AP Psychology Unit 2

Section 1 - General Brain Function.

Section 1 - General Brain Function.

What is the cell's life support known as?

The cell body (soma).

What direction do neurons go in?

Left to right.

What are synapses known as?

Spaces between the neurons.

How do messages travel between synapses (what is used) and in what process?

Neurotransmitters. Synaptic transmission in other words.

Are synapses actually part of the neuron?

Nope.

What's the chain of neurons portrayed as (identify the two repeating components)?

Neuron-synapse-neuron-synapse.

The space between the dendrite and the terminal buttons of two neurons is known as what?

Synapse.

Reuptake occurs when what is absorbed where (and in what kind of neuron)

The neurotransmitter is absorbed by the terminal buttons/axon terminal, specifically the sending neuron.

The jump in electrical signals from neuron to neuron is done by what?

The Nodes of Ranvier.

The part of the neuron that is responsible for receiving signals from other neurons is called what?

The dendrite.

Neurotransmitters are typically stored where?

The terminal buttons.

Where are neuron signals (neurotransmitters) actually being transferred through as its general structure?

The axon.

Recycling neurotransmitters so they can be reused again at a later time instead of instantly replaced. What is defined as?

Reuptake.

Is reuptake done to decrease or increase the neurotransmitter’s short-term usage?

Reuptake is done to decrease its short-term usage.

Where is reuptake done in (which neuron type)?

The sending neuron.

When reuptake is inhibited (reduced), does it make the neurotransmitter more or less present?

More present.

Neurotransmitters have their effect where?

At the postsynaptic neuron.

What is the presynaptic neuron known as (sending or receiving)?

Sending.

What is the postsynaptic neuron known as (sending or receiving)?

Receiving.

What two benefits does the myelin sheath provide for the axon?

It insulates it and speeds up message times.

Where does the neuron end and is stored (three names)?

Axon Terminal, Terminal Buttons, or the Synaptic Terminal.

Damage to what can cause Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

The myelin sheath.

What’s an example of the blockage of reuptake?

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRI’s.

A temporary shift from negative to positive in a neuron's membrane potential caused by ions suddenly flowing in and out of a neuron. Also known as when the neuron is firing. What is this known as?

Action Potential.

The sequence of shifts in the electrical charge of a neuron is also called what?

Action potential.

A neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing whatsoever. What is this known as (and what is this displayed by)?

All or Nothing Response, a feature displayed by action potential.

When an inhibitory neurotransmitter stimulates a neuron, also known as an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP), what happens to the likelihood of that neuron to produce an action potential?

It decreases.

When an excitatory neurotransmitter stimulates a neuron, also known as excitatory postsynaptic potential {EPSP), what happens to the likelihood of that neuron to produce an action potential?

It increases.

It combines excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters to determine whether or not the sum will make an action potential occur. Define this.

Neural integration.

What's the first phase of the action potential graph?

Sodium gates open.

What's the second phase of the action potential graph?

Depolarization.

What is depolarization?

Sodium ions rush into the axon.

What's the third phase of the action potential graph?

Potassium gates open.

What's the fourth phase of the action potential graph?

Repolarization.

What is repolarization (and what does this make the cell /axon return to)?

Potassium ions rush out, making the cell (and axon) return to its resting potential.

In a resting potential, what kind of ions are more present in the axon?

Negatively charged ions.

What's the fifth phase of the action potential graph?

Sodium gates close.

The sodium gates can't open. What is this known as?

Refractory period.

The refractory period is also known as…

The time shortly after a neuron fires.

What type of membrane potential does hyperpolarization depict (and why)?

Lowest membrane potential because all the positive ions exited.

The threshold in which signals have reached critical intensity and allow the neuron to fire. What membrane potential is this (and what does this signify has the highest likelihood of happening)?

Highest membrane potential, so highest likelihood of an action potential.

Describe the relationship between membrane potential and action potential likelihood.

Proportional.

Describe the relationship between membrane potential and concentration of positive ions.

Proportional.

Describe the relationship between membrane potential and concentration of negative ions.

Inverse.

Differing speeds of action potentials travel across neurons are known as what?

Differential Conduction.

What conducts action potentials faster, myelinated neurons or unmyelinated neurons?

Myelinated neurons.

What conducts action potentials faster, larger diameter axons or smaller diameter axons?

Larger diameter axons.

Section 2 - Nerves 101.

What acronym represents the order of nerves progressing throughout the body?

SAIME.

What is SA in SAIME?

Sensory (Afferent).

What does the sensory nerves do?

It takes in sensory information and sends it up to the brain and to the spine.

What is I in SAIME?

Interneuron.

What does the interneuron nerves do?

It transfer signals between sensory and motor neurons.

What is ME in SAIME?

Motor (Efferent).

What does the motor nerves do?

It makes us move.

What comes first in nerve transmissions?

Sensory (afferent) nerves.

What comes second in nerve transmissions?

Interneuron nerves.

What comes third in nerve transmissions?

Motor (efferent) nerves.

What is the correct sequence of the neural chain of events set in motion by an environmental stimulus?

Receptors - afferent - interneuron - efferent - effectors.

What is the Reflex Arc responsible for?

Reflexes.

Where do these messages travel only to?

Message only travels to the spinal cord and not all the way up to the brain.

Section 3 - Neurotransmitter Types, Functions, and Dangers.

Identify all of the excitatory neurotransmitters.

Acetylcholine, glutamate, and norepinephrine.

What do excitatory neurotransmitters do to the likelihood of an action potential of a neuron?

It excites, or increases, it.

Identify all of the inhibitory neurotransmitters.

Serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and endorphins.

What do inhibitory neurotransmitters do to the likelihood of an action potential of a neuron?

It inhibits, or decreases, it.

What is the excitatory neurotransmitter (for learning and memory) known as?

Acetylcholine.

What three things is acetylcholine responsible for?

Voluntary movement, memory, and learning.

What happens if you have too much acetylcholine?

You may have muscle spasms.

What happens if you have too little acetylcholine?

You may have Alzheimer's Disease.

What is the inhibitory neurotransmitter (for joy) known as?

Dopamine.

What two things are dopamine responsible for?

Pleasure and motivation.

What happens if you have too much dopamine?

You may have schizophrenia.

What happens if you have too little dopamine?

You may have Parkinson's Disease.

What is the inhibitory neurotransmitter (for homeostasis, or regular functioning) known as?

Serotonin.

What three things does serotonin regulate?

Mood, hunger, and sleep.

What happens if you have too much serotonin?

You may have Serotonin Syndrome.

What happens if you have too little serotonin?

You may have depression.

What is the inhibitory neurotransmitter (for tranquility) known as?

GABA.

What two things does GABA regulate?

Calmness and focus.

What happens if you have too much GABA?

You may have trouble falling asleep and eating.

What happens if you have too little GABA?

You may have anxiety.

What is the excitatory neurotransmitter (for memory) known as?

Glutamate.

What two things are glutamate responsible for?

Learning and memory.

What happens if you have too much glutamate?

You may have migraines and seizures.

What is the inhibitory neurotransmitter (for feeling) known as?

Endorphins.

What are endorphins responsible for?

Pain (management).

What happens if you have too many endorphins?

You may not be able to feel pain (lack of signaling).

What happens if you have too few endorphins?

You may have addiction.

What is the excitatory neurotransmitter (for sensory) known as?

Norepinephrine/noradrenaline.

What three things are norepinephrine responsible for?

Alertness, arousal, and stress (responses).

What happens if you have too much norepinephrine?

Anxiety and high blood pressure.

What happens if you have too little norepinephrine?

Depression.

What do antagonists do?

It blocks neurotransmitters.

What do agonists do?

It mimics neurotransmitters.

Section 4 - Specific Brain Function.

What four things is the limbic system responsible for?

Emotions, motivation, memory and drives.

What four parts of the brain make up the limbic system?

The Hypothalamus, the Amygdala, the Hippocampus, and the Thalamus.

Language and information processing. Which brain part is responsible for this?

Cerebral Cortex.