PSYCH 111 Flashcards
How many neurons are in the brain?
About 86 billion neurons in the brain
What is a neuron
A cell in the nervous system that communicates with others for information processing.
What are the three basic parts to a neuron.
Cell body/ soma, dendrites, axon
What does the cell body do and what does it contain?
Largest component of the neuron that coordinates information processing tasks and keeps the cells alive. Contains the nucleus which is where the chromosomes are.
What do the dendrites do?
Receives information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body.
What does the axon do
Carries information to other neurons, muscles, and glands
What is the myelin sheath?
Insulating layer of fatty material that cover many neurons.
What cells are on myelin sheath neurons?
Glial cells. They are supported cells in the nervous system.
What is an example of demyelination’s disease
MS and it is where the myelin sheath deteriorates and neural communication slows down.
What is the synapse
Junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or other cell bodies.
What are the three major types of neurons
Sensory neuron, motor neuron, and inter neuron
What does the sensory neuron receive information from?
Receives information from the external world and conveys this info to the brain VIA the spinal cord.
Where does a motor neuron carry signals from?
Carry signals from spinal cord to muscles for movement.
What is an inter neuron?
Connect sensory neurons, motor neurons and other inter neurons.
What are purkinje cells?
Interneuron carrying information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain and spinal cord.
What are pyramidal cells?
Triangular cell body, single long dendrite and many smaller dendrites. Found in the cerebral cortex.
What are bipolar cells?
Sensory interneuron in retina, long dendrite and long axon.
How are electrical signals conducted
Conducted down axons to their terminal ends
How are chemical signals transmitted?
From one neuron to another across a synapse
What is the resting membrane potential of a neuron?
About 70 millivolts
Inside the cell, is there a higher concentration of K or Na
High concentration of K and more negative inside the cell.
Outside the cell, there is a higher concentration of what?
Na and the outside is more positive.
What do active pumps do?
Maintain high concentration of K inside and NA outside the cell.
What is an action potential
An electric signal conducted along the length of a neurons axon to a synapse
What is the refractory period?
The time following an action potential when a new action potential cannot be initiated.
What are the clumps of unmyelinated points called along a myelinated axon?
Nodes of ranvier
What is saltatory conduction?
Current jumps from node to node
What do vesicles contain?
Neurotransmitters which are chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neurons dendrites.
What is the neuron that sends the information called?
The pre synaptic neuron
What is the neuron receiving information called?
The post synaptic neuron
What do dendrites of the post synaptic neurons contain and what do those do?
Contain receptions which are molecules in the cell membrane that receive and bind to neurotransmitters and initiate or prevent a new electrical signal
What is reuptake
Neurotransmitters absorbed by the terminal boutons of pre synaptic neuron.
What is enzyme deactivation
Breakdown by enzymes in the synapse
What is auto reception
Neurotransmitters may bind to presynaptic autoreceptirs and triggers the end of a neurotransmitter release
What is acetylcholine
Helps with voluntary control.
What is dopamine?
Motor behaviour, motivation, pleasure and emotion arousal. Plays a role in drug addiction
What is glutamate
Major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Most common neurotransmitter that increases Action Potentials.
What are agonist drugs
Drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter
What are antagonist drugs
Drugs that diminish the function of a neurotransmitter
What is GABA
Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Tends to prevent Action Potentials
What are nerves
Bundles of axons and the glial cells that support them
What is the nervous system
An interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical information throughout the body
What does the central nervous system consist of?
The brain and spinal cord
What does the peripheral nervous system consist of
Connects the central nervous system to the body’s organs and muscles
What are spinal reflexes
Simple pathway in a nervous system that rapidly generates muscle contractions
What is a reflex arc
Neural pathway that control reflex actions?
What are networks in the brain
Independent regions that work together to support complex psychological functions
What is the hindbrain
Continuous with the spinal cord. Coordinates information coming in and out of the spinal cord. Medulla, reticular formation, cerebellum, and the pons.
What is the medulla
Extension of the spinal cord into skull. Coordinates HR, circulations and respiration.
What does the reticular formation regulate?
Regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal.
What is the cerebellum
Large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.
Where does pons relay information to?
Relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
What are the two sections of the midbrain
The tectum and tegmentum
What does the tecmun do
Orients an organism in the environment
What is the tegmentum involved in?
Involved in movement and arousal
What is the outer most layer of the brain and divided into two hemispheres
The cerebral cortex
What does the thalamus do
Relays filters information from the senses and transmits info to the cerebral cortex
What does the hypothalamus do and what system is it part of
Regulates body temp, hunger, thirst. Part of the lambic system
What three things is included in the lambic system
Hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala.
What is the hippocampus involved in
Creating new memories
What is the amygdala involved in
Emotional processes and formation of emotional memories.
What is Alzheimer’s disease
Progressive brain disorder that gradually impairs memory and other cognitive functions
What part of the brain causes Alzheimer’s
Hippocampus
What is the endocrine system
Network of glands that produce and secrete into the bloodstream chemicals known as hormones.
What does the thyroid regulate
Bodily functions like temperature and heart rate
What does the adrenals regulate
Regulate stress response
What does the pineal secrete
Melatonin
What does the pancreas control
Digestion
Why is the pituitary gland called the master gland
Releases hormones that direct the functions of other glands in the body
If u see high levels of dopamine what would the effect be
Schizophrenia
If you see low levels of low levels of dopamine what would an effect be
Parkinson’s disease
What are the two divisions of the parasympathetic nervous system
Somatic and autonomic nervous system
What are the two divisions of the autonomic system
Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
What does the occipital lobe process
Visual information
What does the parietal love process
Information about touch
What is the temporal lobe responsible for
Responsible for hearing and language
What does the frontal lobe do
Specialized areas for movement abstract thinking planning memory and judgement
