Neuroscience Exam 1 Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key topics in history, neuron structure, resting potential, action potential, glial cells, neurotransmitters, and synaptic transmission.

Localization of function

The idea that specific areas of the brain perform specific functions.

Aggregate field theory

The idea that the brain works more as a whole rather than specific areas having specific functions.

Neuron Doctrine

The idea that the nervous system is made up of individual cells called neurons, a theory strongly associated with Santiago Ramón y Cajal.

Santiago Ramón y Cajal

The scientist strongly associated with the Neuron Doctrine.

Doctrine of Specific Nerve Energies

The idea that different sensory nerves produce different types of sensations.

Paul Broca

The researcher who discovered an area of the brain involved in speech production.

Carl Wernicke

The researcher who discovered an area of the brain involved in understanding language.

Broca's area

An area of the brain associated with producing speech and language.

Wernicke's area

An area of the brain associated with language comprehension.

Broca's aphasia

A condition characterized by difficulty producing speech ('broken speech'), while language comprehension can be relatively preserved.

Wernicke's aphasia

A condition characterized by fluent but often meaningless speech ('words don't make sense') along with impaired language comprehension.

Dendrite

The part of a neuron that receives information and signals from other neurons.

Soma

The cell body of the neuron that contains the nucleus and maintains the cell.

Axon

The neuronal structure that carries electrical signals away from the cell body.

Axon terminal

The structure at the end of an axon that releases neurotransmitters.

Myelin

An insulating covering around some axons that increases the speed of neural transmission.

Node of Ranvier

Gaps between sections of myelin along an axon.

Cell membrane

The protective boundary surrounding the neuron that controls what enters and leaves the cell, primarily made of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins.

Afferent neuron

Also known as a sensory neuron; a neuron that carries sensory information toward the central nervous system (CNS).

Efferent neuron

Also known as a motor neuron; a neuron that carries information away from the central nervous system (CNS) to muscles or glands.

Interneuron

A neuron that connects neurons to other neurons, primarily within the central nervous system (CNS).

Bipolar neuron

A neuron with two processes extending from the cell body.

Multipolar neuron

A neuron with multiple processes extending from the cell body.

Glial cells

Cells that support, protect, nourish, and help maintain neurons and the nervous system.

Oligodendrocyte

A type of glial cell that produces myelin in the central nervous system (CNS).

Schwann cell

A type of glial cell that produces myelin in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Microglia

Glial cells that act as immune and cleanup cells in the nervous system.

Astrocytes

Glial cells that provide support and help regulate the environment surrounding neurons.

Resting membrane potential

The electrical difference across a neuron's membrane when at rest, steady at $-70\,\text{mV}$, with the inside more negative than the outside.

Threshold

The membrane potential level (typically $-55\,\text{mV}$) that the neuron must reach before an action potential begins.

Depolarization

Phase of the action potential where $\text{Na}^+$ enters the neuron, making the internal membrane voltage more positive.

Repolarization

Phase of the action potential where $\text{K}^+$ leaves the neuron, making the internal membrane voltage more negative again.

Hyperpolarization

Phase of the action potential when the membrane potential temporarily becomes more negative than the resting potential.

Saltatory conduction

The process by which an action potential jumps from Node of Ranvier to Node of Ranvier along a myelinated axon.

Synaptic cleft

The space into which neurotransmitters are released when calcium ($\text{Ca}^{2+}$) enters the axon terminal.

Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

A postsynaptic potential that excites the neuron and moves it toward threshold, increasing the likelihood of firing an action potential.

Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

A postsynaptic potential that inhibits the neuron and moves it away from threshold, decreasing the likelihood of firing an action potential.

Ionotropic receptor

A receptor type that directly controls an ion channel, producing fast and direct effects.

Metabotropic receptor

A receptor type that works indirectly through intracellular signaling, producing slower and longer-lasting effects.

Reuptake

A method of neurotransmitter termination where the neurotransmitter is taken back up into the presynaptic neuron.

Enzymatic breakdown

A method of neurotransmitter termination where specific enzymes break down the neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft.

Diffusion

A method of neurotransmitter termination where neurotransmitters move away from the synaptic cleft.