EXAM 1 PSYCH 243

Aristotle

Proposed that the brain was merely a cooling mechanism for the heart, which he believed was the center of intellect.

Galen

Conducted dissections of animal brains, concluded the cerebrum processes sensations while the cerebellum controls movement.

Descartes

Introduced mind-body dualism, theorizing that movement was controlled by fluid in the brain's ventricles.

Bell and Magendie

Established that dorsal roots carry sensory information and ventral roots carry motor information.

Franz Joseph Gall

Developed phrenology, suggesting different brain regions correspond to specific personality traits.

Darwin

Proposed that behaviors evolved through natural selection, influencing the study of comparative neuroscience.

Nissl Stain

Uses basic dyes to stain neuron nuclei, helping distinguish between neurons and glial cells.

Golgi Stain

Uses silver chromate to visualize the complete structure of a small percentage of neurons.

Nucleus

Houses DNA and directs gene expression, crucial for neuronal function.

Mitochondria

Generate ATP through cellular respiration, providing energy for cellular processes.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Synthesizes membrane-bound and secretory proteins essential for neurotransmitter release.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

Assists in protein folding and regulates calcium levels vital for neurotransmitter release.

Golgi Apparatus

Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for transport, essential for neuronal communication.

Soma

Contains the nucleus, integrates signals from dendrites, and maintains cell health.

Axon

Transmits electrical signals over long distances, crucial for inter-neuronal communication.

Axon Hillock

Site where action potentials are initiated, acting as a trigger zone for propagation.

Dendrites

Receive synaptic inputs, integrating information to determine neuronal output.

Cytoskeleton

Provides structural support and facilitates intracellular transport in neurons.

Microtubules

Large tubes made of tubulin, crucial for axonal transport of organelles and proteins.

Neurofilaments

Provide structural stability to neurons, helping maintain shape against stress.

Microfilaments

Composed of actin, involved in cell shape and motility, important for synaptic plasticity.

Ion Channels

Allow specific ions to pass through the membrane, crucial for generating action potentials.

Ion Pumps

Maintain ionic gradients; example: Sodium-potassium pump restores resting membrane potential.

Receptors

Detect neurotransmitters, initiating cellular responses; important for synaptic transmission.

Anterograde Transport

Moves materials from soma to axon terminal using kinesin motor proteins.

Retrograde Transport

Transports materials from the axon terminal back to the soma using dynein motor proteins.

Unipolar Neurons

Neurons with a single neurite, often involved in sensory functions.

Bipolar Neurons

Neurons with two neurites, typically involved in special sensory functions.

Multipolar Neurons

Neurons with multiple neurites, most common in the nervous system, involved in diverse functions.

Stellate Neurons

Star-shaped neurons influencing their connectivity and function.

Pyramidal Neurons

Pyramid-shaped neurons, important for communication in the brain.

Golgi Type I Neurons

Neurons with long axons, affecting their functional reach.

Golgi Type II Neurons

Neurons with short axons, generally involved in local processing.

Cholinergic Neurons

Neurons that release acetylcholine, influencing neurotransmission and signaling.

Excitable Cells

Neurons that transmit electrical and chemical signals within the nervous system.

Glial Cells

Support cells that provide insulation, nutrition, and structural support to neurons.

Astrocytes

CNS cells regulating extracellular environment and contributing to the blood-brain barrier.

Oligodendrocytes

CNS cells that produce myelin, insulating axons for enhanced signal transmission.

Schwann Cells

PNS cells that myelinate axons, facilitating rapid conduction of action potentials.

Microglia

CNS immune cells responding to injury and disease.

Ependymal Cells

Line brain ventricles and help circulate cerebrospinal fluid.