Introduction to Neuroscience

These flashcards cover key concepts related to neuroscience, including definitions of important terms and theories, historical figures, and foundational knowledge about the brain.

Trephining

An ancient surgical procedure involving drilling holes into the skull, dating back about 7000 years.

Hippocrates

An ancient Greek physician who wrote of the brain as the seat of thoughts and emotions.

Galen

A Roman physician who connected behavior to the brain and nerves, rejecting the idea that the heart was central to feelings.

Rene Descartes

Philosopher who explained animal behavior in mechanical terms and proposed concepts related to spinal reflexes.

The Silent Cortex

Brain areas that appear inactive when stimulated electrically, discovered by Wilder Penfield.

The Mozart Effect

The temporary improvement in spatial reasoning after listening to Mozart's music.

Brain Mapping

Technique that involves stimulating the brain to identify functions associated with certain areas.

Phrenology

The study of the bumps on the skull to determine personality traits, popular in the 19th century.

Localization of Function

The concept that specific brain regions are responsible for specific functions.

Broca’s Area

A region in the frontal lobe of the brain that is crucial for speech production.

Wernicke’s Area

A region in the temporal lobe important for language comprehension.

Neuron Doctrine

The principle that the nervous system is made up of distinct, individual cells.

Hebbian Synapse

Type of synapse where repeated stimulation of one neuron by another increases the strength of their connection.

Correlational Relationship

A relationship between two variables where changes in one variable relate to changes in another.

Gyrification

The process of forming gyri (folds) in the brain, increasing surface area and cognitive capability.

Neuron Hypothesis

The idea that neurons are the basic units of the nervous system responsible for behaviors.

Dendrites

Extensions of neurons that receive signals from other neurons.

Axon

A long fiber that transmits signals away from the neuron's cell body.

Myelin

Fatty substance that surrounds and insulates neuronal axons, speeding up transmission.

Action Potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon when a neuron fires.

Resting Potential

The electrical potential of a neuron when it is not firing.

EPSP (Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential)

A depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane potential that brings a neuron closer to firing an action potential.

IPSP (Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential)

A hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane potential that moves the neuron further away from firing an action potential.

Synaptic Transmission

The process where neurotransmitters are released from one neuron and bind to receptors on another.

Ligand-Gated Channels

Ion channels that open in response to the binding of a neurotransmitter.

Metabotropic Receptors

Neurotransmitter receptors that operate via G-proteins to exert slower, longer-lasting effects.

Neurotrophic Factors

Biochemical molecules that influence the growth and survival of neurons.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline.

Plasticity

The brain's ability to adapt and change in response to experience.

Long-term Potentiation (LTP)

A long-lasting increase in synaptic strength following high-frequency stimulation of a synapse.

Non-Associative Learning

Learning through exposure to a stimulus without forming associations.

Motor Control

The ability of the brain to regulate and coordinate movement.

Declarative Memory

Memory that can be consciously recalled, such as facts and events.

Non-Declarative Memory

Memory that is not consciously recalled, such as skills and actions.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in reward and motivation.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter associated with muscle activation and memory.

Social Learning

Learning that occurs through observing the behavior of others.

Cognitive Development

The process by which individuals understand and interact with the world around them.

Neurogenesis

The process of generating new neurons in the brain.

Cell Migration

The movement of newly formed neurons from their origin to their final location in the brain.

Cell Differentiation

The process where unspecialized cells become specialized into specific cell types.

Synaptogenesis

The formation of synapses between neurons in the nervous system.

Critical Period

A time frame during development when the brain is particularly receptive to learning certain skills.

Sensory Adaptation

The process where sensitivity to a stimulus decreases after constant exposure.