Unit 3: Biological Basis of Behavior Flashcards
Neuron (Nerve cells)
Cells of the nervous system that receive information and transmit it to other cells by conducting eletrochemical impulses.
Axon
A single, long, thin, straight fiber that transmits information from a neuron to other neurons or to muscle cells.
Dendrites
One of the widely branching structures of a neuron that receive transmissions from other neurons.
Terminal Buttons
Buldge at the end of an anxon, where the axon releases chemical called neurotransmitter.
Neurotransmitter
Chemical stored in the terminal of an axon, when released activate receptors of other neurons.
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter that promotes activity levels and facilitates movement.
Serotonin
Neurotransmitter derived from tryptophan, that is involved in sleep, depression, memory, and other neurological processes.
Myelin Sheath
Speed insulators
Action potential
Excitation that travels along an axon at a constant strength, no matter how fast it must travel.
Threshold
Neurons are “all or nothing” firing. Either do or don’t (Flushing toilet)
Synapse
Gap between one neuron and another (Never touch)
One neuron releases a neurotransmitter, which either excites or inhibits the next neuron.
Endorphins
Block pain. (Naturally)
Sensory Neuron
Nerve cell that conducts impulses from a sense organ to the central nervous system.
Motor Neuron
Movement
Interneuron
Any neuron having its cell body, axon, and dendrides entirely within the central nervous system, especially one that conveys impulses between a motor neuron and a sensory neuron.
Retractory Period
Time between neural firings.
Reuptake
Process by which the presynaptic terminal of a neuron reabsorbs and recycles the molecules of neurotransmitter it has previously secreted in conveying an impulse to another neuron.
Acetylcholine
White crystalline derivative of choline released at the ends of nerve fibers in the somatic and parasympathetic nervous systems and is involved in the transmissions of nerve impulses in the body.
Gaba
Neurotransmitter of the central nervous system that inhibits excitatory responses.
Glutamate
Salt or ester of glutamic acid.
Central Nervous System
Brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
Bundles of axons that convey messages between the spinal cord and rest of the body.
Sympathetic Nervous System
Two chains of neuron clusters lying just to the left and right of the spinal cord; these neurons send messages to the internal organs to prepare them for a burst of vigorous activity.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Neurons located in the medulla and the bottom of spinal cord; these neurons send messages to the internal organs to prepare the body for digesetion and related processes.
Autonomic Nervous System
Section of nervous system , controls yhr gunvyion og yhr internal organs, such as the heart.
Somatic Nervous System
Peripheral nerves that communicate with the skin and muscles.
Reflex
Rapid, automatic response to a stimulus.
Blood Brain Barrier
Layer of tightly packed cells that make up the walls of brain capillaries and prevent substances in the blood from diffusing freely into the brain: passage across the cel membranes is determined by solubility in the lipid bilayer or recognition by a transport molecule.