Behavioral Neuroscience exam 1

afferent

a _______ nerve carries sensory information from the periphery to the central nervous system

amygdala

a brain area critical to learning to recognize threatening situations

anterior

toward the nose

arachnoid mater

one of three meninges that surround and protect the spinal cord and the brain

astrocyte

star shaped glial cells that provide nutrients and other support to nearby neurons

autonomic nervous system

the division of the nervous system that controls the arousal state of internal organs

axon

a thread like extension that leaves the cell body and carries and electrical signal to the terminal

basal ganglia

a brain area important in motor function; damage leads to movement disorders

BOLD (blood oxygenated level-dependent)

a signal used in fMRI brain imaging; increases and decreases in neuronal activity show increases or decreases in this

brain stem

a division of the brain located just atop the spinal cord; contains medulla, pons, cerebellum

caudal

toward the back of the head

cell body

the roundish “factory” of the neuron that contains the cells nucleus and organelles

central canal

a canal running through the spinal cord

central nervous system

the division of the nervous system containing the brain and spinal cord

central sulcus

the groove that separates the frontal from the parietal lobe

cerebellum

a region of the brainstem critical for bodily balance, and for smooth and accurate limb movements

cerebral aqueduct

a fluid filled channel that connects the third and fourth ventricles

cerebral cortex

the thin outer most layer of the brain that is responsible for the complex cognitive processes that define the human species

a chimeric mouse

a mouse that contains some human cells

choroid plexus

a group of cells, located within each of the four ventricles, which produce cerebrospinal fluid

contralateral

opposite side

coronal brain slice

a slice that divides the brain into front and back regions

corpus callosum

a bundle of neurons that connect the two hemispheres

cranial nerves

nerves that communicate directly between the brain and the periphery of the body, bypassing the spinal cord

dendrites

branch like extensions that receive input from other neurons

diencephalon

a division of the brain that lies just above the brainstem; contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, pineal gland, and pituitary gland

dorsal

toward the top of the brain

dura mater

one of three meninges that surround and protect the spinal cord and the brain

efferent nerves

nerves that carry information from the central nervous system to the periphery

forebrain

the portion of the brain above the brainstem

fourth ventricle

one of 4 ventricles of the brain

frontal lobe

a lobe of the cortex most important for movement of the body

glial progenitor cell (GPC)

an immature cell that develops to become a certain type of glial cells

gray matter

tissue made up mostely of cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons of neurons

gyri

the hills/bumps that contribute to the crumpled look of the cortex

hippocampus

a key brain structure for storing and recalling memories of personal experiences

horizontal brain slice

a slice that divides the brain into top and bottom regions

hypothalamus

a small brain area that regulates motivated behaviors including sex, eating, thirst, sleep and body temperature

inferior colliculus

a small midbrain region important for orienting and attending to auditory events

lateral

away from the midline of the brain; toward the ear

lateral sulcus

the groove that lies just above the temporal lobe

lateral ventricles

two of the four ventricles of the brain; one on the left and one on the right side of the brain

limbic system

a collection of brain structures significantly involves in emotion and memory

longitudinal fissure

a deep canyon that runs along the midline from the front to the back of the forebrain; separates brain into right and left hemispheres

medial

toward the midline of the brain

medulla

the portion of the brain stem that sits just atop the spinal cord, it governs essential physiological processes such as respiration, sleep, and regulation of blood pressure

microglia

tiny glial cells, when neurons die or suffer damage these glial cells remove the debris left behind

midbrain

region of the brainstem, just above the pons, which contains dopamine neurons

myelin

the whitish tissue that surrounds and insulates axons to speed information transfer across the axon

neurogenesis

the birth of new neurons

neurotransmitter

a chemical released from the axon terminal which crosses a synapse, and binds to receptors

occipital lobe

the lobe of the cerebral cortex dedicated to vision

oligodendrocyte

a glial cell the provides myelin to neurons of the brain and spinal cord

parasympathetic nervous system

division of the autonomic nervous system that restores the resting state of organs and stores energy

parasympathetic ganglia

clusters of parasympathetic nerves that originate close to the organs that they target

parietal lobe

the lobe of the cerebral cortex dedicated principally to touch sensation

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

the division of the nervous system that communicates with the periphery of the body

pia mater

one of three meninges that surrounds and protects the spinal cord and brain

pineal gland

a tiny gland within the diencephalon that plays a role in sleep regulation

pituitary gland

situated just below the hypothalamus; considered the master gland; releases hormones that influence other glands, including those involved in stress and sexual behavior

plasticity

the brains ability to undergo structural and functional change

pons

a brainstem region with a swollen shape; contains neurons that are important in sleep, arousal, respiration, and heart rate

posterior

toward the back of the head

prefrontal cortex

most anterior portion of the frontal lobe; important in cognitive functions—attention and working memory

rostral

toward the nose

sagittal brain slice

slice that divides the left from the right brain

glial cells that provide myelin to neurons of the peripheral nervous system

Schwann cells

somatic nervous system

division of the peripheral nervous system comprised of sensory nerves that carry information to the central nervous system, and motor nerves that carry info from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles

substantia nigra

small area of the midbrain containing a cluster of dopamine neurons that play a role in movement

sulci

the grooves/valleys that contribute to the crumpled look of the cortex

superior colliculus

a small midbrain region important or orienting and attending to visual events

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for emergency situations

sympathetic ganglia

clusters of sympathetic nerves that originate just outside the spinal cord

synaptic cleft

a tiny gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and receiving areas (receptors) of another neuron

temporal lobe

the lobe of the cerebral cortex that is critical for hearing

terminal (axon terminal)

the ending of an axon, where neurotransmitter is released into a synapse

thalamus

a brain area that acts as a relay to send information to and from the cerebral cortex

third ventricle

one of the four ventricles of the brain

ventral

toward the bottom (of the brain)

VTA

a small region of the midbrain containing a cluster of dopamine neurons involved in reinforcement and addiction

ventricles

the brains four fluid filled chambers, which contain cerebrospinal fluid

white matter

tissue of the nervous system with a whitish appearance due to the white color of myelinated axons

action potential

the successive opening of ion channels, from the initial segment of the axon all the way to the axon terminal

agonist

a drug that mimics or increases the activity of a neurotransmitter

antagonist

a drug that blocks or reduces the effects of a neurotransmitter

autoreceptor

a ________ is a receptor that responds to the neurostransmitter released by its own axon terminal; senses when high levels of neurotransmitters are being released, and causes the neuron to reduce its own firing rate

axon

a thin extension that leaves the cell body and carries an electrical signal to the terminal

axon hillock

the site where the neuron’s cell body gives rise to the axon

blood-brain barrier

a wall of tightly packed cells that surrounds the brain’s blood vessels and allows only certain substances to reach the brain

cell body

the roundish part of the neuron containing the cells nucleus and other cellular machinery

chloride ion (Cl-)

a negatively charged ion concentrated outside the neuron

conduction velocity

the speed with which the action potential moves along the axon

degradation

breaking of a neurotransmitter or other molecule into inactive components, usually by enzymes

depolarization

a change in the neurons membrane potential that makes it less polarized, and more likely to fire

diffusion

the movement of a substance from an area of high concentration to a region of lesser concentration

divergent

neuronal connections that allow a small number of neurons to broadcast a message to many neuronal recipients

electrostatic pressure

the attractive force of opposite charges

enzyme

a protein that can convert one molecule into another

excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

the size of an excitatory (depolarizing) change in the membrane potential

exocytosis

the merging of a vesicle with the neuron’s membrane and the secretion of its contents into the synaptic cleft