Unit 3 - Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards
Neuron
A nerve cell
Sensory neuron
Carries information from sensory receptors in organs and tissues to the brain and spinal cord
Motor neuron
Sends information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands
Interneurons
Neurons inside the brain/spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs
Action Potential
A neural impulse, an electrical charge
Resting potential
A state in which the fluid interior of an axon has an excess of negatively-charged ions and the fluid exterior has excess positively charged ions
Depolarize
The action-potential causes positively charged sodium ions to flood through a section of the axon membrane, allowing the subsequent axon section’s channel to open
Refractory period
The neuron pushes positively charged sodium ions back out of the axon membrane, allowing for more neural impulses
Threshold
The minimum intensity signal required to trigger an action potential, determined by the amount of excitatory signals and inhibitory signals received
Synapse
Area between axon tips and dendrites of neuron cells
Synaptic gap
The small gap separating axons and dendrites
Neurotransmitter
a chemical/molecule that travels across synapses and allows ions to enter a neuron and excite/inhibit a new action potential
Re-uptake
a reabsorption of neurotransmitters
Endorphins
A neurotransmitter that is released in response to pain or pleasure
Acetylcholine (ACh)
enables muscle action, learning, and memory
Dopamine
Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
GABA
Inhibitory neurotransmitter
Glutamate
Excitatory neurotransmitter
Norepinephrine
Helps control alertness and arousal
Serotonin
Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
Agonist
A molecule that is similar enough to a neurotransmitter to mimic it’s effects
Antagonist
A molecule that blocks neurotransmitters by being similar enough in structure to bond to the receptor site, but not similar enough to mimic it’s effects
Nervous system
The network of nerve cells and fibers that transmit nerve impulses in the body
Contains the Central Nervous system and the Peripheral Nervous system
Central Nervous system
The brain and spinal cord