week 1: neurosci of memory/neurons Flashcards
soma
- cell body
- contains nucleus and genetic info
- directs protein synthesis
nucleus
- contains genetic info
- directs protein synthesis
- supplies energy and resources the neuron needs to function
dendrites
- part of neuron that extends away from cell body
- main input to neuron
dendrite spine
- protrusions on dendrite of neuron that form synapses w terminal buttons of presynaptic axon
axon
- part of neuron that extends off soma and splits several times to connect w other neurons
- main output of the neuron
action potential
- transient all or nothing electrical current that is conducted down axon when membrane potential reaches threshold of excitation
synapses
junction between presynaptic terminal button of one neuron and dendrite, axon, soma of another postsynaptic neuron
resting electrical charge vs charge that is reached at action potential
-70mV, +40mV
myelin sheath
- substance around neuron serve as insulation to allow action potential to conduct rapidly toward terminal buttons
gaps in the myelin sheath
nodes of ranvier
terminal button
- part of the end of the axon that form synapses w post synaptic dendrite, axon, or soma
chemical substances released by presynaptic terminal button that act on postsynaptic cell are called _____ and when they form groups packaged together located near the terminal button theyre called ____
neurotransmitters, vesicles
excitatory neurotransmitters
- ACh (Acetylcholine, enhanced effect improve/supressed decreases memory)
- Glutamate (Glu, creating new memories)
- Norepinephrine (memory colsolidation)
- dopamine (memory processing)
inhibitory neurotransmitters
- dopamine (memory processing)
- Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA, modification of glutamate, memory formation)
LTP
- long term potentiation
- strengthens connections between neurons by altering ease w which post synaptic neurons fire
LTD
- long term depression
- weakens connections between neurons
four lobes and their function
- frontal: action, emotion, thought, selecting and coordinating memory
- parietal: sensory info/spacial processing
- occipital: vision
- temporal: visual and auditory processing, retaining info abt world
which is arguably the most critical lobe for memory
temporal, includes hippocampus and medial temporal lobe
default mode network
- interconnected network of regions
- more active when people are not engaged in an activity
MRI
- more accurate
- used for brains but also joints, hearts, soft tissue
- ## measures magnetic resonance
CT
- computer assisted tomography scan
- can locate tumors, stoke damage, and brain condition
- cheaper
single cell recording/intracranial EEG
- most direct way to measure brain activity
- measures the electrical activity of action potential along axon
- invasive
- only in special populations
EEG
- less invasice but indirect
- measures electrical activity over scalp
- evenly spaced electrodes to localize origin activity
MEG
- uninvasive
- larger sets of cells
- Measures subtle changes in
magnetic field over the scalp
that are driven by underlying
changes in electrical activity
