Unit 2 - Neurons and Neurotransmitters Flashcards
What is Biological Psychology?
The study of psychology focused on the links between biology and behavior.
What is a neuron?
A nerve cell
What is a dendrite?
Extensions of a neuron that receives messages.
What is an axon?
An elongated part of the neuron that facilitates the travel of the action potential from the cell body to the axon terminals.
What is a myelin sheath?
Fatty substance that encases the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed.
What is an action potential?
Neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.
What is a refractory period?
The short pause after an action potential where the neuron gets ready to fire again.
What are sodium-potassium pumps?
Pumping positive potassium ions out of the neuron to make the neuron ready for an action potential.
What is depolarization?
When positive ions enter the neuron, making it more prone to firing.
What is hyperpolarization?
When negative ions enter the neuron, making it less prone to firing.
What is a threshold?
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
What is the all-or-none response?
The principle that neurons either fire or they don’t; If the depolarizing current fails to exceed the threshold, a neuron will not fire.
What is a synapse?
The small junction or gap in between a sending neuron (axon) and receiving neuron (dendrite). Also called a synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemicals released from the sending neuron (axon); generates an action potential for the adjacent neuron.
What is reuptake?
When neurotransmitters in the synapse are reabsorbed into the sending neurons.
What is a reuptake inhibitor?
Drugs that block and prevent reuptake; Ex. Prozac.
What are endorphins?
A neurotransmitter that controls pain and is linked to pleasure; released in response to pain; Ex. Runner’s high.
What is an agonist?
A kind of drug that makes neurons fire; mimics excitatory neurotransmitters.
What are antagonists?
A kind of drug that stops neural firing; mimics inhibitory neurotransmitters.
What is serotonin?
A neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep; a lack can lead to depression.
What is dopamine?
A neurotransmitter that controls movement, attention, and learning; too many receptors and activity are linked with schizophrenia; a significant loss of dopamine producers and receptors are linked with Parkinson’s disease.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Resulted by a loss of dopamine-producing neurons; difficulty starting and stopping voluntary movements.
What is acetylcholine?
Found in all motor neurons; stimulates muscles to contract (involuntary movement); involved in learning and memory.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Deterioration of memory, reasoning, and language skills; due to loss of ACh neurons.
What is norepinephrine?
“Fight or flight” response; Arousal, leaning, memory; a lack is related to depression.
