Untitled Flashcards Set

Morphogens

Chemical inducers/proteins that determine cell fate through concentration-dependency in diffusion.

Transcription Factors

Proteins that help regulate the expression of genes by binding to nearby DNA.

Pax6

A transcription factor expressed in neurons destined for the anterior neocortex.

Emx2

A transcription factor expressed in neurons destined for the posterior neocortex.

Dorsal-ventral patterning

The organization of the nervous system along the dorsal (back) to ventral (belly) axis, influenced by sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling.

Sonic Hedgehog (Shh)

A morphogen important for neural tube closure and differentiation of ventral motor neurons.

Gli1

A transcription factor that promotes motor neuron differentiation, influenced by Shh.

BMPs (Bone Morphogenic Proteins)

Growth factors secreted by ectoderm involved in cell signaling that leads to ectodermal patterning.

Noggin

A BMP inhibitor that allows dorsal ectoderm to become nervous tissue.

Chordin

A BMP inhibitor that helps in the formation of neural tissue.

Follistatin

A BMP inhibitor that blocks the activity of BMPs.

Neurulation

The process of forming the neural tube from the neural plate during embryonic development.

Prosencephalon

The forebrain region of the developing brain, including the telencephalon and diencephalon.

Interkinetic Nuclear Migration (IKM)

The movement of the nucleus within the cell cycle during neurogenesis.

Cajal-Retzius Cells

Neurons in the marginal zone, which produce Reelin, important for cortical layer formation.

Reelin

A signal produced by Cajal-Retzius cells that stops migrating neurons.

Semaphorin 3A

A protein secreted by the marginal zone that influences neuron differentiation.

Chemoaffinity hypothesis

The idea that chemical signals guide axons to their targets based on chemical markers.

Exuberant connections hypothesis

The notion that axons initially connect to multiple targets and refine connections based on activity.

Newt experiment

An experiment demonstrating the chemoaffinity hypothesis by rotating a newt's eye and observing optic nerve regrowth.

Strip assay experiment

An experiment used to test the affinity of retinal axons for tectal layers.

Munc 18

A protein essential for synaptic transmission; its absence leads to degeneration due to lack of synaptic activity.

Experience-dependent plasticity

Synaptic rearrangement that requires sensory experience.

Activity-dependent plasticity

Synaptic changes that depend on correlated neuronal activity.

Ocular dominance columns

Columns in the visual cortex responding to inputs from the ipsilateral/contralateral eye.

Hubel & Wiesel cat experiment

An experiment observing the effects of monocular deprivation on ocular dominance columns.

Strabismus

A condition in which the eyes do not align properly, potentially leading to vision problems if not corrected.

Declarative memory

Memory of facts and events, reliant on the medial temporal lobe and diencephalon.

Non-declarative memory

Memory of skills and habits, relying on different brain regions such as the striatum and cerebellum.

Patient H.M.

A patient with severe memory deficits following surgery that removed parts of the medial temporal lobe.

Systems consolidation of memory

The process by which memories become stable and integrated, potentially leading to models explaining memory retrieval.

Reconsolidation

The process of recalling and re-storing a memory, which can make it susceptible to distortion.

Place cells

Neurons in the hippocampus that fire in specific locations in the environment.

Grid cells

Neurons in the entorhinal cortex that provide a coordinate system for spatial navigation.

Acquisition

The phase in classical conditioning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The phase where the conditioned response diminishes when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a certain period of time following extinction.

Cooperativity in synaptic strengthening

The principle that many pre-synaptic inputs must be simultaneously activated for effective synaptic enhancement.

Metaplasticity

The process by which the history of synaptic activity influences future plasticity.

Synaptic Scaling

Adjustment of synaptic strength to maintain overall stability of synaptic activity.

Spatial summation

The integration of multiple synaptic inputs occurring at the same time.

Temporal summation

The integration of signals from a single presynaptic neuron over time.

Synaptic tags

Markers that identify synapses for future protein synthesis related to long-term potentiation.

CamKII (Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II)

A key enzyme involved in synaptic changes during early and late phases of long-term potentiation.

Hedonic impact

The pleasure component of a reward that drives motivation.

Incentive salience

The motivational component of a reward that drives an individual to seek it out.

Midbrain dopamine neurons

Neurons responsible for the release of dopamine, important for reward processing.

Reward prediction error

The difference between expected and actual reward outcomes, influencing learning and behavior.

CALM (Calcium/adrenergic modulation)

A proposed mechanism involved in synaptic plasticity and memory formation.

Densin

A protein suspected to act as a synaptic tag that facilitates long-term potentiation.

RC (Reinforcement Condition)

Cell components containing AMPARs, involved in long-term potentiation processes.

Polyribosomes

Sites where protein synthesis occurs, important for maintaining synaptic changes.