Final Exam Review - Biol 250: Introduction to Neurobiology

Flashcards summarizing key concepts from the Neurobiology course for final exam preparation.

What is the goal of neuroscience?

To learn how the nervous system functions.

What events helped neuroscientists link the brain as the seat of cognition?

Brain injuries.

What is trepanation?

Drilling a hole in the head to let out spirits or stagnant blood; still used today for cerebral hemorrhages.

What is the Neuron Doctrine?

The neuron is the basic unit of the nervous system and controls function; neurons are separate entities and communicate via contact instead of continuity.

What are the two types of myelinating glia and where are they located?

Oligodendroglia (in CNS) and Schwann cells (in PNS).

What is the function of myelin sheath?

Insulate axons and speed up the transmission of signals by regenerating white matter.

What maintains the resting potential of a neuron?

Active pumps that move sodium out and potassium into the cell.

What is the relationship between permeability of ions and membrane potential?

Permeability of ions is a function of receptors and their channels, channels must be open to depolarize the membrane.

What is Ohm's Law?

I = gV (Current = Conductance X Voltage)

What happens during the rising phase of an action potential?

Inward sodium current.

What happens during the falling phase of an action potential?

Outward potassium current.

What is the absolute refractory period?

Sodium channels become inactive and cannot sustain another action potential.

What is the relative refractory period?

Sodium channels go from inactive to closed and K channels become inactive.

What is the critical level of depolarization required to fire an action potential?

Threshold (approximately -50 mV)

What is the role of neurotransmitters in synaptic transmission?

To transfer the action potential of a neuron across the synapse.

What are the three criteria for neurotransmitters?

Synthesis and storage in presynaptic neuron; released by presynaptic axon terminal; when applied, mimics postsynaptic cell response produced by release of neurotransmitter from the presynaptic neuron.

Name the 3 classes of neurotransmitters.

Amino acids, amines, and peptides.

Which neurotransmitters contain a catechol group?

Dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (adrenaline).

What does Serotonin regulate.

Mood, emotional behavior, sleep.

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Conduit of information (brain–body) for skin, joints, and muscles.

What is the function of the dorsal and ventral roots of the spinal cord?

Dorsal = sensory, ventral = motor.

What is the central reference point of the eye?

The fovea.

Which cells are in the central fovea?

All cones (no rods).

The reduction of what vitamin results in central vision loss?

Lutein and zeaxant.

What part of the brain is resposible for analysis of visual motion and the visual control of action.

Dorsal stream.

What part of the brain is resposible for perception of the visual world and the recognition of objects.

Ventral stream.

What causes sound force amplification by the ossicles?

Greater pressure at oval window than tympanic membrane, moves fluids.

What is the purpose of the attenuation reflex?

Adapts ear to loud sounds, protects inner ear, enables us to understand speech better.

How is primary somatosensory information transmitted?

Via A alpha, beta and delta, plus C afferents.

What kind of pain to C Fibers mediate?

Temperature, pain, itch.

How do touch sensations travel?

Via Ab afferents.

What pathway does pain travel?

Ascends contralaterally.

What pathway does touch travel

Ascends ipsilaterally.