Week 2: Neuroscience at the Cellular Level Flashcards
Neurons
Integrate and transmit information
Action Potentials
Voltage wave that travels down the axon
- All-or-none
- Sends that information to another place
Glial Cells
a type of cell that provides physical and chemical support to neurons and maintain their environment. They create myelin.
Soma
The cell body of the neuron, contains organelles such as the nucleus.
Dendrite
Branchlike extensions that serve as the main input sites for the neuron (receive information from other neurons at synapses - communication sites)
Axon
Serves as the output unit of the cell, sends information to other neurons, muscle cells, or glands.
Synapse
Where axons end; projections that are the transmitting elements. Release neurotransmitters.
Receptor
On the postsynaptic membrane, affected by the neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter
Signaling chemicals that cross the cleft
Agonist
Activate
Antagonist
Block
Neuroplasticity
the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections after injuries
Habituation
When there is repetition there is a decreased response, stop noticing it (sponge bob t-shirt example)
Experience-dependent plasticity -“cells that fire together, wire together” “Hebbian learning rule”
represents the study of how the environment impacts the biological organization of the brain.
Areas can repurpose after injury “cortical reorganization”
Same task, different brain areas
Reaction and/or compensation
Neural function is biomechanical rather than purely electrical. Which of the following are consequences of this?
Slow transmission speed and Modifiable connections.
Which of the following are true about resting potential.
The interior of the cell has more of a charge than the exterior.
Prepared by Na+/K+ ion pumps
What distinguishes a myelinated neuron (compared to an unmyelinated neuron)
Faster propagation of action potentials.
What is the correct order of events within an action potential
- Voltage reaches threshold
- Na+ channels open, fast depolarization
- K+ channels open, repolarization
- Relative refractory period, inactivated Na+ channels
Presynaptic neuron A is connected to postsynaptic neuron B. What kind of plasticity would best fit Hebbian learning?
If A activates before B, the connection will strengthen.
What is the process happening across the multiple connections to the motor neuron
Spatial summation
An excitatory neurotransmitter typically produces an ______ postsynaptic potential, which results in ______ in the postsynaptic cell.
Excitatory, Depolarization
Functional reorganization in the cortex means that…
Different parts of the brain can take over control of the same activity
To transmit information between neurons, neurotransmitters must
Bind to postsynaptic receptor molecules
