Neural Development, Sensory Systems, and Brain Function: Key Concepts for Biology and Neuroscience

What are the three primary germ layers?

Ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.

Which germ layer gives rise to the nervous system?

The ectoderm.

What is the neural plate?

A flattened region of ectoderm that develops into the nervous system.

What is the result of neural tube closure?

The formation of the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.

What structure gives rise to the peripheral nervous system?

The neural crest.

What is the difference between totipotent, pluripotent, and multipotent stem cells?

Totipotent can become any cell, pluripotent can become almost any cell, and multipotent are limited to specific types.

What are the five sequential steps of neuron development?

Proliferation, migration, differentiation, axon guidance, and pruning.

What is the function of radial glial cells during development?

They act as stem cells and provide a scaffold to guide migrating neurons.

What is the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical cell division?

Symmetrical division produces two stem cells, while asymmetrical division produces one stem cell and one neuron.

How does the cerebral cortex form in terms of layer development?

It forms from the bottom layers upward.

What is the growth cone and what is its function?

The tip of a growing axon that explores the environment to guide axon pathfinding.

What is the role of actin in the growth cone?

It enables the movement and structural changes of the growth cone.

What is the function of netrin and its receptor DCC?

Netrin acts as a chemoattractant that guides axons to the midline via the DCC receptor.

What is the function of slit and its receptor Robo?

Slit acts as a chemorepellent that prevents axons from crossing the midline again via the Robo receptor.

What is apoptosis in the context of neural development?

Programmed cell death used to refine neural circuits.

What is the significance of NGF (Nerve Growth Factor)?

It is a signaling molecule that promotes neuron survival.

What is Hebb's hypothesis?

The concept that 'neurons that fire together, wire together'.

What is a critical period in brain development?

A specific time window when the brain is most susceptible to experience-dependent changes.

What is the difference between Broca's aphasia and Wernicke's aphasia?

Broca's involves difficulty in speech production, while Wernicke's involves difficulty in language comprehension.

What is the function of the thalamus in sensory processing?

It serves as the primary relay station for sensory information to the cortex.

What do TRPV1 and TRPM8 channels detect?

TRPV1 detects heat and capsaicin; TRPM8 detects cold and menthol.

What is the difference between A-delta fibers and C fibers?

A-delta fibers are myelinated and fast; C fibers are unmyelinated and slow.

What is the functional difference between rods and cones in the retina?

Rods are specialized for low-light vision, while cones are specialized for color vision.

What is the olfactory bulb?

The first brain structure involved in processing the sense of smell.