Lesson 3: The Biological Mind: Nervous System and Neuron Anatomy

Vocabulary flashcards covering the divisions of the nervous system, neuron anatomy and functioning, and early discoveries in neural communication from the lecture notes.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Composed of the brain and the spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Subdivided into the autonomic and somatic nervous systems.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The 'rest and digest' system that acts calmly to bring the body down.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The 'fight or flight' response system that triggers immediate reactions.

Cell Body (Soma)

The support center for the neuron containing life support systems.

Dendrites

Branch-like structures that receive incoming messages from other cells.

Axon

Passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Myelin Sheath

Covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses.

Luigi Galvani (1786)

Believed nerves/muscles housed an internal electrical source ('animal electricity').

Otto Loewi

Demonstrated that neural interactions involve chemical signals between nerves.

Resting Potential

The baseline electrical state of an inactive neuron.

Depolarization

Electrical charge shift toward the threshold needed to create an action potential.

Action Potential

The electrical firing in the neuron.

Refractory Period

The point where a new action potential cannot be generated.

All-or-None Principle

An action potential either fires completely or it doesn't go at all.

Synapse (Synaptic Gap)

The space or gap between neurons where neural impulses traverse.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that bind to post-synaptic receptor sites in a lock-and-key fashion.

Excitatory Neurotransmitter

Causes the receiving post-synaptic cell to fire.

Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

Causes the receiving post-synaptic cell to stop firing.

Agonist

A chemical agent that mimics or enhances a neurotransmitter's effect.

Antagonist

A chemical agent that blocks or reduces a cell's response.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

The 'learning neurotransmitter' involved in muscle contraction, learning, and memory.

Dopamine (DOP)

The 'pleasure neurotransmitter' with major roles in movement and pleasure.

Serotonin (Ser)

The 'mood neurotransmitter' that regulates mood and dreaming.

GABA

The 'calming neurotransmitter' in charge of regulating sleep.

Medulla

Located at the base of the brainstem; essential for vital non-conscious functions.

Pons

Acts as a highway for sending and transferring sensory and motor information.

Reticular Formation

A neuronal network important for regulating states of consciousness helps to maintain our attention and focus on the material.

Cerebellum

A convoluted brain region important for muscle coordination and balance.

Thalamus

The main relay station for a majority of incoming sensory information.

Hypothalamus

Plays a crucial role in modulating behaviors like eating and sleeping.

Synesthesia

A condition where sensations of a single sense create cross-modal perceptions.

Hippocampus

Important for processing and creating new memories from experiences.

Amygdala

Processes basic negative emotions like fear and aggression.

Capgras Delusion

Linked to the amygdala's role in the emotional tagging of memories.

Patient H.M.

Had his hippocampus removed, resulting in the inability to create new memories.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for problem-solving, planning, impulse control, and the primary motor cortex.

Phineas Gage

Suffered profound frontal lobe damage after a tamping rod injury, leading to loss of impulse control.

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory information and spatial orientation.

Temporal Lobe

Important for processing sounds, language, visual info, and new memories.

Occipital Lobe

Dedicated center for processing vision.

Aphasias

Clinical conditions causing severe problems with speech and language.