Week 2: Neuroscience at the Cellular Level

Question 1

Neurons

Answer 1

Integrate and transmit information

Question 2

Action Potentials

Answer 2

Voltage wave that travels down the axon
- All-or-none
- Sends that information to another place

Question 3

Glial Cells

Answer 3

a type of cell that provides physical and chemical support to neurons and maintain their environment. They create myelin.

Question 4

Soma

Answer 4

The cell body of the neuron, contains organelles such as the nucleus.

Question 5

Dendrite

Answer 5

Branchlike extensions that serve as the main input sites for the neuron (receive information from other neurons at synapses - communication sites)

Question 6

Axon

Answer 6

Serves as the output unit of the cell, sends information to other neurons, muscle cells, or glands.

Question 7

Synapse

Answer 7

Where axons end; projections that are the transmitting elements. Release neurotransmitters.

Question 8

Receptor

Answer 8

On the postsynaptic membrane, affected by the neurotransmitter

Question 9

Neurotransmitter

Answer 9

Signaling chemicals that cross the cleft

Question 10

Agonist

Answer 10

Activate

Question 11

Antagonist

Answer 11

Block

Question 12

Neuroplasticity

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Habituation

Answer 13

When there is repetition there is a decreased response, stop noticing it (sponge bob t-shirt example)

Question 14

Experience-dependent plasticity -“cells that fire together, wire together” “Hebbian learning rule”

Answer 14

represents the study of how the environment impacts the biological organization of the brain.

Question 15

Areas can repurpose after injury “cortical reorganization”

Answer 15

Same task, different brain areas
Reaction and/or compensation

Question 16

Neural function is biomechanical rather than purely electrical. Which of the following are consequences of this?

Answer 16

Slow transmission speed and Modifiable connections.

Question 17

Which of the following are true about resting potential.

Answer 17

The interior of the cell has more of a charge than the exterior.
Prepared by Na+/K+ ion pumps

Question 18

What distinguishes a myelinated neuron (compared to an unmyelinated neuron)

Answer 18

Faster propagation of action potentials.

Question 19

What is the correct order of events within an action potential

Answer 19

1. Voltage reaches threshold
2. Na+ channels open, fast depolarization
3. K+ channels open, repolarization
4. Relative refractory period, inactivated Na+ channels

Question 20

Presynaptic neuron A is connected to postsynaptic neuron B. What kind of plasticity would best fit Hebbian learning?

Answer 20

If A activates before B, the connection will strengthen.

Question 21

What is the process happening across the multiple connections to the motor neuron

Answer 21

Spatial summation

Question 22

An excitatory neurotransmitter typically produces an ______ postsynaptic potential, which results in ______ in the postsynaptic cell.

Answer 22

Excitatory, Depolarization

Question 23

Functional reorganization in the cortex means that…

Answer 23

Different parts of the brain can take over control of the same activity

Question 24

To transmit information between neurons, neurotransmitters must

Answer 24

Bind to postsynaptic receptor molecules