Sistema Nervioso Central

Question 1

divergent pathway

Answer 1

one presynaptic neuron branches to affect a larger number of postsynaptic neurons

Question 2

convergent pathway

Answer 2

many presynaptic neurons provide input to influence a smaller number of postsynaptic neurons

Question 3

neuroplasticity

Answer 3

how the nervous system changes in response to experience
ex. when we form new memories or learn new things

changes in synapses and/or other parts of neurons that affect how information is processed and transmitted in the nervous system

Question 4

in what direction does neuroplasticity go

Answer 4

in both directions:
1. potentiation
2. depression

Question 5

potentiation

Answer 5

the strength of information flowing through a particular part of the nervous system can increase

potentiates the responses of cells

Question 6

depression

Answer 6

the strength of information flowing through a particular part of the nervous system can decrease

depresses the response of cells to other cells in the nervous system

Question 7

when is the amount of neuroplasticity the highest and when is it lowest

Answer 7

highest during the development of the nervous system
lowest after the development of the nervous system

Question 8

when does neuroplasticity increase and how

Answer 8

neuroplasticity transiently increases following nervous system injury

Question 9

what happens with action potentials during potentiation and how does this occur

Answer 9

parts and chains of neurons that are used often grow stronger, making each action potential have a larger effect on the target cell

Question 10

what happens during depression

Answer 10

parts and chains of neurons grow weaker

Question 11

types of neuroplasticity (where can it occur)

Answer 11

1. synaptic neuroplasticity
2. structural neuroplasticity

Question 12

synaptic potentiation

Answer 12

happens at the synapse and increases the response in the target cell per action potential that’s reaching the axon terminal

ex. 1: more neurotransmitter may be released by the axon terminal into the synaptic cleft to the post-synaptic target cell with the specific neurotransmitter receptors

ex. 2: there may be an increase in the number of neurotransmitter receptors of the post-synaptic cell’s membrane

the types of neurotransmitter receptors or the responses that occur through second messengers may also change (they may become more sensitive, so that they produce a bigger response to the neurotransmitter released by the axon terminal)

Question 13

structural neuroplasticity

Answer 13

occurs at the level of entire cells, where the total number of synapses between a neuron and its target cell are changed

Question 14

types of synaptic neuroplasticity

Answer 14

1. synaptic potentiation
2. synaptic depression

Question 15

synaptic depression

Answer 15

the amount of neurotransmitter released into the synaptic cleft from the axon terminal decreases per action potential

there is less of a response in the target cell to an action potential reaching the axon terminal

the neurotransmitter receptors may decrease in number

the neurotransmitter receptors or the second messengers may change so that the target cell becomes less responsive to the neurotransmitter

Question 16

structural potentiation

Answer 16

the number of synapses between two neurons increases

the dendrites get longer or grow more branches (become more complex)

the pre-synaptic neuron can grow more axon branches and terminals, so that it forms more synaptic connections with the post-synaptic neuron’s dendrites

Question 17

structural depression

Answer 17

dendrites lose length or branches (become shorter and simpler)

axon terminals may be lost (may become simpler)

whole neurons may be lost

Question 18

pruning

Answer 18

neurons or parts of neurons are lost because they’re not very active

Question 19

does synaptic neuroplasticity contribute to short or long term potentiation and depression

Answer 19

both short and long term

Question 20

does structural neuroplasticity go along with short or long term potentiation or depression

Answer 20

long term

Question 21

synaptic plasticity

Answer 21

the ability of the nervous system to change activity at synapses

the ability to change circuit connections and function in response to sensory input and past experience

plasticity of human brain networks, which easily restructure themselves as the result of sensory input, learning, emotion, and creativity

Question 22

cognition

Answer 22

the thinking process of the brain

uses sensory input to the brain and information already stored in memory

controls most of our motor activity

Question 23

what types of matter does the central nervous system (CNS) contain

Answer 23

1. gray matter
2. white matter

Question 24

what is gray matter made of

Answer 24

unmyelinated nerve cell bodies

Question 25

nuclei

Answer 25

clusters of cell bodies in the CNS

Question 26

what does gray matter contain

Answer 26

dendrites
axon terminals

Question 27

what is white matter in the CNS made of

Answer 27

myelinated axons

Question 28

tracts

Answer 28

axon bundles connecting CNS regions

Question 29

what does white matter contain

Answer 29

very few cell bodies