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Neurons
They are nerve cells, the basic building blocks of the nervous system.
Motor Neurons
Control muscles that carry outgoing information from their brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.
Sensory Neurons
Carry messages from the body's tissue and sensory organs to the brain and spinal cord.
Inter neurons
In the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory and motor inputs.
Dendrites
Receive information and conduct it towards the cell body.
Axons
Pass messages along to other neurons or to muscles or glands. (dendrites listen)
The Myelin Sheath
A layer of fatty tissue that insulates the axons of some neurons and helps speed their impulses.
Action Potential
The neural impulse. A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon.
Threshold
It is an action potential that signals a trigger to neurons that then travels down the axon and impact other neurons increasing the stimulation.
Synapse
A gap between the axon terminal of the sending neurons and the dendrites of the receiving neuron.
How do neurons communicate with each other?
When action potential reaches the axon terminals it triggers a release of a chemical messengers from neurotransmitters that cross the synaptic gap to bind receptors sites on the receiving neuron dendrites like fitting a lock.
Acetylcholine
It enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contractions
Dopamine
Influences movement, learning, attention and emotion.
Too much dopamine
Is linked to schizophrenia.
Too little dopamine
Causes the brain to have tremors and decreased mobility
Serotonin
Affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal. Having low levels is linked to depression.
Endorphins
Natural opiate like transmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.
Various Drugs and their affect on neural communication at the synapse.
When flooded with opiates the brain stops producing its own natural opiate. So when the drug isn't taken anymore the brain may be deprived of any form of opiate resulting in withdrawal symptoms. Unless you take the drugs or wait for natural opiates to be produced.
Agonists
Excite; they are similar enough to the neurotransmitters to mimic its effect or it may block the neurotransmitters reputable. Ex: heroin, morphine, opium
Antagonists
Inhibit; it can be a drug that inhibits a neurotransmitter released. Ex: chlorpromazine stop dopamine (block its effect)
Nervous System
The body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells
Central Nervous System
the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
Sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous stem to the rest of the body
Somatic Nervous System
The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles.
Autonomic Nervous System
The part of the nervous system that controls glands and the muscles of the internal organ. It's sympathetic division arouses
Sympathetic Nervous System
P1; The division of the automatic nervous system that arouses the body; mobilizer it's energy
Parasympathetic Nervous System
P2; The division of the automatic nervous system that calms the body conserving energy.
Reflex
Simple automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
Endocrine System
The body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
Hormones
Originate in one tissue, travels through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues, including the brain. Influence our interest in sex, food and agression.
Pituitary Gland
The endocrine system's most influential gland under the influence of the hypothalamus it promotes growth and controls the endocrine.
Medulla
Part of the brain stem responsible for breathing, heartbeat, and other vital life function
Thalamus
Major sensory relay center- relay sensory messages to the cortex-except for smell
Cerebellum
Supports non verbal learning and procedural memories
Amygdala
involved in aggression, fear, and learning. Major part of the limbic system involved in processing emotions.
Hypothalamus
Portions govern hunger, thirst, sexual drive, body temp, pleasure, oxytocin, and terror
Hippocampus
Important role in the formation of new long term memories
Cerebral Cortex
The outer surface of the two hemispheres that regulates most complex behaviors
Motor Cortex
Key role in voluntary movement- coordination and initiation of motor movement. The area in the frontal love that sends messages to muscles and glands
Parietal Lobe
Area of the parietal lobe where messages from the sense receptors are registered.
Right Frontal Lobe
Control of negative emotions, more easily stressed, more easily upset by unpleasant thigns, more suspicious, more often depressed
Left Frontal Lobe
Control of positive emotions, more cheerful, sociable, enthusiastic, self-confident
Temporal Lobe
the area of the temporal lobe responsible for processing sound information
Occipital Lobe
Especially important regarding visual perception interpretation. Primary visual area of the brain for reception and processing of visual information