NEUR200 Final Exam Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to the NEUR200 exam curriculum.

Dendrite

The branched projections of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons.

Action Potential

A brief electrical impulse that is the result of a rapid change in membrane potential of a neuron.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons, where neurotransmitters are released to communicate signals.

Neuron

The basic building block of the nervous system, responsible for transmitting information.

Myelin Sheath

A fatty layer that surrounds the axon of some neurons, speeding up signal transmission.

Reuptake

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron after transmitting a signal.

All-or-None Principle

The principle stating that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all.

Temporal Summation

The process by which multiple signals are summed over time to exceed the threshold for action potential.

Spatial Summation

The process by which signals from multiple sources are summed simultaneously to exceed the threshold for action potential.

Agonist

A substance that enhances the activity of a neurotransmitter.

Antagonist

A substance that blocks the action of a neurotransmitter.

Corticospinal Tract

The main pathway for voluntary motor function originating from the motor cortex.

Hippocampus

A brain region critical for learning and memory, particularly in forming new memories.

Amygdala

A brain structure involved in emotion regulation, especially fear.

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals released by neurons to communicate with other neurons.

Muscle Spindle

Receptors located in muscles that provide information on muscle stretch.

Golgi Tendon Organ

Receptors that detect tension in muscle tendons.

Thalamus

Brain structure that serves as a relay station for sensory information.

Dorsal Root Ganglion

Clusters of sensory neurons located just outside the spinal cord.

Optogenetics

A technique that uses light to control cells within living tissue.

EEG

A method for recording electrical activity of the brain using sensors placed on the scalp.

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

A lasting increase in synaptic strength following high-frequency stimulation.

Circadian Rhythm

Physical, mental, and behavioral changes following a cycle of roughly 24 hours, responding primarily to light and darkness.

Sensory Plasticity

The brain's ability to change and adapt in response to sensory experiences.

Pavlovian Conditioning

A learning process that involves associating a neutral stimulus with a meaningful stimulus.

Tonotopic Map

An arrangement of neurons in the auditory system that reflects frequency organization.

Retinotopic Map

A spatial representation of visual information in the visual cortex.

Somatotopic Map

A representation of the body in the brain, where adjacent areas correspond to adjacent body parts.

DREADDs

Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs, used for manipulating neuron activity.

Alpha Waves

Brain waves associated with a relaxed but awake state.

Beta Waves

Brain waves associated with alert, active thinking.

Delta Waves

Brain waves associated with deep, restorative sleep.

GABA

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Glutamate

The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in most aspects of normal brain function.

Cerebellum

A brain region that plays an important role in motor control, coordination, and timing.

Resting Membrane Potential

The stable voltage across the plasma membrane of a neuron when it is not being stimulated, typically around −70 mV−70 mV.

Threshold

The critical membrane potential level, usually around −55 mV−55 mV, that must be reached to trigger an action potential.

Refractory Period

A recovery phase after an action potential during which the neuron is either unable to fire (absolute) or requires a stronger stimulus to fire (relative).

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A key neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions at the neuromuscular junction and involved in memory and attention.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that plays a central role in reward, motivation, and the regulation of movement via the basal ganglia.

Serotonin (5-HT)

A neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of mood, sleep, appetite, and emotional states.

Basal Ganglia

A group of subcortical nuclei, including the striatum, that coordinate voluntary muscle movement and habit formation.

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

The anterior part of the frontal lobe associated with higher-order cognitive functions such as decision-making, planning, and personality.

Ventral Root

The motor branch of the spinal nerve that carries efferent signals away from the spinal cord to the muscles.

Long-Term Depression (LTD)

A persistent weakening of a synapse's signal transmission strength, which serves as a cellular mechanism for synaptic pruning and learning.

Saltatory Conduction

The process by which action potentials jump between the Nodes of Ranvier in myelinated axons, increasing conduction velocity.

Nodes of Ranvier

Periodic gaps in the myelin sheath where the axonal membrane is exposed and enriched with voltage-gated ion channels.