Bio Sci 35 Glossary - Quiz 1

Structure and Function

The overarching theme that the way something is shaped or arranged enables it to perform its function.

Conservation of Energy and Matter

The principle that energy and matter cannot be created or destroyed, but can be changed from one form to another.

Gene-Environmental Interactions

The interplay where environmental factors and gene expression interact to shape the organization and function of the nervous system.

Cerebellum

Brain structure responsible for muscle coordination, balance, and sense of equilibrium.

Medulla Oblongata

Brain structure responsible for breathing.

Frontal Lobe

Brain region responsible for executive function: planning, thinking before acting, organizing, and managing time.

Loss-of-Function Lesion Studies

Analyzing what function is lost when a part of the brain is missing in order to figure out what that brain part does.

Lobotomy

A historical surgery that supposedly treated mental disorders by severing the connection between the frontal lobe and thalamus.

Wernicke's Area

Brain region responsible for language comprehension.

Broca's Area

Brain region responsible for language production.

Presynaptic Neuron

The neuron that sends the signal to the next neuron.

Postsynaptic Neuron

The neuron that receives the signal.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers (e.g., monoamines) released from the presynaptic neuron onto the postsynaptic neuron to transmit signals.

Dopamine

An example of a neurotransmitter.

Serotonin

An example of a neurotransmitter.

Norepinephrine

An example of a neurotransmitter.

Postsynaptic Receptors

Proteins on the membrane of a postsynaptic cell that bind to neurotransmitters released across the synaptic cleft.

Synaptic Cleft

The physical space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons.

Homogenous

Being the same, uniform, or of the same kind throughout (e.g., the brain is not a homogeneous mass).

Theta Activity

Brain activity involving slow brain waves (theta waves), linked to better antidepressant outcomes when increased in the rostral ACC.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The processing center of the body consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Anatomical Directions

Dimensions used to describe the position of brain areas in relationship to one another.

Medial vs. Lateral

Medial falls along the middle line dividing the hemispheres; lateral is close to the outer edges of the brain.

Rostral vs. Caudal

Rostral is situated near the nose; caudal is situated near the brainstem.

Ventral vs. Dorsal

Ventral refers to a more below position; dorsal refers to a further above position along the neural axis.

Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)

The part of the ACC closest to the nostril; activity here predicts better responsiveness to antidepressants.

Monoamine Hypothesis of Depression

Predicts that the underlying pathophysiologic basis of depression is a depletion of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Neurotransmitters vs. Neuropeptides

Neurotransmitters are the main type of chemical messenger in the brain; neuropeptides are a larger type of chemical messenger.

SSRI

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; prevents serotonin from clearing, keeping it in the synapse.

SNRI

Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; prevents serotonin and norepinephrine from clearing, keeping them in the synapse.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAO-I)

Inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAO), the enzyme that degrades dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.

Chemical vs. Electrical Transmission

Chemical transmission uses neurotransmitters; electrical transmission uses action potentials.

Axon

The long tube part of a neuron down which action potentials flow.

Axon Terminal

The end of the axon where neurons send messages to other neurons.

Cell Body

The center of the cell containing the nucleus, from which dendrites and axons branch.

Dendrites

Long extensions of a neuron that receive signals.

Dendritic Spines

Smaller extensions on dendrites where neurons typically receive messages from other neurons.

Exocytosis

Cellular process in which substances exit a neuron via vesicles.

Endocytosis

Cellular process in which substances enter the neuron via vesicles.

Afferent vs. Efferent

Afferent information flows to the brain and spinal cord (sensory); efferent information flows away from them (motor).

Dynamin

A protein that helps keep vesicles from sticking to the plasma membrane.

Dynamin Mutants

Organisms missing dynamin, which blocks endocytosis.

SNARE Proteins

Proteins that help vesicles fuse to the plasma membrane.

BoTox

A neurotoxin that inhibits SNARE proteins.

Depolarization vs. Hyperpolarization

Depolarization makes the membrane potential more positive; hyperpolarization makes it more negative.

Action Potential

Electrical activity moving from one side of a neuron to the other.

Membrane Potential

The difference in electrical charges inside and outside of a cell, creating a voltage difference.

EK and ENa

Equilibrium points for potassium (EK) and sodium (ENa).

Tetrodotoxin (TTX)

A neurotoxin found in fugu that blocks voltage-gated sodium channels and prevents action potentials.

Mesolimbic Pathway

The reward center of the brain, consisting of the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area.

Amygdala

Brain region responsible for motivation, emotional control, fear response, and interpreting non-verbal emotional expressions.

Hypothalamus

Brain region responsible for fear, thirst, sexual drive, sleep, and aggression; contains attack neurons.

Attack Neurons

Neurons specific to the ventrolateral ventromedial hypothalamus whose activation is sufficient for aggression and inactivation is necessary for aggression.

Sufficiency vs. Necessity

Sufficient means enough to perform a function; necessity means the function cannot be performed without it.

Reward Prediction-Error Signal

A signal indicating that there was an unexpected reward or a missing reward.

Explicit vs. Implicit Emotion Processing

Explicit is conscious, declarative evaluation of emotional states; implicit is unconscious, automatic evaluation.

White Matter vs. Gray Matter

White matter is composed of white myelinated axons; gray matter is composed of unmyelinated cell bodies.