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AP Psych > Q3: Biology of the Brain > Flashcards

Q3: Biology of the Brain Flashcards

1
Q

Neurons

A

the building blocks of our nervous system

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2
Q

Santiago Ramon y Cajal

A

“father of neuroscience” said the nervous system is cells and calls them neurons.

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3
Q

dendrites

A

receive signals

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4
Q

cell body (soma)

A

maintains cell life

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5
Q

myelin

A

insulates axon

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6
Q

axon

A

sends signals electrically (action potential)

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7
Q

axon terminal

A

(synaptic button) sends signals chemically

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8
Q

neurons receive inputs:

A

from the environment via specialized receptors (sensory neuron in skin, ear, eye)
-from other neurons via dendrites
-to other neurons
-to muscles, organs, glands

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9
Q

neurons send signals:

A

-electrically via axons (1)
-chemically via synapses (2)
1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2

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10
Q

action potential

A

a brief change in electrical charge

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11
Q

resting potential

A

stored energy that results from the separation of positive and negative ions across the axon’s membrane (start straight of graph)

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12
Q

depolarization

A

Na+ rushes in: less -, more + (climbing hill on graph, after threshold)

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13
Q

repolarization

A

K+ rushes out, more -, less + (falling back down on graph)

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14
Q

neural threshold

A

the minimum amount of stimulation needed to fire an action potential

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15
Q

node of ranvier

A

spaces on a myelinated axon without myelin

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16
Q

saltatory conduction

A

Action potential jumps from node to node

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17
Q

myelin

A

insulation of an axon

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18
Q

oligodendrocytes (many)

A

myelinate the axons in the CNS

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19
Q

schwann (1)

A

myelinate axons in PNS

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20
Q

unmyelinated axons

A

can signal at speeds of 1 mph (pain)

21
Q

myelinated axons

A

can signal at speeds of 355 mph

22
Q

plasticity

A

ability of a brain to rewire/form new connections

23
Q

neurotransmitter

A

chemical to be released

24
Q

synaptic vesicle

A

carries neurotransmitters

25
Q

receptors

A

receives synaptic vesicles via exocytosis

26
Q

acetylcholine

A

activates muscles, involved in learning and memory

Alzheimer’s: low levels of it, inc. to treat

27
Q

dopamine

A

vital for voluntary movements, attention, emotion, motivation

addiction
schizophrenia: too much of it, dec. to treat
parkinson’s disease: too little of it, inc. to treat (L-DOPA)

28
Q

reuptake pump

A

recycles the neurotransmitters after they go into receptors.

29
Q

serotonin (5 HT)

A

affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

depression: treated with SSRI, too little serotonin

30
Q

SSRI

A

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
treatment for depression

31
Q

norepinephrine

A

helps control alertness and arousal

depression: low levels
anxiety: high levels

32
Q

EPSP

A

positive ions. excitatory postsynaptic potential (allows AP to be fired)
(norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine, dopamine, glutamate)

33
Q

IPSP

A

negative ions. inhibitory postsynaptic potential. (GABA)

34
Q

GABA

A

inhibitory neurotransmitter.

seizures: too little GABA
anxiety: too little GABA
comas: too much GABA (can be medically induced)

35
Q

Glutamate

A

major excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in memory.

seizures: too much
migraines: too much

36
Q

EEG

A

(sleep studies) electrodes attach to skull to record brain activity.
-function

37
Q

CT

A

computer enhanced x-ray technique.
-structure

38
Q

PET

A

computer generated image of the brain, formed by measuring a radioactive tracer, often glucose.
-function

39
Q

MRI

A

computer generated image of the brain
-structure

40
Q

fMRI

A

computer generated image of the brain, formed by measuring the flow of blood.
-function

41
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

42
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

all neurons not in brain/spinal cord.
have the ability to regrow, regenerate, or reattach if damaged.

43
Q

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

A

info from sensory organs, motor commands to muscles (voluntary functions)

44
Q

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A

involuntary bodily processes (ex heart rate, breathing, digestion)

45
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

stress response. (norepinephrine). mobilizes resources in response to threat, speeds heart and breathing.

46
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

replenishes bodily resources by promoting digestion and slowing other bodily processes. (rest and digest)

47
Q

Communication Function

A

passes messages from body to brain and from brain to body

48
Q

Integrative Function

A

mediates spinal reflexes

49
Q

spinal reflexes

A

simple, autonomic behaviors that occur without voluntary action.

AP Psych (23 decks)

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