Brain and Behavior Exam 1

Somatic nervous system

Part of PNS; associated with voluntary movements of skeletal muscles

Autonomic nervous system

Part of PNS; associated with involuntary movements that may regulate body processes such as breathing; sympathetic (fight or flight) & parasympathetic (calming

Peripheral nervous system

nerves and sensory organs beyond brain & spinal cord

Central nervous system

brain & spinal cord

Basal Ganglia

group of neurons; involved in control of movement; subcortical in forebrain below corpus callosum; injured in those with Parkinsons

Nucleus

center of cell

Dura mater

closest to skull; outer layer

Arachnoid membrane

middle layer

Pia mater

innermost layer

Subarachnoid space

between arachnoid membrane and pia mater; filled with cerebrospinal fluid

Cranial nerves

12 nerves deriving straight from brain or brainstem; used to bring information directly from sensory organs (afferent) or to muscles (efferent); sensory and motor functions of the head and neck region

Sodium/Potassium pump

used to maintain axon at resting potential; keeping Na+ out and K+ in

Glial cells

support cells for neurons; include astrocytes

Astrocytes

star shaped; physical support and clean up debris inside brain via phagocytosis; regulates chemical composition of fluid around neurons by providing nutrients from bloodstream

Oligodendrocytes

produces myelin sheath

Microglia

smallest of glia cells; "immune system" for brain; phagocytes

Radial glia

prenatal

Schwann cells

produces myelin sheath but in PNS

Induction

response to growth factors that induces ectoderm to eventually form the neural plate of which the neural tube and CNS form

Migration

radial glial cells guide the new neurons to correct location; layers of cortex start forming from inside

Neural crest

group of cells derived from neural plate crest (above the tube) that separate away after neural tube is complete; contribute to formation of PNS & glial cells

Neural groove

resulting space of between the neural folding of the plate during neuralation

Neural tube

hollow tube that forms from ectodermal tissue early in embryonic development; serves as the origin of the central nervous system for brain and spinal cord

Myelin sheath

insulation for axons to prevent messages from spreading between adjacent axons; 80% lipid

Meninges

three layers of tissue that encase the central nervous system

Meningitis

inflammation of the meninges covering brain/spinal cord and causes the layers to swell and push against arteries which compromising nerve's blood supply

Epidural hematoma

Brain injury caused by trauma where damaged blood vessels within the skull lead to a blood build up between outer layer of the brain and the skull; Causes dura to break away from the cell; Can lead to death because blood pools inside rigid skull and brain is forced out through an opening at base of the skull (coning) causing irreparable damage and brain death

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

progressive degenerative disease of the brain with a history of repetitive brain trauma

Subdural hematoma

blood build up between dura and arachnoid space that causes blood to seep out of blood vessels

Cerebral spinal fluid

fluid produced in ventricles that ends up in subarachnoid space (between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater) that helps with mechanical support

Choroid plexus

plexus inside ventricle where cerebrospinal fluid is produced

Hydrocephalus

abnormal accumulation of CSF in ventricles of the brain that presses against brain tissue causing intercranial pressure; can use shunt to drain excess CSF into peritoneal cavity

Synaptogenesis

formation of synapses between neurons; explosion of synaptogenesis occurs in early brain development

Presynaptic neuron

neuron delivering the neurotransmitters into synapse

Postsynaptic neuron

neuron receiving the neurotransmitters on receptors of dendritic membrane

Synapse

junction between terminal button of presynaptic neuron and dendrites of postsynaptic neuron; can also be on dendrite

Axons

long thin cylindrical structure that conveys information from soma to terminal button

Dendrites

branched/treelike structure that is attached to soma and receives information from presynaptic neuron terminal button

Dendritic spine

branches/extensions of dendrite

Axoplasmic Transport

active transport by which substances are propelled along microtubules that run the length of the axon

Neurofilaments

structural support for neuron; intermediate filaments that shape the cytoskeleton of neuron

Blood brain barrier

semipermeable barrier between blood and the brain produced by the cells in the walls of the brain's capillaries that keeps blood and brain separate

Cell body

soma; contains nucleus and processes for living

Axon hillock

part of soma that connects to axon; place at which if signals override the threshold

Nodes of Ranvier

gaps between myelin sheath; uninsulated part of axon that allow action potential

Agonist

mimic neurotransmitters; bind to neurotransmitter receptor

Antagonist

block neurotransmitter receptor

Synaptic vesicles

carrier vesicles that hold neurotransmitters and release them into the synapse; made in golgi apparatus

Spina bifida

neural tube defect (incomplete closing of neural tube) that can in extreme cases can create a cyst (excess spinal fluid) on baby's back and spinal cord could be exposed to outside elements

Anencephaly

neural tube defect (improper formation of the tube) resulting in no brain cortex

Folic acid

helps with DNA production and prevents abnormalities with neural tube formation (neuralation); taken in right amount can help avoid spina bifida and other neural tube defects

Ventricles

hollow interconnected space within the brain filled with CSF

Frontal lobe

anterior part of cerebral cortex; contains most dopamine (REWARD) receptors; associated with planning

Prefrontal cortex

part of the frontal lobe that is involved in formulating plans and strategies

Temporal lobe

part of cerebral cortex right above the brain stem and below occipital lobe; associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli

Parietal lobe

part of cerebral cortex right above occipital lobe; associated with movement

Occipital lobe

part of cerebral cortex in the very back of the brain; associated with visual processing (VISION)

Forebrain

cerebrum; biggest part of our brain involved in all functioning; two hemispheres of brain

Midbrain

mesencephalon; middle of brain; coordinator for all sensory input

Hindbrain

contains cerebellum

Diencephalon

part of forebrain surrounding third ventricle; containing thalamus and hypothalamus for regulation of autonomous nervous system & homeostasis

Thalamus

part of diencephalon; RELAYING CENTER; relay sensory information and serves as pain center

Hypothalamus

part of diencephalon; maintains HOMEOSTASIS & coordinates autonomic nervous system and pituitary gland

Telencephalon

part of forebrain including the cerebal cortex for higher functioning

Limbic System

set of interconnected brain structures formed a circuit whose primary function was motivation and emotion

Amygdala

structure in temporal lobe associated with EMOTION AND AGGRESSION; part of limbic system

Hippocampus

structure in temporal lobe associated with emotions

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

electrical brain potential recorded by placing electrodes on the scalp

Functional Imaging

computerized method of detecting metabolic or chemical changes in particular regions of the brain to study function

CAT Scan

Computerized Axial Tomography

Uses: X ray

Measures: Structure (makes virtual slices)

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Uses: Magnetic field

radio wave

Measures: Structure - blood flow

metabolism

PET scan

Positron Emission Tomography

Uses: Radioactive tracers

Measures: Function - cerebral blood flow

glucose metabolism

• Can measure concentration of certain chemical in the brain

fMRI

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Uses: Blood Oxygen Level Dependent signal

Measures: Function - Regional activity = increase blood flow to that area of brain

fNIRS

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Uses: BOLD (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent) & near infrared light attenuation

Measures: brain activity over long periods of time and less susceptible to movement; more inexpensive than fMRI

Experimental Ablation

making lesions in the brain to determine function and regional control

Neurogenesis

creation of neural cells; less likely to occur as you grow older but still possible in mature brain because contains stem cells

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death

Lesions

used for experimental ablation; damaging small parts of the brain either permanently or temporarily to see how that area of the brain affects behavior

Fetal alcohol syndrome

can cause microcephly; meaning not enough cell division resulting in smaller cortex

symptoms: flat midface

short nose

Acetylcholine

most commonly found classical neurotransmitter; responsible for muscle movement (neuromusclar junctions)

excitatory for neuromuscular junctions; inhibitory for cardiac tissue for lowering heart rate (parasympathetic)

blocked by botulinum toxin and stimulated by black widow spider venom

Nicotinic receptor

ionotropic acetylcholine receptor that is stimulated by nicotine and blocked by curare; excites cell

Muscarinic receptor

metabotropic acetylcholine receptor that is stimulated by muscarine and blocked by atropine

Catecholamines

subclass of monoamines including dopamine (derived from L DOPA

Serotonin

TRYPTOPHAN -> 5HTP -> SEROTONIN