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Psyc122 Test Material > W2 - Biological Basis of the Brain > Flashcards

W2 - Biological Basis of the Brain Flashcards

1
Q

what are the functions of the Nervous System

A
  • controls actions
  • sends info from the skin to the brain
  • conroles senses and perception
  • processing of memories
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2
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

is located in the middle of the body and conncets the brain and spinal cord

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3
Q

Peripheral Nerous System (PNS)

A

stems out from the CNS and connects the lims with the spinal cord

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4
Q

Neuronal Cells

A

percieves signals (info) and sends that info incoded signal off

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5
Q

Dendrites

A

are always expecting to detect signals and to send them to the cell body

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6
Q

Cell body

A

holds the life support system of the cell

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7
Q

Axon

A

carries info away from the cell body

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8
Q

Terminal region

A

links to the next cell and sends signals to thier dendrites

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9
Q

Features of Dendritic Spines

A

they have extra surface area

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10
Q

Axon Hillock

A

keeps score of the charge of signals coming in

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11
Q

all or nothing

A

a score below 55 the cell wont fire and send the signal on

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12
Q

the myelin sheath

A

is an insaltion on the axon and allows for signals to move faser down it

Unmyelinated vs myelinated speed= ~1 m/s : up to 100 m/s

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13
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

the points from which signals jump as they travel down the myelin on axon - saltatory conduction

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14
Q

Glial Cells

A

specialized cells in the nervious system that support the integrity of neurons

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15
Q

the three main types of glial cells

A

Oligodendrocytes (biggest)
schwann cells
Astrocytes (start-like shape)

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16
Q

Oligodendrocytes

A

creates myelin sheaths around axons in the CNS and incraeses speed of info travelling down the axon

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17
Q

Schwann Cells

A

creates myelin sheaths around axons in the PNS and incraeses speed of info travelling down the axon

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18
Q

Astrocytes (start-like shape)

A
  • helps repair neurons
  • helps bring nutreinys from the bloo to neruons (blood-brain barrier)
  • provides structeral support for neurons
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19
Q

Excitatory signals

A

signals make the cell more likely to fire: -55mV or >

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20
Q

Inhibitory signals

A

signals make the cell less likely to fire: < -55mV

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21
Q

summation

A

process done by the Axon Hillock - The sum of all incoming signals
(excitatory and inhibitory) determines whether the neuron fires

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22
Q

These two ions are crucial to sending signal down an axon

A

Potassium - K+
Sodium - Na+

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23
Q

Ion

A

Molecular clusters with an electrical charge

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24
Q

Ion Channels

A

Doors in the Membrane for the moevemnt of Potassium K+ down the concentration gradient

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25
how do ions move through the channels in the membrain?
Concentration Gradients & Electrical Gradients
26
When is resting membrane potential achieved?
when both forces are equally strong
27
Action Potential
a change in the voltage inside a cell (relative to outside of the cell) taking place at one section of the cell at a time (not the whole cell at once)
28
what are Voltage Gated Sodium Channel? (VGNaChannel)
allows Sodium Na+ to enter the cell for initiation and propagation of action potentials
29
charge of cell at resting potential
-70mV
30
range of charge of cell at depolarization
-55mV to 30mV
31
when do VGNaChannel activate
when they detect a chage of -55mV or > they will open creating a chain reation of action potentail down the axon
32
Na+/K+ Pump
1. Throws 3 Na+ out of the cell 2. Brings in 2 K+ into the cell 3. Requires energy (NOT passive diffusion!)
33
1 - state of the neuron at: Resting potential
* charge is at -70mV making cells overall charge negative * K+ VGC closed * Na+ VGC closed
34
2 - state of neuron when: stimulus hits threshold
* charge is at -55mV or > leading to an * Na+ VGC partly open * K+ VGC closed
35
3 - state of neuron at: Depolerization
* The membrane potential rapidly rises and may even become positive, reaching around +30 to +40 mV. * inside of cell is now positivly charge * Na+ VGC fully open * K+ VGC closed
36
4 - state if neuron in: Repolerisation
* Na+ VGC fully closed * K+ VGC open * cell beigns to become negitivly chgarde again as K+ leaves
37
5 - state of neuron in: Refractory period
* Na+ VGC fully closed * K+ VGC open * all K+ has left the cell and chrage of cell drops below resting stae becoming too negitivly charge
38
6 - state of neuron at: return to resting state
* Na+/K+ Pumps activate * Na+ is taken out * K+ is drawn in * charge of cell returns to -70mV
39
how is Neuronal Communication done?
through Electrochemical processes
40
within neuron communication
electrical communctaion
41
Synapse - between neuron communciation
chemical communcation
42
the 3 types of Synapses
* synapses with other neurons * neuromuscular Junctions * neuroglandular Synapses
43
Presynaptic neurons
the cell sending a signal
44
Postsynaptic neuron
the cell receiving a signal
45
Axondendritic synapse
an axon termanal that connects directly to another neurons dentrites
46
Axosomatic synapse
an axon termanal that connects directly to another neurons cell body
47
Axoaxonic synapse
an axon termanal that connects directly to another neurons Axon
48
Potassium K+ and Sodium Na+
These two ions are crucial to sending signal down an axon
49
Chloride Cl-
Essential for understanding how neurons send inhibitory signals.
50
Calcium Ca2+
Essential for allowing chemicals in presynaptic cell to exit the cell and enter the synaptic cleft.
51
step 1: chemical synapse
action potential **is traveling down the Axon** to the presynaptic terminal
52
step 2: chemical synapse
action potential **arrives** at the presynaptic terminal
53
step 3: chemical synapse
voltage-gated Ca2+ channels open, allowign **influx of Ca2+**
54
step 4: chemical synapse
ca2+ allows **venricals** to **merge with the membrane** and **neurotrasnmitters** releases out the other side
55
step 5: chemical synapse
Neurotrasnmitter binds to receptors, causing channels to open (or close)
56
step 6: chemical synapse
Excitatory (or inhibitory) postynaptic potential is genenerated
57
step 7: chemical synapse
Neurotransmitter is removed by glial uptake (or enzymatic degradation)
58
Reuptake
The pre-synaptic cell membrane has neurotransmitter- specific “transporter” proteins that transport neurotransmitters back into the presynaptic cell
59
GABA
gamma-aminobutyric acid
60
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses from one neuron to another neuron (or to a muscle cell or gland cell).
61
There are different categories of neurotransmitters
* Amino Acids (Glutamate, GABA) * Monoamines (Dopamine, Serotonin, Histamine) * Peptides (Endorphins, Oxytocin)
62
where are neurotrasnmitters made?
they are synthesized inside the cell body or axon terminal of a neuron
63
Neurotransmitter: Dopamine
* Plays diverse roles in the nervous system: * Involved in thoughts, feelings, motivations, behaviours * Associated with the experience of pleasure * Learning to associate particular behaviours with reward (“reward pathway”) * Attention, mood regulation, emotional responses * Coordinating movement (Parkinson’s Disease = progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons). | Can be excitatory or inhibitory (depends on the receptors)
64
Neurotransmitter: Serotonin
* Involved in regulation of mood, sleep, eating, arousal, and pain. * Depression associated with reduced serotonin (thus, antidepressants target neurons that produce serotonin) * Other ways to increase serotonin levels include sunlight exposure! How? * Sunlight exposure stimulates production of Vitamin D in the skin. * Vitamin D is involved in Serotonin synthesis
65
Agonists Drugs
they occupy receptos and fully activate them
66
Antagonists Drugs
they occpy receptors but do not activate them they also block receptors activation by agonists
67
Alcohol's effects on neurons
- Alcohol acts as an agonist (for GABA) and an antagonist (for Glutamate) - Binds to specific part of GABA receptors to make them even more inhibitory - Also binds to Glutamate receptors preventing the glutamate from exciting the cell
68
how do Antidepressants work?
by blocking the Serotinin reuptake transporters from taking seritonin from the synaptic cleft at then end of each synapse making firign more likly to occur next time
69
Cocaine's effects on neurons
* Cocaine prevents the reuptake of dopamine. * It blocks the dopamine transporter on the presynaptic neuron, stopping dopamine from being recycled. * This causes dopamine to build up in the synapse, leading to prolonged activation of dopamine receptors. * Cocaine also stops the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. * Combined, these effects alter mood, arousal, cognitive function, and movement (causing fidgetiness and restlessness).
70
Synaptic Plasticity
* While action potentials follow an "all-or-nothing" rule, synapses can change in strength, becoming stronger or weaker over time based on their usage. * Frequent activation of a synapse increases its strength, known as Long-Term Potentiation (LTP). * Glutamate is crucial for synaptic plasticity, which is essential for learning and memory. * However, too much glutamate activity can damage or kill neurons, a process called excitotoxicity, which is involved in diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS.
71
Action Potentials are initiated by?
voltage gated Na+ channels
72
what are the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
73
Marjorie has recently had a stroke. While it appears that she understands language, she ability to speak has been impacted. Which of the following is most likely to be true for Marjorie?
Broca's aphasia

Psyc122 Test Material (12 decks)

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