Introduction to Neuroscience: Anatomy, Physiology, and Neurochemistry

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the basic divisions of the nervous system, anatomical terminology, neurotransmitters, and protective structures of the brain as discussed in the lecture.

Behavioural Neuroscience

The study of the biological bases of psychological processes including emotion, behaviour, thought and perception.

Nucleus (Cell)

Individual structure within a cell where the cell's machinery and intracellular processes live.

Nucleus (Brain)

A collection of neurons in the brain, such as the nucleus of the amygdala.

Dorsal

Directional term meaning the top of the brain.

Ventral

Directional term meaning the bottom of the brain.

Medial

Directional term meaning towards the middle.

Lateral

Directional term meaning towards the side.

Goal-directed actions

Actions that are produced voluntarily and require attention to what is being done.

Habits

Actions produced automatically that are no longer dependent on the original neural circuits used when first learning the task.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The division of the nervous system consisting of the brain, brain stem and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The system that connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body through motor signals and sensory inputs.

Autonomic Nervous System

A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that modulates involuntary processes within the body, specifically the 'four F's'.

The Four F's

The four involuntary processes modulated by the autonomic nervous system: Feeding, Fighting, Fleeing, and Sexual Arousal.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The branch of the autonomic nervous system engaged during high arousal (fight or flight) that increases heart rate and widens airways.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that conserves energy, reduces heart rate, and is involved in digestion, defecation, and diuresis.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter associated with tension and flexible responding in the brain, and required for every muscle movement in the periphery.

Noradrenaline

A neurotransmitter associated with sympathetic nervous system arousal.

Enteric Nervous System

A collection of about half a billion neurons located within the walls of the gastrointestinal tract that controls digestive activity.

Peristalsis

The contractions and release of the intestines associated with digestion.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with reward in the brain, but associated with digestion and hormones in the body.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter associated with antidepressants in the brain that also aids digestion in the periphery.

Meninges

The protective layers located just under the skull for the brain and spinal cord.

Dura Mater

The top, rigid layer of the meninges; the name means 'hard mother' in Latin.

Arachnoid Mater

The middle layer of the meninges featuring web-like connections and the subarachnoid space.

Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF)

The fluid found in the subarachnoid space that provides cushioning for the brain.

Pia Mater

The delicate, flexible third layer of the meninges that fits around the folds on the surface of the brain.

Blood Brain Barrier

A protection system where small pores in capillaries and endothelial cells restrict the entry of large molecules and toxins into the central nervous system.

Endothelial cells

Specific cells that make up the walls of the blood vessels supplying blood to the central nervous system.

Spinal Cord

A cable of neurofibers that acts as an interface between the brain and the peripheral nervous system in both directions.