Chapter 3 - Neuroscience and Behavior

Psychology 6th Edition - Schacter, Gilbert, Nock

Neurons

cells in the nervous system that communicate with each other to preform tasks

soma

cell body, largest component of the neuron that coordinates the information processing and keeps the cells alive

dendrites

receive info from other neurons and relay it to the cell body

axon

carries info to other neurons, muscles, or glands

myelin

insulating layer of fatty material comprised of glial cells

glial cells

supporting cells found in the nervous system

synapse

junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another

sensory neurons

receive information from the external world and convey this info to the brain via the spinal cord

motor neurons

carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement

interneurons

connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons

Most of the nervous system is comprised of ________.

interneurons

________ are primarily found in the cerebral cortex.

Pyramidal cells

When an electrical signal moves within a neuron, it travels from the ________. 

dendrites to the cell body to the axon

Bipolar neurons are found in the ________.

retina

_______ carry information from the body to the central nervous system (CNS).

Sensory neurons

_______ process sensory input and decide what to do about it.

Interneurons

Sensory neurons are typically ______, while interneurons are typically _____. 

unipolar, multipolar

Your sympathetic nervous system is likely to be activated by ________.

watching a vicious attack in a Battle Star Galactica movie

Synaptic vesicles release neurotransmitters into a synapse when ________.

an action potential reaches the axon terminals

The typical sequence of events for neuronal activity is:

resting potential, action potential, refractory period.

Within a neuron, information is transmitted as a(n) _____ signal from the dendrites to the cell body and throughout the axon. 

electrical

The voltage changes from ____ in the resting state, to ____ during an action potential, to ____ during the refractory period. 

-70 mV, +40mV, -70mV

The voltage in an axon segment shifts from a negative charge to a positive one when an action potential occurs because _____. 

Sodium ions rush into the cell

The sodium-potassium pump serves its most important function during which stage of a nerve impulse?

recovery - rebalancing the ions

The voltage in an axon segment shifts from a positive charge to a negative one immediately after an action potential occurs because _____. 

Potassium rushes out of the cell

conduction

when nerve impulses travel from the dendrites at one end of a neuron to the axon terminals at the opposite end

action potential

an electric signal that is conducted along the length of a neuron’s axon to a synapse

resting potential

the difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of a neuron’s cell membrane

ligand gated sodium channels

opens to let sodium ions (Na⁺) inside when a specific chemical messenger binds to it

voltage-gated sodium channels

open and close in response to changes in cell membrane voltage

When electrical signals travel through the neuron, we call that:

conduction

When a neuron is resting, there's a difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of the cell's membrane. The inside of the cell is slightly more negatively charged than the outside because _____. Identify the statement below that is FALSE. 

the fluid outside the cell has a very high concentration of positively charged potassium ions (K+)

A segment of an axon is currently at resting potential. What threshold value must it reach for voltage-gated sodium channels to open?

-55mV

Let's say that I'm stimulating the axon of a giant squid neuron, and I'm causing the neuron to conduct action potentials to other neurons. If I increase the electrical stimulation, the strength of the action potential will ________.

remain the same

Fugu is a Japanese sashimi dish prepared from the meat of a venomous pufferfish. Fugu is an expensive delicacy, but it can also be lethally dangerous because it contains a poison called "tetrodotoxin." In trace amounts, fugu might cause a curious tingling of the lips and tongue — but if you ingest too much and it gets in your bloodstream, it will stop all muscle activity, causing paralysis and asphyxiation, and eventually death. Fugu has these effects on the nervous system because ________.

it blocks sodium channels, preventing action potentials in nerves that signal muscles to move

The myelin sheath speeds conduction of action potentials because ________. 

an electrical current can effectively leap from one gap in the myelin sheath to the next

Signals travel via _______ within each neuron. Information is sent from one neuron to the next via _______.

electrical conduction, transmission

________ are not found in a terminal button.

Enzyme deactivators

Neurotransmitter is released into the synapse ________.

after an action potential occurs in the presynaptic neuron

The reuptake process ________.

vacuums neurotransmitters out of the synapse and repackages them in vesicles in the presynaptic neuron

Autoreceptors are found _________.

on presynaptic terminal buttons

terminal buttons

knoblike structures that branch out from an axon

neurotransmitters

chemicals that transmit info across the synapse to a receiving neuron’s dendrites

receptors

parts of the cell membrane that receive the neurotransmitter and either initiate or prevent a new electrical signal.

Acetycholine (ACH)

a neurotransmitter involved in a number of functions, including voluntary motor control

Dopamine

a neurotransmitter that regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal.

Glutamate

major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain

GABA

the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

Norepinephrine

involved in states of vigilance, or heightened awareness of dangers in the environment

serotonin

involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating, and aggressive behavior

Endorphins

involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating, and aggressive behavior

Agonists

drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter

Antagonists

drugs that diminish the function of a neurotransmitter.

Neurotransmitters can be deactivated by reuptake or by being ________.

broken down into their chemical components in the synapse

___________ is thought to be caused by low amounts of the neurotransmitter ____________.

Alzheimer’s disease; acetylcholine

After an action potential, for a brief period, a(n) ____________ occurs during which the axon is not excitable and cannot fire another impulse.

refractory period

A small change in electrical potential that does not trigger an action potential can occur in the _____.

dendrites and soma

A neuron’s voltage changes from a negative value to +40mV during an action potential when ________ the cell; the voltage shifts from +40mV to -70 mV immediately after the action potential when _____ the cell. 

sodium ions rush into; potassium ions flow out of

Which of the following is not a lobe in the cerebral cortex?

Cerebellum

nervous system

an interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical information throughout the body

central nervous system

composed of the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

connects the central nervous system to the body’s organs and muscles

somatic nervous system

set of nerves that conveys information between skeletal muscles and the central nervous system

autonomic nervous system

set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs, and glands.

sympathetic nervous system

a set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations

parasympathetic nervous system

helps the body return to a normal resting state.

spinal reflexes

simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions

reflex arc

a neural pathway that controls reflex actions

hindbrain

most primitive part of your brain; coordinates information coming in and out of the spinal cord and control functions essential to life

medulla

an extension of the spinal cord that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration.

reticular formation

regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal.

cerebellum

controls fine motor skills; plays a role in learning and remembering certain types of knowledge and skills.

pons

relays information from the cerebellum and the rest of the brain. 

midbrain

Sitting on top of the brainstem, responsible for visual and auditory orienting and regulating movement and arousal.

tectum

visual and auditory orienting reflexes.

tegmentum

involved in initiating movement and some aspects of arousal (e.g., mental alertness)

Forebrain

responsible for the central nervous system's most complex functions

cerebal cortex

brain's outermost layer and is visible to the naked eye.

thalamus

receives and transmits sensory information (eyes, ears, etc.) to the cerebral cortex.

pituitary gland

primary endocrine gland; it receives signals from the hypothalamus and releases hormones that coordinate other glands in the body.

limbic system

a group of forebrain structures

hypothalamus

regulates body temperature and motivational urges (hunger, thirst, se xual behavior, etc.)

amygdala

structure at the tips of each side of the hippocampus that plays a central role in emotional processes.

hippocampus

a structure that's critical for creating and integrating new memories.

basal ganglia

a set of subcortical structures that direct intentional movements.

Nearly everything you experience is processed through this sensory waystation:

thalamus

This structure helps you keep breathing without you needing to think about it.

medulla

I am so hungry; I need to get some food!

hypothalamus

This structure formed memories of your high school graduation.

hippocampus

Someone with Parkinson’s disease has a problem with this.

basal ganglia

You become overwhelmed with emotion, and cry during the happy ending of the Disney movie "Inside Out."

amygdala

You become very sleepy after a long night of studying.

reticular formation

You’re studying in a quiet room, you hear a tap on the window, and your body spins around to orient in the direction of the sound.

tectum

The ability to play the piano or execute other complex motor actions gracefully.

cerebellum

gyri

The smooth surfaces of the cortex — the raised part

sucli

indentations or fissures of the cortex

contralateral control

each hemisphere controls the functions of the opposite side of the body.

commissures

connects each hemisphere. bundles of axons that make possible communication between parallel areas of the cortex in each half.

corpus callosum

connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemispheres

occipital lobe

processes visual information