Studied by 86 people
Neuron
Receive sensory input (Afferent), process info & integrate with prior experiences (interneurons). Output guides our actions (Efferent)
Soma
cell body, maintains health of neuron
Dendrites
Receive messages from other cells. Key word: RECEIVE
Axon
Passes message (message are neurotransmitters) away from the cell and to the body, other neurons, muscles, glands.
Action Potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Terminal Buttons/terminal branches
form junctions with other cells
Myelin Sheath
covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses
Synapse
Gap between neurons
Glial (glia) cells
support neurons (stimulate growth, repair damage, keep them in place)
Briefly describe the steps of the neural process. Practice this over and over again.
Dendrites receive info from other neurons and send info to the soma (cell body).
When a neuron is at its resting potential, the soma is polarized (high negative charge). The "message" causes the soma to depolarize (pos. ions come inside, and the cell becomes less negative).
If the cell reaches its threshold, an action potential (electric impulse) is fired.
Impulse goes down the axon (sodium gates are opening in a chain reaction, allowing more pos. ions to enter... energy/impulse is pushed along the axon).
Vesicles are pushed down to the axon terminals where they release neurotransmitters (chemicals) into the synapse.
Refactory period occurs where the cell is going back to rest (polarized again). During this time another action potential cannot fire.
Neurotransmitters
chemical (messages) released by the presynaptic neuron
presynaptic
sender neuron
post-synaptic
receiving neuron
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP) vs. Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential (IPSP)
EPSP: Postsynaptic neuron fires an action potential (depolarized).
IPSP: Postsynaptic neuron does not fire and action potential (polarized).
Reuptake
Neurotransmitters are "recycled" by the presynaptic neuron.
Agonist vs. Antagonist
Agonist: Mimics a neurotransmitter (binds to receptor to activate), prevent reuptake, or increases production/release.
Antagonist: Blocks receptor sites, preventing NT from binding, or decreases production/release
Acetylcholine
Memory; voluntary muscle movement, used by the parasympathetic nervous system.
Dopamine
Experience of pleasure (reward pathway); initiation of voluntary muscle movement
Norepinephrine
Arousal, alertness, & attention; used by sympathetic nervous system; also associated with mood
Serotonin
Affects mood, appetite, sleep.
GABA
a major inhibitory (dont fire) neurotransmitter; reduce activity of CNS; involved in sleep & arousal.
Glutamate
A major excitatory (fire) neurotransmitter; involved in strengthening neural connections; learning.
Endorphins
Reduce pain; euphoria (runner high)
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.
Somatic nervous system
Controls voluntary movements & communication to and from the sense organs - you control these items, they don't "just happen"
Afferent (Sensory) neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the CNS
Efferent (Motor) neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the CNS to the PNS and muscles
Autonomic nervous system
controls involuntary (could say automatic but not in the FRQ) functions or items that happen automatically within our body - breathing, heartbeat, digestion, etc.
Parasympathetic
calms the body, conserving its energy and helping keep a state. (returns body to homeostasis). Initiates "rest and digest"
Sympathetic
Physically arouses the body, preparing it to act/react in stressful situations, expending energy. Initiates "fight or flight"
Central Nervous system (CNS)
Consists of the spinal cord and brain, in the center of the body.
Brain
The brain is the neural center of the body, the body's control center.
Spinal Cord
Super highway of nerves the body's needs of transmitting messages to and from the brain.
Reflexes
quick involuntary response/actions controlled by the spinal cord
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
Attach electrodes to scalp, monitor electrical brain waves (brain waves/voltage)
Lesioning
destroying brain tissue (electrode used to burn tissue and disable the structure)
Electrical Stimulation of the Brain (ESB) or Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Stimulate (activate) brain structure with weak electrical currents (sent to an implanted electrode)
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
temporary enhancement or depression of activity in a specific area of the brain (using magnetic coil on a small paddle)
Computed tomography
x-ray of brain structure (horizontal slice, angles put together)
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Injects a small amount of radioactive chemical activity in different areas of the brain
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to map out brain structure (shows tissues).
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
monitors blood flow, oxygen, etc. in the brain to indentify areas (structure) of high activity (real time, kind of like a movie) when patients are engaged in a certain behavior (mental process).
(HINDBRAIN) Medulla
vital functions (heart rate, blood pressure, breathing). Nerves cross from one side of the body to the opposite side.
(HINDBRAIN) Pons
sleeping & dreaming (REM)
(HINDBRAIN) Cerebellum
Balance and muscle coordination
(FOREBRAIN) reticular formation
a network of cells that control alertness, attention, arousal.
(FOREBRAIN) locus coeruleus
stress and panic responses (nucleus within the reticular formation)
(FOREBRAIN) Substantia nigra/striatum
initiation of movement
(MIDBRAIN)Thalamus
"central relay station" for all senses except smell.
(MIDBRAIN) Hypothalamus
biological drives (e.g. hunger, thirst, sex, body temp, sleep.)
Limbic System
emotional responses (Hippocampus & Amygdala)
(LIMBIC SYSTEM) Hippocampus
formation of new memories
(LIMBIC SYSTEM) Amygdala
emotional reactions (especially fear + aggression)
(MIDBRAIN) basal ganglia
important to smooth muscle movement & actions (works with cerebellum). Involved in procedural memory for skills.
corpus callosum
the bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres (left and right hemisphere communication)
association cortex
responsible for thought, memory, and learning in combination with primary parts they surround
*integration of sensory information
occipital lobe
contains visual cortex: seeing
parietal lobe
contains somatosensory cortex: touch (pressure, temp, pain)
temporal lobe
contains auditory cortex: hearing
frontal lobe
motor cortex: movement
prefrontal cortex:
high order thinking + executive functioning (decisions, planning, organization.
personality
Mirror neurons
neurons that fire when we watch others preform. Preforming, witnessing, hearing, empathy, skill building through mimicry, and vicarious experiences all apply.
Plasticity
the ability of the brain to strengthen existing neutral connections & form new connections. Ability to rewire the brain
Broca's area
located in the left frontal lobe; physical production speech & language
Wernicke's area
located in left temporal lobe; comprehension & interpretation of speech and language.
left hemisphere
controls the right side of the body; speech, language, logic/analysis/math skills.
right hemisphere
Controls left side of the body; nonverbal, creative & artistic, spatial, patterns, & facial recognition, emotion (express & reading others).
Split brain studies
severed/lesioned corpus callosum; right & left hemisphere can no longer communicate
endocrine system
glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream & absorbed organs & glands throughout the body.
Hormones
chemicals released by the endocrine system into the bloodstream.
pituitary gland
master gland of the endocrine system (in the brain)
Oxytocin
hormone regulating reproductive behaviors (as well as trust, bonding, cooperation, empathy, etc.. the "love hormone", reduces stress)
Chromosomes
strands of DNA that carry genetic info (we have 46)
Zygote
fertilized egg (first 1-2 weeks) - DNA is assembled
Genes
DNA segments (carry hereditary info)
Homozygous
2 of the same genes
Heterozygous
2 genes in a pair are different
Dominant
overrides the other (recessive) gene; expressed in the heterozygous condition.
Recessive
gene that is masked in heterozygous condition; only displayed in a homozygous condition.
Genotype
a person's genetic makeup
Phenotype
"what we see" the way a persons genotype is manifested in observable characteristics.
polygenic inheritance
characteristics influenced by more that one pair of genes (ex: skin color)
monozygotic twins
(identical) 1 fertilized egg that splits (same genotype)
dizygotic twins
(fraternal) separate fertilized eggs (no more alike in genetic makeup than normal siblings)
Genetic mapping
The process of determining the location and chemical sequence of specific genes on specific chromosomes.
Epigenetics
the study of how genetics are controlled by factor other than and individuals DNA sequence. (e.i. how does nurture affect nature.)
Natural Selection
heritable characteristics that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to be passed down over time.
Fitness
quantitive measurement of ability to survive of reproduce
Adaptation
the ability to change over time, a characteristic that has proved to be advantageous to survival & thus increased prevalence over time.
Conciousness
Awareness of external events
Awareness of internal sensations
Awareness of yourself
Awareness of your thoughts
subconscious/preconscious
just below present awareness; can bring into consciousness Ex: memories, knowledge, sensory adaptation/habituation, some physiological processes.
unconscious
completely unaware, cannot access (still impacts us)
states of consciousness
altered state of consciousness
significant changes in behavior/mental processes
ex: under the influence; sleep deprivation hypnosis, meditation, extreme sickness/high fever
circadian rhythms
What happens during 24 hour cycle
Ex: Sleep/wake cycle, digestion, body temp, blood pressure, attentiveness
suprachiasmatic nucleus
in hypothalamus; regulates the circadian rhythm
entrainment
adjusting to a new cycle (ex. jet lag, night shifts)
EEG
electrodes that measure electrical activity in the brain
EMG
electrodes that measure muscle tension
EOG
electrodes that measure eye movements
Explain the stages of sleep.
Awake & Alert: Beta brain waves
Awake & Resting: Alpha waves
STAGE ONE: Theta waves; hypnic jerks, light sleep
STAGE TWO: Theta waves dominate; sleep spindles (burst of brain waves) + K-complex waves.
STAGE THREE: Delta waves appear; brain activity, heart rate, etc. decrease.
REPEAT stages 3 then 2, then enter REM
Note 
Flashcard (20)