terms Flashcards
(230 cards)
Oligodendrocytes assist the myelin sheath where?
Central Nervous System
Schwan cells assist the myelin sheath where?
Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord
What function do microglia serve? What do they play a role in?
Immune function, play a role in learning and memory.
What is the degeneration of Microglia linked ith?
Alzheimer’s
What are asrocytes use for?
Formation of the immune system for the brain
What disease are astocytes linked to?
Neurodegenerative diseases
What % water is a neuron made of?
80%
What are the dissolved chemicals in a neuron?
Na+, Cl-, K+
Acetylcholine
Excitatory
Learning, muscle action
Glutamate
Excitatory
Learning, movement
GABA
Inhibitory
Learning, anxiety regulation through inhibition of neurons
Dopamine
Both
Learning, reward/pleasure
Serotonin
Both
Elevation/depression of mood
Norepinephrine
Both
Elevation/depression of mood
Endorphins/Enkaphlains
Both
Regulation of pain responses
CT scan
Computerized Tomography
Uses x-rays that pas through body, can generate images of “slices” of the body
ex. detect changes in structure to to disease
pros/cons of CT scan
pro:
- Fast, cheap, non-invasive
con:
- radiation exposure
- only less us see the structures of the brain, not the brain in action
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Uses magnetic fields to image alignments of H+ ions (diff tissues have diff amts of water
ex. can detect changes in structure due to disease
pros/cons of MRI
pro:
- noninvasive, great precision, no radiation
con:
- very expensive
- cannot have biomedical devices or metal in patients
- just gives an image of the brain, not the brain in action
fMRI
functional MRI
uses magnetic fields to image alignments of H+ ions. exposed to magnetic field –> tracks oxygenated blood
More active parts of brain will consume more oxygenated blood
ex. can measure activation during task/stimulation
DTI
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
tracks and images water movement alone neural pathways, can measure density of neural tracts (bundles of axons). Tracks nerves of the brain and the connections between different areas
ex. study white matter degeneration in disease
pros/cons of DTI
pro:
- noninvasive
- no radiation
- no injections
con:
- interpretation can be difficult in tracts with diff kinds of fibers
pros/cons of fMRI
pro:
- noninvasive
- no radiation
- no injections
con:
- cardiovascular disease/compromise function can make measurements unreliable –> elay between stimulus/output
- shows the brain in action
PET/SPECT
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
Uses ingested radioactive compound to track molecular changes, person is injected with radioactive substance
ex. visualize the activity of specific neurotransmitters