NEUR 101 Exam 1

neuroscience

study of the nervous system

behavioral neuroscience

study of the neural bases of behavior and mental processes

behavior

simple movement, complex movement, thinking

neuroplasticity

ability of the brain to be changed by environment and experience

dualism

humans have a nonmaterial should as well as a material body

phrenology

first theory of brain function localization

neurons

the most important part of the nervous system

glial cells

provide support for information processing neurons

neuron doctrine

the brain is composed of independent cells, information is transmitted from cell to cell across synapses

dendrites

cellular extensions that receive information

input zone

where neurons collect and process information, either from the environment or from other cells

integration zone

where the decision to produce a neural signal is made

axon hillock

cone-shaped area of the cell body that gives rise to the axon; site of integration

conduction zone

where information can be electrically transmitted over great distances

output zone

where the neuron transfers information to other cells

multipolar

one axon, many dendrites--most common type

bipolar

one axon, one dendrite

unipolar

a single extension branches in two directions, forming a receptive pole and an output zone

arborization

how many dendritic branches/complexity of dendrites in a single neuron

information flow

information is transmitted from presynaptic neuron to postsynaptic neuron

synaptic cleft

gap that separates the pre-and post-synaptic membranes

synaptic vesicles

"bubbles" in presynaptic axon terminals contain a chemical neurotransmitter

neurotransmitter

the chemical message released in response to electrical in the axon

receptors

located in the postsynaptic membrane, they are specialized proteins that react when a neurotransmitter molecule binds to them

axon collateral

how axons often divide to allow a neuron to innervate more than one postsynaptic cell

axonal transport

the movement up and down an axon via motor proteins

astrocytes

how many processes receive neuronal input and monitor activity

microglial cells

small cells that remove debris from injured cells

oligodendrocytes

form myelin sheath in brain and spinal cord (CNS)

Schwann cells

form myelin sheath for cells outside the brain and spinal cord (PNS)

edema

swelling of glial cells

multiple sclerosis

demyelinating disease (glia)

central nervous system (CNS)

the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

everything else (outside brain & spine)

nucleus

collection of neurons

tract

bundle of axons

ganglia

in the PNS, what nerves form

nerves

in the PNS, what bundles of axons are

motor nerves

transmit information from the CNS to muscles, organs, and glands

sensory nerves

convey information from the body to the CNS

somatic nervous system

connect brain and major muscles and sensory systems

autonomic nervous system

nerves that primarily control the viscera

cranial nerves

12 pairs; some are sensory, some are motor, some have both functions--separate axons in the nerve carry the sensory and motor signals

spinal nerves

31 pairs; each spinal nerve has two distinct branches/roots

dorsal root

carries sensory information from the body to the spinal cord

ventral root

carries motor information from the spinal cord to the muscles

autonomic ganglia

groups of neurons located outside the CNS

preganglionic neurons

run from the CNS to the autonomic ganglia

postganglionic neurons

run from the autonomic ganglia to targets in the body

sympathetic nervous system

fight or flight response; neurotransmitter is norepinephrine

parasympathetic nervous system

rest and digest; neurotransmitter is acetylcholine

enteric nervous sytem

local network of neurons that governs function of the gut; plays a key role in maintaining fluid and nutrient balance

cerebral cortex

folded outermost layer of the cerebral hemispheres, comprised of neuron cell bodies, dendrite, and axons

gyri

ridges of the brain

sulci

shallow grooves that separate gyri

frontal, pariental, occipital, temporal

four lobes of the brain

frontal

lobe for movement and high level cognition

parietal

lobe for somatosensory & spatial cognition

occipital

lobe for visual processing

temporal

lobe for auditory processing, sense of smell, aspects of learning

postcentral gyrus AKA primary somatosensory cortex

receives touch & feel info from the body

precentral gyrus AKA primary motor cortex

sends voluntary motor commands to body

corpus callosum

a bundle of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres

gray matter

contains more cell bodies and dendrites, which lack myelin

white matter

consists mostly of axons with white myelin sheaths

pyramidal cells

most prominent neuron across the neocortex

cortical columns

unit to process information, perpendicular to cortical layers, in which most synaptic interconnections are vertical

basal ganglia

important in motor control; reciprocally connected with the cortex

parts of the basal ganglia

caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus & substantie nigra

limbic system

includes structures important for learning and memory, cognitive functions, emotional regulation, sense of smell

parts of the limbic system

hippocampus, cingulate gyrus, fornix, septal nuclei, stria terminalis, olfactory bulb, amygdala & mammillary bodies

diencephalon

thalamus and hypothalamus

thalamus

a cluster of nuclei that relay sensory information

hypothalamus

contains nuclei with many vita functions (hunger, thirst, temperature regulation, sex, and more); also controls the pituitary

tectum

roof

superior colliculi

visual processing in the tectum

inferior colliculi

auditory processing in the tectum

tegmentum

floor

substantia nigra

release dopamine (midbrain motor center)

red nucleus

communicates with motor neurons in the spinal cord (midbrain motor center)

reticular formation

sleep and arousal, temperature control, and motor control

periaqueductal gray

pain

ventral tegmental area

reward

cerebellum

elaborately convoluted; involved in motor coordination and learning

purkinje cell layer

middle layer; large cells form a single row

granule cell layer

small neurons whose axons form the third layer

parallel fibers

make up the third, outermost layer of the cerebellum

pons

motor control and sensory nuclei; gives rise to cranial nerves

medulla

nuclei that regulate breathing and heart rate; all axons from the brain to the spinal cord pass through here

connectome

ongoing effort to map entire human brain

meninges

protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

dura mater

tough outermost sheet (meninx)

pia mater

delicate innermost layer (meninx)

arachnoid

meninx between the dura mater and Pia mater that cushions the brain in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

ventricular system

series of chambers filled with CSF

stroke

caused by the rupture or blockage of blood vessels, leading to insufficient blood supply

blood-brain barrier

higher resistance in brain capillaries restricts passage of large molecules from the blood into brain tissue

glymphatic system

newly discovered lymphatic system in the brain; provides a flow of CSF through the interior of the brain that helps to clear cellular debris, proteins, and other wastes

structural imaging

computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT)

a measure of x-ray absorption at several positions around the head; maps tissue density