Neuroscience Flashcards — The Biology of Behavior & Mind: A Brief Historical Perspective

Flashcards cover key people, concepts, neuron types, neuroglia, nervous system organization, cellular components, and nerve regeneration from the lecture notes.

What concept did Ivan Pavlov popularize as a way to study associations in the brain?

The conditioned reflex.

Which Nobel Prize did Ivan Pavlov win and in what year?

Nobel Prize in Medicine (1904) for his studies of digestive processes.

Who coined the terms 'neuron' and 'synapse' and won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1932?

Sir Charles Sherrington.

What theory did Charles Darwin develop to explain the origin of species?

Natural selection.

Darwin emphasized that every feature of an organism has functional significance and serves what purpose?

A useful function for the organism.

According to Darwin (c.1859), how do random mutations affect proteins and gene transmission?

Mutations cause different proteins to be produced; advantageous changes are more likely to be transmitted.

Which mammals are listed under 'Mammal Brains' in the notes?

Cat, opossum, pig, monkey, and human.

What is the role of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)?

Oversees all animal research, approves projects, ensures proper housing, minimizes pain and distress, and verifies that no reasonable alternatives exist.

Under which act are IACUCs established?

U.S. Animal Welfare Act (1966).

Where can you find more information about IACUC?

www.iacuc.org.

What percent of animals killed in the US annually are used in research and education?

Less than 1%.

What percentage of animals used in medical and scientific inquiry in the US are rodents (rats and mice)?

About 95%.

Dogs, cats, and nonhuman primates together account for what fraction of animals used annually in medical research?

Less than 1%.

What percentage of all animals killed each year are dogs and cats used in research?

About 0.02%.

What are the two main components of Chapter 2 Overview in the notes?

Cells of the nervous system (neurons and glia) and communication within and between neurons (resting potential, action potential, neurotransmitters, postsynaptic potentials, neural integration).

What are the key topics listed under 'Cells of the Nervous System' in the overview?

Neurons and glia.

What does CNS stand for and what does it include?

Central Nervous System; includes the brain and spinal cord.

What does PNS stand for and what does it include?

Peripheral Nervous System; includes the nerves in the rest of the body.

Approximately how many neurons are in the nervous system?

About 100 to 1000 billion neurons.

Which type of neuron is most common in the CNS?

Multipolar neurons.

Which neurons are usually sensory and found in the retina and auditory system?

Bipolar neurons.

Which neuron has a single process that leaves the soma and divides into two branches?

Unipolar neuron.

Name four major cellular components of neurons.

Nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi apparatus.

What is the function of mitochondria in neurons?

Provide energy for the cell in the form of ATP.

What is the role of the Golgi apparatus in neurons?

Synthesize lipids and lysosomes; process and traffic substances within the cell.

What are the three main glial cell types mentioned?

Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia.

What is the role of astrocytes in energy metabolism?

Convert glucose to lactate for neurons and store glycogen.

What is the role of oligodendrocytes in the CNS?

Provide a myelin sheath to axons, speeding neural transmission; create nodes of Ranvier.

What is the role of Schwann cells in the PNS?

Produce myelin for one axon, guide axon regrowth, and assist regeneration after damage.

Why is CNS axon regeneration limited compared to the PNS?

Astrocytes form scar tissue that inhibits axon growth.

What is the Node of Ranvier?

A gap in the myelin sheath along an axon that facilitates saltatory conduction.

How do Schwann cells aid axon regrowth after injury?

They form cylinders that guide sprouts to reestablish connections with muscles and sense organs.