Unit 1 - 8 Flashcards
Ectoderm
Outer most layer in developing embryo (3 layers, the outermost); gives rise to nervous system
Neural tube
Beginning of the emergence of the CNS, differentiate into the forebrain, midbrain, and Hindbrain early on. Inside of tube becomes the ventricles
Forebrain
Cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus
Midbrain
Topmost part of brainstem
Hindbrain
Pons, medulla, cerebellum
Embryo
Developing human, first 10 weeks after fertilization
Fetus
Developing human, 11 weeks until birth
Synaptogenesis
Establishment of synaptic connections as axons and dendrites grow
Apoptosis
Programmed cell death 
Nervous system development: Stage 1 - Neurogenesis
Mitotic division of non-neuronal cells in the ventricular zone to produce neurons 
Nervous system development: Stage 2 - Cell migration
Nerve cells move to appropriate locations to establish distinct nerve cell populations 
Nervous system development: Stage 3 - cell differentiation
Cells refine into distinctive types of neurons or glial cells (occurs through gene expression)
Nervous system development: Stage 4 - synaptogenesis
Establishment of synaptic connections as axons and dendrites grow
Nervous system development: Stage 5 - neuronal cell death
Selective death of many nerve cells (apoptosis - programmed communication with other cells)
Nervous system development: Stage 6 - synapse rearrangement
Loss of some synapses and development of others, refine synaptic connections (cell-cell interactions), extends throughout our lifespan 
Cells born in
Ventricular zone
Why is apoptosis important?
Trophic factors
Fragile X Syndrome
Caused by an X chromosome that has an area prone to breakage leading to its dysfunction (brains have excess synaptic connections)
Binocular deprivation
For a few weeks during the sensitive period will render an animal blind for life (eyes work but brain can’t process it)
Monocular deprivation
Will prevent perception from the deprived eye
Genotype
Genetic make up, encoded by DNA and present from birth, immutable 
Phenotype
Characteristics that make up a person (anatomical, physiological, behavioral)
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Phenotype alteration by behavior
- genetic mutation, cannot metabolize particular amino acid, builds up toxic level in brain, causing intellectual disability, part of genotype 
-eating certain foods low in affected amino acid, intellectual disability can be eliminated (behavior determines phenotype)
Epigenetics
- Form of modulating phenotype without changing genotype, changes gene expression (whether gene is activated or not)
- changes how much of a protein is present to do cellular work, affects brain development 
Black and white rat epigentic experiment
Transferring black6 rat embryos to a black rat female and a white rat female and having pups raised by both mothers in each case
Alzheimer’s disease 
Type of dementia, drastic failure of cognitive ability, including memory failure and loss of orientation 
Alzheimer’s disease causes
Cortical atrophy (tissue dying), amyloid plaques, fibrous tangles in the brain
