering and thereby blocking action potentials

24
Q

Local Neuron

A

small neuron with no axon or a very short one

25
Q

Membrane

A

structure that separates the inside of a cell from the outside

26
Q

Microglia

A

very small neurons that remove waste materials and microorganisms from the central nervous system

27
Q

Mitochondrion

A

structure where the cell performs the metabolic activities that provide energy

28
Q

Motor Neuron

A

neuron that receives excitation from other neurons and conducts impulses from its soma in the spinal cord to muscle or gland cells

29
Q

Myelin

A

insulating material composed of fats and proteins

30
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

insulating material that covers many vertebrate axons

31
Q

Myelinated Axon

A

axon covered with a myelin sheath

32
Q

Neuron

A

cell that receives information and transmits it to other cells by conducting electrochemical impulses

33
Q

Node of Ranvier

A

short unmyelinated section of axon between segments of myelin

34
Q

Nucleus

A

structure within a cell that contains the chromosomes; also a cluster of neuron cell bodies within the CNS

35
Q

Oligodendrocytes

A

glia cells that surround and insulate certain axons in the vertebrate brain and spinal cord

36
Q

Polarization

A

electrical gradient across a membrane

37
Q

Presynaptic Terminal

A

tip of an axon, the point from which the axon releases chemicals

38
Q

Propagation of the Action Potential

A

transmission of an action potential down an axon

39
Q

Radial Glia

A

type of glia cells that guides the migration of neurons and the growth of their axons and dendrites during embryological development

40
Q

Refractory Period

A

brief period following an action potential, when the cell resists the production of further action potentials

41
Q

Relative Refractory Period

A

time after the absolute refractory period, when potassium gates remain open wider than usual, requiring a stronger than usual stimulus to initiate an action potential

42
Q

Resting Potential

A

electrical potential across a membrane when a neuron is not being stimulated

43
Q

Ribosome

A

site at which the cell synthesizes new protein molecules

44
Q

Saltatory Conduction

A

jumping of action potentials from one node to another by the flow of positive ions

45
Q

Schwann Cell

A

glia cell that surrounds and insulates certain axons in the periphery of the vertebrate body

46
Q

Selective Permeability

A

ability of certain chemicals to pass more freely than others through a membrane

47
Q

Sensory Neuron

A

neuron specialized to be highly sensitive to a specific type of stimulation

48
Q

Sodium-Potassium Pump

A

mechanism that actively transports three sodium ions out of the cell while simultaneously drawing in two potassium ions

49
Q

Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

A

chemical necessary for the metabolism of glucose

50
Q

Threshold of Excitation

A

level of depolarization at which a brief stimulation triggers a rapid, massive electrical change by the membrane

51
Q

Voltage-Gated Channel

A

membrane channel whose permeability to sodium (or some other ion) depends on the voltage diff erence across the membrane