Introduction to the Brain

The quote by Richard Davidson states that __________ can change the brain.

changing the mind

Humans use __________ of their brains according to popular belief.

10%

The color of a living human brain is __________.

Grey

Alcohol is claimed to __________ .

kill brain cells

There are approximately __________ billion neurons in the human brain.

100

Neurons are the basic __________ of the nervous system.

building blocks

The three basic parts of a neuron are:

cell body (soma), and axon dendrites

The part of the neuron that receives information from other neurons is called __________.

dendrites

The myelin sheath is composed of __________ .

glial Cells.

Demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, affect the __________ sheath.

myelin

The junction between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of another is called a __________.

synapse

__________ neurons receive information from the external world and send it to the brain.

Sensory

__________ neurons carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles.

Motor

Interneurons primarily connect __________ and __________ neurons.

sensory; motor

Purkinje cells are a type of __________ found in the cerebellum.

interneuron

Pyramidal cells have a triangular cell body and a __________ long dendrite.

single

Bipolar cells are a type of sensory neuron found in the __________ .

retinas of the eye

The largest part of the neuron that coordinates information tasks is called the __________.

cell body (soma)

The __________ transmits information to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

axon

Neurons send __________ messages to communicate.

electrochemical

Glial cells provide physical and __________ support for neurons.

nutritional

The insulating layer around the axon is known as the _________

Myelin Sheath

The main function of axons is to __________ .

transmit information

Neurons vary by function and by __________ in the nervous system.

location

“Changing the mind” implies that one can influence the __________.

brain

In the nervous system, there are 100 billion __________.

neurons

The __________ is the area between neurons where neurotransmitters are transmitted.

synapse

Specialized endings on sensory neuron dendrites receive signals for light, sound, touch, taste, and __________.

smell

A type of interneuron, Purkinje cells, carries information from the __________.

cerebellum

The axon is essential for __________ traveling across neurons.

information

Motor neurons are responsible for producing __________.

movement

Sensory neurons are directly connected to our __________ perception.

external world

Neurons primarily communicate through __________ processes.

information-processing