Neurobiology Lecture - Key Concepts

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and key concepts related to neurobiology, focusing on nerve cells, signaling processes, and nervous system organization.

Neuron

A nerve cell that transmits electrical impulses; basic unit of the nervous system.

Complexity and Diversity

Variation in structure and function of nerve cells, depending on the organism and environmental challenges.

Feedback Loops

Processes by which responses are modulated based on sensory input.

Integration and Association

The ability to achieve greater control through pathways linking neurons, often mediated by interneurons.

Memory Pathways

Neural pathways that facilitate behavioral adaptation.

Synaptic Connection

The connections made between neurons across synapses, which influence communication and behavior.

Electrochemical Signaling

Signals generated by the changes in membrane potential leading to action potentials.

Input Component

The region of a neuron where local receptive signals are received, typically on the dendrites.

Action Potential (AP)

A rapid rise and subsequent fall in voltage or membrane potential across a cellular membrane.

Excitatory Synapse

A synapse that causes the post-synaptic neuron to be depolarized, increasing the chance of firing an action potential.

Inhibitory Synapse

A synapse that hyperpolarizes the post-synaptic cell membrane, decreasing the likelihood of an action potential firing.

Neural Pathways

The routes through which signals travel in the nervous system, mapped through historical studies.

Spinal Reflex Circuit

A neural pathway that mediates reflex actions, typically involving sensory, motor, and interneurons.

Photoreceptor Cells

Cells in the retina that respond to light, including rods and cones.

Dendrites

Branch-like structures of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons.

Soma (Cell Body)

The main part of a neuron containing the nucleus and organelles.

Axon

A long, slender projection of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body.