Developmental Neurogenesis and Brain Function

Neurons

Basic functional units of the nervous system.

Glial Cells

Support cells in the nervous system, more than neurons.

Synapses

Connections between neurons for communication.

Developmental Neurogenesis

Formation and specialization of neurons during development.

Zygote

Totipotent cell from fertilization to 4 days.

Blastula

Hollow ball of cells, still totipotent.

Gastrula

Three-layered cell structure, limited cell type formation.

Ectoderm

Outer layer forming skin and nervous system.

Mesoderm

Middle layer forming muscle, blood, and bone.

Endoderm

Inner layer forming internal organs.

Neural Plate

Back ectoderm forming neural tube and crest.

Neural Tube

Hollow tube forming spinal cord and brain.

Neural Crest

Cells migrating to form peripheral nerves.

Cell Proliferation

Formation of new cells from neural stem cells.

Neural Stem Cell

Unspecialized cell capable of division.

Microcephaly

Abnormally small brain due to insufficient proliferation.

Cell Migration

Movement of cells to their final locations.

Tangential Migration

Cells moving up/down or around.

Radial Migration

Cells moving outward from the center.

Differentiation

Unspecialized cells take on specialized functions.

Chemical Differentiation

Hormones activate genes for neuron-specific proteins.

Morphological Differentiation

Cells adopt adult forms like dendrites and axons.

Synaptogenesis

Formation of functional synapses between neurons.

Cell Death

Programmed cell death for unnecessary neurons.

Neurotrophins

Chemicals promoting neuron growth and survival.

Synaptic Pruning

Elimination of excess synapses for efficiency.

Myelination

Formation of myelin sheaths around neurons.

Leukodystrophies

Disorders caused by defects in myelination.

Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors

Rare tumors from excessive neural stem cell proliferation.

Palmar Grasp

Grasping with all four fingers opposing thumb.

Mature Grasp

Grasp using few fingers to oppose thumb.

Fine Pincer Grasp

Grasping small objects with a single finger.

Dendritic Maturation

Development of dendrites in neurons.

Cortical Thickness

Measurement of neuron density in cortex.

Language Acquisition

Process of learning words and language.

Cortical Thickness in Speech Areas

Increased neuron density in language processing regions.

Bilingualism

Fluency in two languages from early age.

Piagetian Stages

Developmental stages of cognitive growth.

Sensorimotor Stage

Birth to 2 years; object permanence develops.

Preoperational Stage

2-6 years; mental representation of objects.

Concrete Operations

7-11 years; logical thinking about concrete events.

Formal Operations

Abstract reasoning develops in adolescence.

Neuronal Number

Total count of neurons remains constant.

Postnatal Neurogenesis

Formation of new neurons after birth.

Enriched Environment

Stimulating surroundings that enhance cognitive abilities.

Cognitive Defects

Impairments in thinking and understanding.

Hippocampus

Brain region critical for memory and learning.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Developmental disorder affecting social interaction.

Under-Connectivity Hypothesis

Reduced connections in specific brain regions.

Over-Connectivity Hypothesis

Increased connections in certain brain areas.

Learning

Acquisition or modification of knowledge and skills.

Memory

Storage of acquired knowledge for later recall.

Encoding

Initial recording of sensory information.

Consolidation

Stabilization of memory after acquisition.

Storage

Long-term retention of memory.

Retrieval

Accessing stored information for use.

Explicit Memory

Requires conscious effort to recall.

Implicit Memory

Unconscious recall of skills and tasks.

Episodic Memory

Personal memories of past experiences.

Semantic Memory

Factual information and general knowledge.

Neuroanatomy of Memory

Brain regions involved in processing memory.

Basal Forebrain

Brain region involved in attention and memory.

Prefrontal Cortex

Critical for initial memory encoding and working memory.

Medial Temporal Cortex

Involved in consolidation of explicit memories.

Sensory Cortex

Potential long-term storage for semantic memory.

Place Neurons

Neurons firing in response to specific spatial views.

Habituation

Decreased response to repeated non-harmful stimuli.

Aplysia California

Sea slug used to study habituation and memory.

Synaptic Transmission

Neurons communicate via neurotransmitter release.

Synaptic Plasticity

Changes in synaptic strength affecting communication.

Long Term Potentiation (LTP)

Long-lasting increase in synaptic transmission strength.

Long Term Depression (LTD)

Long-lasting decrease in synaptic transmission strength.

Neurogenesis

Formation of new neurons in the brain.

Calcium Channels

Voltage-gated channels crucial for neurotransmitter release.

Post-Synaptic Potential (PSP)

Change in voltage in the post-synaptic neuron.

Motor Program

Neural pathways enabling learned motor actions.

Cerebellum

Brain region involved in motor control and learning.

Gene Expression

Activation of genes to produce proteins.

Neurotransmitter Receptors

Proteins on neurons binding neurotransmitters.

Action Potential

Electrical signal traveling down a neuron.

Siphon Withdrawal Reflex

Aplysia's response to potential harm stimuli.

Sensitization

Increased response to a stimulus after exposure.

Neurotransmitter Release

Process of neurotransmitters entering the synapse.

Long Term Depression

Reduced response to repeated stimuli.

Post-synaptic signaling

Initiates gene expression for dendritic spine growth.

Pre-synaptic gene expression

Produces axon extension and neurotransmitter formation.

Adult neurogenesis

Creation of new neurons in the adult brain.

Amnesia

Loss of memory function.

Retrograde amnesia

Loss of pre-existing memories.

Anterograde amnesia

Inability to form new memories.

Explicit memory

Conscious recall of facts and events.

Huntington's disease

Genetic disorder affecting motor control and memory.

Korsakoff's Syndrome

Memory disorder from thiamine deficiency.

Alzheimer's Disease

Neurodegenerative disorder affecting memory and cognition.

Psychological trauma

Emotional injury affecting memory consolidation.

Repetition and retrieval

Reinforces memory through exposure.

Ischemia

Insufficient blood flow causing neuron death.

Necrosis

Accidental cell death without signaling.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death requiring signaling.

Cerebrovascular disorders

Brain dysfunctions from blood vessel issues.