NEUR200 Exam 1 Outline

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology from the neuroscience lecture notes, designed to assist students in their preparation for the NEUR200 exam.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord; includes sensory and motor neurons.

Meninges

Three protective membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord.

Blood Brain Barrier (BBB)

A selective permeability barrier that separates the circulating blood from the brain and extracellular fluid in the central nervous system.

Grey Matter vs. White Matter

Grey matter contains neuron cell bodies, while white matter contains myelinated axons.

Neurons

Basic building blocks of the nervous system that transmit information through electrical and chemical signals.

Soma

The cell body of a neuron, containing the nucleus and organelles.

Dendrites

Extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons.

Axon

A long projection of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body.

Synapse

The junction between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another.

Glial Cells

Supporting cells in the nervous system that provide support, nourishment, and protection for neurons.

Astrocytes

Star-shaped glial cells that help to maintain the blood-brain barrier and provide metabolic support to neurons.

Efferent Neurons

Neurons that carry signals away from the central nervous system to peripheral effectors.

Membrane Potential (Voltage)

The difference in electric charge inside and outside the neuron, typically around -70mV at rest.

Resting Membrane Potential (RMP)

The electrical potential of a neuron when it is not actively transmitting a signal.

Ligand-gated Channel

A channel that opens in response to a specific chemical binding to it, allowing ions to flow across the membrane.

Action Potential

A rapid rise and fall in membrane potential that propagates along the axon.

Absolute Refractory Period

A time during which a second action potential cannot be initiated, regardless of the strength of the stimulus.

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals released from pesicles in the presynaptic neuron that transmit signals across the synaptic cleft.

Myelin

A fatty substance that insulates axons and increases the speed of electrical signal propagation.

Nernst Equation

An equation used to calculate the equilibrium potential for an ion based on its concentration gradient.

Population Coding

A neural representation that describes stimuli by the collective activity of a group of neurons.

Single Unit Recording

A method used to measure the electrical activity of a single neuron.