Topic 1: Neurons

Question 1

Who came up with the idea that the brain is made up of discrete, individual cells? Include the year

Answer 1

Santiago Ramon y Cajal (1888)

Question 2

Who came up with the word “neurons” to describe these discrete, individual cells?

Answer 2

Wilhem Waldeyer

Question 3

what is the primary function of neurons

Answer 3

information processing (eg, computing) and transmittance

Question 4

Where are neurons located?

Answer 4

central and peripheral nervous system

Question 5

How many neurons are in the brain?

Answer 5

100 billion

Question 6

What does the length of the axon depend on?

Answer 6

depends on where they are sending the signal

Question 7

electrotonic conduction is a _____ process whereas self generation propagation is a ________ process

Answer 7

passive, active

Question 8

What prevents the water soluble molecules, ions, and other molecules, to enter the cell?

Answer 8

fatty phospholipid bilayer

Question 9

How do we measure the membrane potential ?

Answer 9

insert a microelectrode onto the neuron and use a voltage amplifier to get the readings

Question 10

Ion channels is to ____ transport and Ion pumps is to ____ transport

Answer 10

passive, active

Question 11

Which ion is there no ATP pump for in the plasma membrane?

Answer 11

Cl -

Question 12

In terms of the ATP pump, how many molecules of Na and K leave and enter the cell per ATP molecule What happens to the electrical gradient?

Answer 12

3Na out, 2 K in, higher potential on the outside

Question 13

The difference of electrical potential is the _____ _____.

Answer 13

energy source

Question 14

initiation of the action potential occurs at the

Answer 14

axon hillock

Question 15

propagation of the action potential occurs at the

Answer 15

axon

Question 16

synaptic integration occurs at the

Answer 16

dendrites and cell body

Question 17

true or false: in an action potential, both the timecourse as well as the amplitude remain constant

Answer 17

true

Question 18

absolute refractory period

Answer 18

during hyperpolarization, another action potential cannot be generated due to the absolute refractory period.

Question 19

describe the hodkgkin huxley model

Answer 19

• mathematical models of action potentials
• awarded 1963 nobel prize in physiology or medicine
• the model is able to account for all the critical nature of an action potential

Question 20

describe electrotonic conduction

Answer 20

• passive conduction
• will depolarize the adjacent cells enough to cause an action potential
• relatively FAST
• exponentially attenuating
• travels short distances

Question 21

describe how an action potential propagates

Answer 21

when an action potential occurs, the cell becomes more and more positive, which in turn depolarizes the adjacent cells as it makes the adjacent cells more positive.

Question 22

describe the characteristics of an action potential

Answer 22

• relatively SLOW
• self regenerating
• active
• travels long distances

Question 23

where does electrotonic conduction occur on an axon?

Answer 23

myelinated sections

Question 24

where do action potentials occur on an axon?

Answer 24

nodes of ranvier

Question 25

the speed of propagation depends on what

Answer 25

myelination, diameter of axon, temperature

Question 26

the speed of action potential propagation can be as slow as ____m/s and as fast as _____ m/s

Answer 26

as slow as less than 1 m/s or as fast as more than 120 m/s

Question 27

action potentials act as signals for neural coding. Name the signals

Answer 27

action potentials can account for the intensity of a signal, the duration of a signal, as well as the timing of the signal

Question 28

strength of post synaptic potentials depend on (hint: 4 things)

Answer 28

1. ) speed (if it is fast or slow)
2. ) neurotransmitters on presynaptic cell
3. ) receptors on the post synaptic cell
4. ) excitatory or inhibitory

Question 29

amino acid examples include

Answer 29

aspartate, glycine, GABA, glutamate

Question 30

monoamine examples include

Answer 30

serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, histamine melatonin

Question 31

peptide examples include

Answer 31

oxytocin, substance P, somatostatin, endorphine, neuropeptide Y, cholecytokinin,

Question 32

gases include

Answer 32

nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide

Question 33

example of organic cation includes

Answer 33

acetylcholine

Question 34

what are the mechanisms of ridding neurotransmitters that are in the cleft

Answer 34

1. ) reuptake
2. ) diffusion
3. ) degradation (enzyme breakdown)

Question 35

describe the function of ionotropic receptor

Answer 35

• ligand gated channels

- allows specific ions to flow in

Question 36

describe the function of metabotropic receptor

Answer 36

• also known as second messenger coupler
• G protein receptor is inside the post synaptic membrane, relays information from NT receptor to other proteins in the cell
• helps modulate activity in other ion channels, activating and deactivating enzymes within the cell, or changing which genes are expressed in the cell

Question 37

what are the structural functions of gap junctions?

Answer 37

1. ) fast
2. ) no amplification
3. ) direct electrical and chemical conduction
4. ) low plasticity

It is in the motor neurons

Question 38

the ______ is known as the trigger zone

Answer 38

axon hillock

Question 39

temporal summation

Answer 39

PSP from the same synapse (different points in time) sum together

Question 40

Church-Turing thesis

Answer 40

every effectively calculable function is a computable function

Question 41

computational universality

Answer 41

All Turing complete system are computationally equivalent

Question 42

How long did Alan Turing live for

Answer 42

1912- 1954

Question 43

What did Alan Turing work for

Answer 43

1. ) Work on computability (Universal Turing Machine)
2. ) Turing test
3. ) Helped break the German enigma code in WWII

Question 44

The Nobel Prize for computer science is known as

Answer 44

Turing Award (since 1966) . Received a posthumous Royal Pardon in 2013