ANBI140

cells of the nervous system that are specialized for electrical signaling/transmitting information over long distances

cells that are not capable of electrical signaling; located in the CNS, consist mostly of neuroglial cells

structures that interconnect nerve cells to form circuits, formed by a neuron's dendrites and axons

portion of the nerve cell that receives information from axons and brings it into the neuron cell body

portion of the nerve cell that sends information AWAY from the cell body in order to communicate with other neurons; may or may not be covered with a myelin sheath

axonal mechanism that carries signals over long
distances, self-regenerating wave of electrical activity

process by which info encoded by action potentials
is passed on @ synaptic contacts to the next cell in the pathway

the most abundant type of synapse

store various neurotransmitters that are released at the synapse

non-neuronal cells that provide support and protection for the brain's neurons, but do not transmit impulses; instead, they modulate the activity of neurons

critical in aspects of neuronal development

3 types of glial cells

glial cells that are restricted to the brain and spinal cord, starlike appearance, maintain an appropriate chemical environment for neuronal signaling

glial cells that lay down myelin (lipid-rich wrapping) around some axons

smaller glial cells derived from hematopoietic stem
cells, scavenger cells that remove cellular debris from sites of injury or normal cell turnover

space between the neurons that is occupied by a dense tangle of dendrites, axons terminals, and glial cell processes; the region where most synaptic connectivity occurs

Basic constituents of all neural circuits (3)

nerve cells that carry info toward the CNS

nerve cells that carry info away from the CNS

nerve cells that only participate in the local
aspects of a circuit

3 types of neural systems

neural systems like vision or hearing that acquire and
process info from the environment

neural systems that allow the organism to respond
to such info by generating movements

cells and circuits that lie between these well defined input and output systems, carry out complex, poorly characterized brain fxs

the brain and spinal cord make up the __________

types of nerve cell configuration (2)

portion of the cerebrum that contains neural cell bodies and neuropil in the brain and spinal cord
where the action of the cells takes place

portion of the cerebrum that consists of axon tracts,
tissue through which messages pass between different areas of gray matter within the nervous system

mechanical cushion that serves as a constant external environment for neurons and allows the brain to float

connections within the white matter that connect different areas of the cerebrum, may be long or short

fibers that originate in the cortex, and go all the way down to the spinal cord

largest set of them is the corona radiata

method of organizing the natural world from an ancient/primitive level to a "modern/advanced" higher level
based on bias, irrelevant to today's evolutionary biology, because traits are specialized for particular environments, not "Better" or "worse"

tree-like diagrams of the species representing their genealogy based on sets of shared traits, irrespective of time

between species

within species

system of taxanomic organization in which the location of each taxon indicates only the relative time of its appearance in the fossil record. Based on homologies.

How do we reconstruct evolutionary relationships?

system composed of sensory neurons, which link sensory receptors with processing circuits in the CNS

nerve cell bodies are bound together into clusters known as _________

the ganglia on the roots of the cranial nerves, containing the cell bodies of sensory neurons

bundles of axons

subdivisions of the central nervous system (7)

components of the brainstem? (3)

components of the forebrain? (2)

Subdivisions of the white matter of the spinal cord (3)
[columns]

ridges of the convolutions found in the brain's cerebral hemispheres

valleys between the gyri (convolutions of the cerebral hemispheres)

especially deep sulci

structure composed of a continuous layered or laminated sheet of neurons and supporting cells, about 2 mm thick

lobes of the brain

Most anterior lobe, separated from the parietal lobe by the central sulcus
Contains the precentral gyrus and primary motor cortex
Critical in planning responses to stimuli

inferior to the frontal lobe, separated from it by the lateral fissure
contains cortex concerned with audition
deals with highly processed visual info
critical in recognizing stimuli

area hidden beneath the frontal and temporal lobes, can only be seen if these two lobes are pulled apart or removed
its cortex is concerned with visceral and autonomic function, including taste

lobe that lies behind the central sulcus and above the lateral fissure

critical to attending to stimuli

most anterior gyrus in the parietal lobe, harbors cortex that is concerned with somatic sensation

cortex that is concerned with bodily sensation

lobe primarily concerned with vision

tract bridging the brain hemispheres
contains axons that originate from neurons in both cerebral hemispheres that contact target nerve cells in the opposite hemisphere

highly convoluted cortical structure that is important for memory and learning

processes olfactory info

sulcus that runs from the superior to the inferior aspect of the hemisphere, and separates the parietal and occipital lobes

divides the medial surface of the occipital lobe

a long, roughly horizontal sulcus that extends across the medial surface of the frontal and parietal lobes

its structures are important in the regulation of visceral motor activity, somatic regulation, and emotional expression

structure within the limbic system devoted to the control of homeostatic and reproductive functions, i.e. hunger, thirst, sex drive

related to the pituitary gland

part of the midbrain that coordinates motor activity, posture, and equilibrium/balance

most visible feature of the cerebellum; a continuous layered sheet of cells folded into ridges and valleys called folia

lower half of the brainstem that merges into the spinal cord
deals with autonomic, involuntary functions, such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure

group of nuclei that act as a cohesive unit in functions including voluntary motor control, procedural learning relating to routine behaviors or "habits," eye movements, and cognitive, emotional functions.

collection of nuclei important for emotional processing and reactions, as well as memory

small fiber bundle within each of the hemispheres that interconnects the hippocampus and the hypothalamus

responsible for planning and forethought, prediction, and programming, as well as articulation of speech

area of the brain that processes auditory stimuli, and gives rise to musical performance

area of the brain that is responsible for visual capacity and processing visual stimuli

integrates sensory information from different modalities, particularly determining spatial sense and navigation
area of the brain that deals with the logic of mathematics

deep groove that separates the cerebral hemispheres

"the peripheral nerves of the head" that connect to the brainstem

responsible for the regulation of complex motor functions, respiratory and cardiovascular activity, and sleep-wakefulness and consciousness

structure that is critical in the control of eye movement, postural adjustments, and motor learning
cognitively has a role in language processing, spatial organization, memory, and personality

cortical region critical for speech production and perception

divided into two hemispheres, split down the middle by the hemispheric fissure

substantially thicker than the cerebellar cortex, consisting of six cellular layers--its possession distinguishes mammals from other vertebrates

three layered cortex in the hippocampus

structure within the limbic system critical for learning and long-term memory

three-layered cortex, dedicated to processing olfactory signals

cortical areas where the initial processing of somatosensory inputs and initiation of motor outputs occurs
found in the precentral gyrus

2 basic types of neurons

structure responsible for relaying sensation, spatial sense and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, along with the regulation of consciousness, sleep and alertness

consists primarily of the myelinated axons of neurons, along with oligodendrocytes and other supporting cells

damage to its tracts or bundles can cause complex cognitive disorders

cells that produce myelin

large band of white matter located in the midline of the brain that allows integration of cortical activity between the two hemispheres
usually between mirror-image counterparts of each hemisphere

complex network of brain regions, consists of structures located in the core of the cerebrum; including the cingulate gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, the amygdala, and the hippocampus
structures are intimately connected with the hypothalamus

term used to describe a theoretical brain size that distinguishes humans and bipedal Homo species from other apes

method of studying the brain that is limited to anatomy, but can be done on both humans and nonhuman animals

method of studying the brain that allows us to learn its physiological mechanisms, but is only conducted on non-human animals

used to generate a 3-D image of the inside of an object from a large series of 2-D X-ray images taken around a single axis of rotation

structural brain imaging technique that provides anatomical images of gray matter, white matter, and CSF

works by measuring water in different types of tissue

provides high-res images, but is limited to relaxed individuals

brain imaging technique that examines brain activity during task performance, measuring blood flow and oxygen use

gives adequate resolution of space and time, but is limited to humans

structural brain imaging technique that measures the diffusion of water along axons and gives information about how the brain is connected

non-invasive, variation of MRI

an arching bundle of association fibers through the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes

connects Broca's and Wernicke's areas

chemical carriers released at synaptic terminals, sends information from one terminal to the other

meninges layers (3)