Cells of the Nervous System & Biopsychology Techniques

Flashcards created to help review key concepts from the lecture on the nervous system and biopsychology techniques.

The basic structure of a neuron includes __, soma, axon, and axon terminals.

dendrites

Action potentials are __ signals that travel from the cell body down the axon.

electrical

In synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters are released from __ into the synapse.

axon terminals

The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain is __.

Glutamate

When a neuron reaches threshold, __ channels open, allowing Na+ to flow into the cell.

Na+

The __ is the momentary period when a neuron cannot fire again after an action potential.

refractory period

A fatty shield that surrounds axons, speeding up action potential propagation, is known as __.

myelin

Dopamine is involved in __ and motivation, as well as voluntary movement and cognition.

arousal

Common methods used in human biopsychology research include lesion case studies and __ techniques.

imaging

EEG records the __ activity of large populations of neurons in response to specific events.

electrical

Functional imaging techniques like fMRI measure brain activity based on __ levels.

blood oxygen

The neurotransmitter involved in pain inhibition and feelings of pleasure is __.

opioids (endorphins and enkephalins)