Structure and function of neurons - biopsychology

Question 1

What is a neuron

Answer 1

Specialised cells that transmit chemical/ electrical signals to facilitate communication between the brain and body

Question 2

How many neurons does a human have

Answer 2

Around 100 billion, each up to 10k connections

Question 3

What are the three types of neuron

Answer 3

Sensory, relay, motor

Question 4

What is a sensory neuron

Answer 4

Nerve cell activated by sensory input from environment corresponding to all 5 senses

Question 5

Summarise what a sensory neuron is

Answer 5

Info from body to brain

Question 6

What is a relay (interneuron) neuron

Answer 6

Ones in between, connect spinal motor and sensory neurons, and communicate to form circuits

Question 7

What response are relay neurons capable of initiating

Answer 7

Startale response

Question 8

What is the startale response

Answer 8

Can initiate limited movement decisions when in danger

Question 9

What are motor neurons

Answer 9

Part of spinal cord and CNS. Connect to muscles, glands and organs. Transmit from spinal cord to skeletal/smooth muscles and control all muscle movements. 2 TYPES

Question 10

What are the 2 types of motor neurons

Answer 10

Lower: spinal cord to muscle

Upper: brain to spinal cord

Question 11

What is synaptic transmission

Answer 11

Process by which messages are sent from one neuron to another. Lasts about 0.1 secs and explains behaviour

Question 12

What is action potential

Answer 12

Electrical impulse that contains the commands from the brain

Question 13

What is the first stage of synaptic transmission

Answer 13

Soma fires action potential down axon towards pre synaptic membrane

Question 14

What is the second stage of synaptic transmission

Answer 14

Electrical impulse is converted to a chemical impulse (neurotransmitter) in preparation to move across synapse

Question 15

What is the third stage of synaptic transmission

Answer 15

Vesicles that contain chemical neurotransmitter moves towards membrane wall

Question 16

What is the fourth stage of synaptic transmission

Answer 16

Vesicles then fuse into the wall, allowing the neurotransmitter to be fired across synapse to post synaptic neuron

Question 17

What is the fifth stage of synaptic transmission

Answer 17

Chemical neurotransmitter binds to an appropriate receptor on surface of post synaptic neuron. Through lock and key process, neurotransmitter will project the message it carries

Question 18

What is the sixth stage of synaptic transmission

Answer 18

Not all neurotransmitters find receptors. Any that remain in synapse will be reuptaken by pre synaptic membrane

Question 19

What is the seventh stage of synaptic transmission

Answer 19

Neurotransmitter that didn’t make it across synapse will elicit either an excitatory or inhibitory response

Question 20

What is the eighth stage of synaptic transmission

Answer 20

Excitatory (EPSP) response will increase chances of neuron be firing, whist inhibitory (IPSP) will decrease the chances