Chapters 1-4

Hippocrates

Believed the brain was organ of sensation and was the seat of intelligence

Galen

Cerebrum: sensation, cerebellum: muscle command, ventricles: info transfer via fluids (humors), nerves were hollow tubes

Descrates

Dualism: Mind-brain problem

mind-brain problem

the philosophical question of how experience relates to the brain

Struction/Function

The brain has identifiable parts = different functions

Gyri, sulci, fissures, lobes

Identified parts of structure/function

Galen's Ventricular Theory

brain has ventricles, 4 hollow cavities where thinking took place

Electricity

Nerves as wires, conduct electrical signals to and from the brain

Abalation

parts of the brain are systematically destroyed to determine their function

Phrenology

Bumps on the surface of the skull reflect brain surface and related personality traits, Gall

Broca, Paul

Discrete region of the human cerebrum for speech

Neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Darwin

English natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection (1809-1882)

localization of function

specialization of particular brain areas for particular functions

cell theory

All tissue is composed of cells, schwann

Evolution

Change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.

molecular neuroscience

study of the brain at the most elementary level

cellular neuroscience

considers distinctions among different types of cells in the nervous system and how each cell type functions

System Neuroscience

investigates groups of neurons that perform a common function

behavioral neuroscience

an approach to psychology that links psychological processes to activities in the nervous system and other bodily processes

cognitive neuroscience

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)

neuroscientist

a scientist who studies the brain and nervous system

Observation

hypothesis-driven experimentation, observation, introspection, or clinical case studies

Replication

rule out possibility that the finding occurred by chance

interpretation

based on current state of knowledge in the field and on preconceived notions of the researcher

Verification

findings can be reproduced by other researchers in different laboratories, help to disclose "scientific fraud", how does this differ from replication?

Scientific process

observation, replication, interpretation, verification

Animal rights

abolition of all animal use

Animal welfare

neuroscientists have a moral responsibility to treat our animal subjects well

Alzheimer's disease

a progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and, finally, physical functioning

Depression

A prolonged feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and sadness

Parkinson's disease

A disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, often including tremors.

Schizophrenia

a group of severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions

stroke

A sudden attack of weakness or paralysis that occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is interrupted

addiction

compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Nissl stain

a neural stain that shows only the soma

Cajal

Communicate by contact not continuity

Neuron Doctrine

The cell theory also applies to neurons

Golgi apparatus

A system of membranes that modifies and packages proteins for export by the cell

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

System of internal membranes within the cytoplasm. functions in transport of substances such as proteins within the cytoplasm

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

An endomembrane system where lipids are synthesized, calcium levels are regulated, and toxic substances are broken down.

Nucleus

A part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction

Golgi stain

a neural stain that completely darkens a few of the neurons in each slice of tissue, thereby revealing their silhouettes

Reticular Theory

An obsolete scientific theory in neurobiology that stated that the nervous system is made up of a single interlinking network.

Mitochondrion

Cell organelle that converts the chemical energy stored in food into compounds that are more convenient for the cell to use

Transcription

the organic process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA

Gene

A segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait

Translation

Process by which mRNA is decoded and a protein is produced

amino acids

building blocks of proteins

Proteins

Nutrients the body uses to build and maintain its cells and tissues

polyribosome

string of ribosomes simultaneously translating regions of the same mRNA strand during protein synthesis

Microfilaments

Long, thin fibers that function in the movement and support of the cell

ATP

(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work

Microtubules

Spiral strands of protein molecules that form a tubelike structure

Axon hillock

controls the initiation of an electrical impulse

axon collaterals

branches of axon

axon terminal

The endpoint of a neuron where neurotransmitters are stored

terminal arbor

branches at the end of an axon that create synapses on dendrites or cell bodies

postsynaptic neuron

transmits impulses away from the synapse

presynaptic neuron

conducts impulses toward the synapse

synaptic cleft

The narrow gap that separates the presynaptic neuron from the postsynaptic cell.

Neurotransmitter

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

Synapic transmission

the process of information transfer at the synapse

antrograde transport

brings subtances from cell body to termnal butons

retrograde transport

movement up the axon toward the soma

Receptors

Special structures that allow living organisms to sense the conditions of their internal or external environment.

dendritic spines

receives some types of synaptic input

protein sysnthesis

the process whereby biological cells generate new proteins

neuronal membrane

The barrier, about 5 nm thick, that separates the inside of a nerve cell from the outside; consists of a phospholipid bilayer with proteins embedded in it; encloses the intracellular organelles and vesicles.

Dendrites

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

axoplasmic transport

an active process by which substances are propelled along microtubules that run the length of the axon

Unipolar

shape of a neuron which has only one process, includes both the axon and dendrite

bipolar neurons

A neuron that has only two projections (one axon/one dendrite) from the cell body

multipolar neuron

A neuron with a single axon and multiple dendrites; the most common type of neuron in the nervous system.

dendritic tree

all the dendrites of a single neuron

spiny neuron

a neuron with dendritic spines, all pryamidla cells in cerebral cortex

aspinous neuron

a neuron lacking dendritic spines

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

Interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

projection neurons

neurons whose axons extend from the neuronal cell body within the central nervous system (CNS) to one or more distant regions of the CNS.

local circuit neurons

a neuron that communicates with neurons in its immediate vicinity

axon length

1mm-1m

gene expression

process by which a gene produces its product and the product carries out its function

cytoarchitecture

The arrangement of neuronal cell bodies in various parts of the brain.

Neurofilaments

Fine thread-like structures that form a matrix in the cytoplasm; they provide support for the cell membrane and maintain the shape of the neuron.

resting membrane potential

the electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active

excitable membrane

cell membrane that regulates the movement of ions so that an electrical signal can be generated

phospholipid bilayer

a two-layered arrangement of phosphate and lipid molecules that form a cell membrane, the hydrophobic lipid ends facing inward and the hydrophilic phosphate ends facing outward.

peptide bond

Bonds that connect amino acids.

conformation

The particular three-dimentional shape of a protein molecule

ion channels

A transmembrane protein channel that allows a specific ion to diffuse across the membrane down its concentration or electrochemical gradient.

ion pumps

active transport proteins that move ions across the membrane

electrical current

a flow of charged particles from one point to another

electrical potential

a difference in the concentration of charged particles between one point and another

Electrical conductance

relative ability of an electrical charge to migrate from one point to another

Ohm's Law

the current in a circuit equals the voltage difference divided by the resistance, V=IR

Diffusion

Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Electrical force

the effect of the membrane potential on the ion's movement