Key Concepts in Neuroscience and Research Ethics

Informed consent

Must inform participants about purpose of research, expected duration, procedures and their right to decline to participate and to withdraw

Humane care

Ensure ethical treatment of animals in research.

Neurons

Highly specialized for communication occurs via electrical and chemical signals, sending information  

Glia

Support cells aiding neural signaling.

Dendrites

receive information at a synapse and transfer that information toward cell body 

Astrocytes

Important for development of NS. Important for energy, metabolism in nervous system 

Microglia

Immune cells in brain, eliminate synapses.

Oligodendrocytes

Produce myelin and speeds up electrical signals in the CNS

Myelinate axons in the PNS (peripheral nervous system)

Function of Schwann cells

Frontal lobe

problem solving, decision making, attention and focus, voluntary movement (motor function) 

Function of parietal lobe

Somatic sensory information (touch, pain) and time perception

Excitatory change pushing neuron towards action potential.

EPSP

Inhibitory change pushing neuron away from action potential.

IPSP

Selective barrier controlling ion and molecule movement.

Phospholipid bilayer

Movement of ions from high to low concentration.

Diffusion

Electrostatic Pressure

Because the cell is changed in order for action potential, movement on ions, happen because positively charged things are attracted to negatively charged things 

Moves 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in.

Sodium-potassium pump

Voltage gated channels

Active since they have gates that can open close in response to changes in membrane potential 

Rapid all or none-electrical signal travels long distances along neuron  

Action potentials

Smaller electrical signal only traveling shorter distances and can be summed to reach threshold for triggering action potential. 

Graded potentials

Increases speed of action potentials.

Role of myelin and its effects on action potentials

Flavor

Perception integrating taste and smell signals.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of stable internal environment for survival.

Homeostatic feedback loop

Environmental change triggers sensory cells and control centers.