Wiring the Brain

Vocabulary flashcards for Unit 4 – Chapter 23 Wiring the Brain

Neurogenesis

The process of making new neurons.

Neural Stem Cells

Cells that create all types of neurons.

Periventricular Region

Location where neurogenesis occurs.

Symmetrical Division (Vertical Cleavage)

Cell division that creates more stem cells, occurring early in development.

Asymmetrical Division (Horizontal Cleavage)

Cell division that creates baby neurons, occurring later in development.

Chemoattractants

Chemicals that attract neural processes towards a specific point.

Chemorepellents

Chemicals that drive neural processes away from a specific point.

Growth Cone

The tip of a growing neurite that explores the environment to find its target.

Synaptic Rearrangement

A change in the pattern of innervation of a target neuron or region.

Hebbian Learning

The principle that 'what fires together, wires together.'

Ocular Dominance Columns

Segregated inputs from the left and right eyes in the striate cortex.

Trophic Factors

Substances that neurons compete for to survive.

Adult Neurogenesis

The generation of new neurons in the adult brain, which is rare.

Subplate Neurons

Temporary neurons that disappear later in cortical development.

Cortical Layers

The layers of the cortex are built inside-out (VI, V, IV, III, II).

Pathway Selection

The first phase of building long-range connections.

Target Selection

The second phase of building long-range connections.

Address Selection

The third phase of building long-range connections.

Synaptic Pruning

The dramatic reduction of neurons and synapses during development.

Monocular Deprivation

Leads to altered patterns of ocular dominance columns.