Biology Notes (Exam Guide 1)

Nervous system

Made up of neurons and supporting cells

Neurons

Excitable cells that transmit electrical signals rapidly

Synapses

A junction where a neuron sends a chemical signal to another cell

Every time you experiences something new, there is a physical change in the neurons/transmissions 

Neural development 

• occurs before birth 

• genetics determine basic structure of the nervous system 

Gene expression

how your DNA is used

Signal transduction 

when gene expression occurs 

Neural Plasticity

after brith, your brain can modify connections based on experiences

• modifications occur after birth

Memories

long lasting changes in the brain that occur throughout your life

• neurons increase connections to each other as you learn

• the amount of activity at synapses tells the brain what is important and practicing tells your brain what is important

Learning

the use of memory to decrease likelihood of a negative outcome, you do better because of learning

• memory does not equal learning

sensory memory 

what you experience 

• goes to STM (working memory) if you pay attention 

STM/working memory

what you are aware of now, held for a short time

• few items only (7+2)

LTM

permanent connections in brain, unlimited storage

Encoding (stored)

translating info from outside into something our brain understands

retrieval (recalled)

bringing stored memory from LTM to STM

organizers

facilitate information going to LTM

Long term potentiation (LTP)

a persistent strengthening of the synapses based on your activities