Neuroscience Quiz Review

extensions from the soma which receive input from other neurons; contain dendritic spines

determines whether an action potential will occur; contains nucleus

decision center; decided to/not to send action potentials

conducts the action potential; how we communicate over long distances

located at the end of an axon; contain synaptic vesicles with neurotransmitters for chemical transmission between neurons

where two neurons "meet"; neurons form synapses with each other, and neurotransmitters are relayed from one neuron to another at the synapse

places where the myelin sheath does not cover

fatty protein that insulates the axon; produced by glial cells (oligodendrocytes in the central system, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system); insulates axons, speeds up action potential transmission

electrical signal along the neuron; causes release of neurotransmitters; the movement of ions into and out of the axon; begins at the axon hillock and ends at the axon terminal

• Depolarization: moving from resting potential to threshold (less negative)
• Hyperpolarization: make more negative (opposite)

sodium (Na+) ions move in and potassium (K+) ions move out during an action potential.

action potential regenerated at nodes of Ranvier

• Absolute: sodium channels cannot be opened, axon membrane cannot trigger a new action potential.
• Relative: axon membrane only responds to stimulation that is higher than what initiated the action potential (occurs after absolute refractory period).

determined by axon diameter (wider is faster) and myelination (more myelination is faster

• terminal
• vesicles
• transporters
• dendrite/spine
• neurotransmitter receptors

contains vesicles with NT inside, transports

dendrite (spine), NT receptors

NTs released into the synapse, bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane

excitatory postsynaptic potentials depolarize the membrane; influence the postsynaptic cell to generate an AP; NT binds to receptor in postsynaptic membrane, positive ions (Na+) move into the postsynaptic cell, and local voltage changes in postsynaptic cell.

inhibitory postsynaptic potentials hyperpolarize the membrane; Deinfluence the postsynaptic cell to generate an AP; NT binds to receptor in postsynaptic membrane, negative ions (Cl-) move into the postsynaptic cell, and local voltage changes in postsynaptic cell.

• frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital

• central sulcus - separates frontal from parietal lobes
• lateral fissure - separates frontal and parietal from temporal lobes
• longitudinal fissure - separates the hemispheres

• Frontal lobe: primary motor cortex, prefrontal cortex
• Parietal lobe: primary somatosensory cortex (S1)
• Temporal lobe: primary auditory cortex
• Occipital lobe: primary visual cortex

generally contralateral processing (e.g. left hemisphere controls the right side of the body)

located at the front; involved in decision-making, personality, and social behavior

• "what" stream (ventral): object recognition
• "where" stream (dorsal): spatial location

• Broca's area: frontal lobe; left hemisphere only; language production
• Wernicke's area: temporal lobe; left hemisphere only; language comprehension

medulla (vital functions), pons (relay station, involved in REM sleep), midbrain (sensorimotor functions)

coordination, balance, and motor learnings

sensory relay station/filter

• emotion processing, particulary fear; limbic system

bundle of axons that connects the two hemispheres of cortex

master gland; regulates endocrine system; attached to and regulated by the hypothalamus

produces and secretes melatonin; regulates sleep-wake cycle, daily and seasonal rhythms

emotional procesing and memory (e.g. hippocampus and amygdala)

• moto control and procedural learning (Substantia nigra, Caudate, Putamen, Globus pallidus)

• brain and spinal cord
•  - spinal cord exhibits the Bell-Magendie Law: sensory info enters the cord         posteriorly; motor info exits cord anteriorly.

autonomic (involuntary) and somatic (voluntary) branches

• adrenal - CRF, ACTH, adrenal cortex-cortisol
• gonadal - GNRH, LH, FSH, estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, DHT
• thyroid - TSH-RH, TSH (T3/T4)

mechanism to maintian hormonal balance; tropic hormone turns itself off by acting at anterior pituitary to inhibit further tropic hormone release and the hypothalamus to inhibit further releasing hormones.

affects the hippocampus and surrounding areas

involves the basal ganglia