AP Psychology Unit 2: Neuroscience

Neuron

A path in which neurotransmitters travel.

Interconnected Neurons

The bodys information system is built on__________ __________.

Dendrite

Branching extensions, which sole purpose is to spread out their branch’s and receive messages from other cells.

Cell body or Soma

Life support system of a neuron.

Axon

Passes message away from the cell body to other muscles, or glands.

Myelin Sheath

A fatty tissue that covers an axon, helps to protect it. Also helps to speed up neural impulses.

Terminal Branchs of the Axon

Branchs that form junctions with other cells to exist out.

Synapse

A junction between the axon tip(Terminal Branchs) of the sending neuron, and the dendrites of the recieving neuron.

Neural Impulse

A brief electircal charge that travels down an axon, it is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms via the sodium potassium pumps pumping in and out of channels in the axons membrane.

Sodium Potassium Pumps

Helps generate a neural impulse by pumping positively charged ions in and out repeatedly in an axon.

Threshold

The neuron needs enough positive ions to get over this. After reaching this an action potential occurs.

Action Potential

Neuron Fire.

Depolarized Neuron

More + ions than - ions = Action Potential

Hyperpolarized Neuron

Less + ions than - ions = less chance of an Action Potential.

Intensity

The _______ of an action potential stays the same through out the axon.

All-Or-None Response

When the depolarized current exceeds the threshold. A neuron will fire. The depolarized current fails to exceed the threshold. A neuron will not fire. (NO HALFWAY)

Reuptake

Some neurotransmitters in the synapse are reabsorbed into the sending neuron. They stay there until an action potential returns again.

Refactory Period

After an action potential occurs, the neuron has to pause and recharge.

Action Potential

A neuron fires.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messages, released from a sending neuron travel across the synapse and bind to the receptor sites of the recieving neuron, thereby influnceing it to generate a action potential.

Acteycholine(ACH)

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory.

Alzheimers disease

When the ACH neuron deteriorates, it causes _________ __________.

Dopamine

Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion.

Schzophronia

Excess amount of dopamine is actively linked too __________.

Parkinsons Disease

Undersupply of Dopamine induces a decrease in mobility and is linked to __________ ___________.

Seortonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.

Depression

Undersupply of Serotonin is linked to __________.

Norepinphrine

Neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal.

Depressed Mood

Undersupply of Norepinphrine can lead to _______ _______.

GABA( gammaaminobutyric acid)

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Seizures

Undersupply of GABA is linked to _________.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory.

Migranes

Oversupply of glutamate can overstimulate the brain causing _________.

Antagonist

Blocks a neurotransmitter.

Agonist

Mimics a neurotransmitter.

Central Nervous System

Center of our body contains the brain and spinal cord.

Brain

Clusters of neurons called neural networks are in the _____.

Spinal Cord

Contains interneurons that take information as well as sends and takes information from the peripheral nervous system.

Peripheral Nervous System

Everything outside the central nervous system.

Neural Network

Network of clusters of neurons in the brain.

Inter Neurons

A specialized type of neurons. They take information from extremities or the peripheral nervous system to the spinal cord to the brain. Then sends it to the peripheral.

Autonimic Nervous system

Controls involuntary organs and endocrine system.

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

Sympathetic Nervous system

Part of the autonimic nervous system, controls the fight or flight. Expends energy.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonimic nervous system, controls rest and digest. conserves energy.

Endocrine System

Secrets hormones into the blood stream.

Ardenal Glands

Top of kidney- Releases EPINEPHRINE(Adrenaline) arouses the body in times of stress.

Pituitary Glands

In the brain near the hypothalmus, releases a growth hormone.

Motor Neurons and Sensory Neurons

Peripheal Nervous system neurons.

Motor Neurons

Movement Neurons

Sensory Neurons

Neurons for touch and feeling.

Right Hemisphere

Controls the left side of the body. In charge of facial recognition.

Left Hemisphere

Controls the right side of the body. In charge of ability to speak or language.

Corpus Callosum

Allows information to be shared between to two hemispheres and connects them.

Corpus Callosotomy

A procedure in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers between them.

Epeleptic Seizures

Corpus Callostomy is usually done to stop.

Electroencephalogram(EEG)

Amplifiys and recordes the brains electrical activity. Sees if Neuorns are firing.

PET SCAN

A visual display of brain activty where you inject a radioactive form of glucose. It dectes where the glucose goes while the brain preforms a given task.

fMRI(functional MRI)

Shows brain activity through blood flow. Shows brain function as well as structure.

MRI

Creates visual images of the structure of the brain.

Brain Stem

Connects the brain with the spinal cord.

Split Brains

Research done by Sperry and Gazzangia.

Medulla

Base of brain stem. Controls heart beat and breathing.

Example of Parasympathetic

Bladder- Constricts and holds pee

Example of Sympathetic

Bladder- Relaxes allows you to pee

Reticular Formation

Controls sleep and consciousness(arousal).

Pons

Controls and regullates, sleep,resperation,swallowing and hearing.

Thalmus

The brain’s messenger , recieves information and sends out information.

Cerebellum

Coordinates movement and balance.

Limbic System

A neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres associated with emotion and drive.

Amygdala

A processing center of emotions, responsible for mostly fear and aggression.

Hypothalmus

Controls eating, drinking and external body temperature.

Hippocampus

Involved in long term memory formation and retrieval.

Motor Cortex

An area in the rear of the frontal lobe, controls voluntary movment.

Somatosensory/Sensory Cortex

An area in the front of the parietal lobes that processes body touch and movement sensations.

Central Fissure

Seperates the Pariatel and Frontal lobe.

Lateral Fissure

Seperates the parietal and frontal lobe from the temporal lobe.

Cerebral Cortex

Interconnected neurons covering the central hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information processing center.

Gilial Glands

Cells in the nervous system that support and protect nerouns.

Frontal Lobe

Lying just behind the forehead. In charge of speaking and muscle movements and making plans and judgements.

Parietal Lobe

Located in the rear of the head recieves sensory input for touch and body position.

Occipital Lobe

Lies in the back of the head in charge of recieving information from the visual fields.

Temporal Lobe

Lies between the ears and recieves auditory information.

Brocas area

Responsible for speech and language prodcution located in the frontal lobe. If their is aphaisa your speech is disjouinted.

Wernickes Area

Assoicated with language comprehension. If their is aphasia you are unable to comprehend what the person is saying.

Aphaisa

A inpairment of language.

Plasticity

Our brain's ability to reorganize itself after an accident or tragedy OR modify itself in response to experience/a change