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61 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Neurons
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-The basic unit of the nervous system/ specializes in communications -exchanges signals with each other and links sense organs, muscles, & glands to the brain. -They process information and are building blocks |
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Glial Cells |
- All purpose cells/ fills gaps between neurons, hold neurons in proper place/ - supports & feeds neurons/ dispose of wastes/ - Schwann cells have myelin sheath that protects the neurons - (10 times more glial cells than neurons) |
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Structure of a Neuron
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1. Dendrites 2. Soma or Cell Body 3. Axon |
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Dendrites
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-Short branching fibers -primary information receivers -receives messages from nearby neutrons |
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Soma or Cell Body
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-metabolic center of the cell -contains the nucleus & other structures for keeping cell alive -interprets the message |
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Axon (or Tail) |
-long fiber -transmits message to other neurons, muscles and organs of the body |
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The Typical Pathway that Nerve Impulses Follow
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Dendrites --> Soma/Cell Body --> Axon
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Terminal buttons
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Small knobs found at the ends of the branches of the axon where the neurotransmitters are stored
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Synaptic Cleft
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-small gap between cells -typically between terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another |
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Myelin
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-fatty substance (Schwann Cells) -insulates and protects the axon from electrical interferences by neighboring neurons -speeds up conduction |
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Nodes of Ranvier
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Small gaps in the myelin coating along the axon
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Types of Neurons
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1. Sensory Neurons - Afferent Neurons 2. Interneurons 3. Motor Neurons - Efferent Neurons |
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Sensory Neurons - Afferent Neurons |
-makes the initial contact with the environment -carries the message inward toward the brain and spinal cord |
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Interneurons
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-makes no direct contact with the world -conveys information from one processing site to another |
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Motor Neurons - Efferent Neurons
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carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands of the body that directly produce the behavioral response
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Communication between Neurons
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Threshold Resting Potential Action Potential |
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Threshold
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Level of stimulation needed to trigger an action potential
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Resting Potential
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-Inactive -Holds a negative charge |
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Action Potential
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-electrical impulse that surges along the axon -all or none -only one direction down the length of the axon towards the end -speed of transmission (size and shape) |
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How does a Message Travel
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1) dendrites receive the message 2) cell body/soma interprets it 3) if message > threshold then neuron fires--action potential 4) terminal buttons release neurotransmitters into synapse 5) receptors respond to specific neurotransmitters - lock and key 6) excitatory impulses and inhibitory impulses 7) summation
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Excitatory Impulses
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-Make the neuron more likely to fire -Depolarization by opening the cell membrane and letting positive ions in |
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Inhibitory Impulses
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-Less likely to fire -Hyperpolarization by closing the membrane off even more to positive ions |
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Summation
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Process that occurs in a cell body when total amount of excitatory & inhibitory impulses determines whether the neuron fires or not |
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Reuptake
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-Terminal buttons of the axon reabsorb the excess neurotransmitters released into the synaptic cleft -spares the neighboring neurons excessive stimulation & stores it again to use in the future |
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Neurotransmitters
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-Serotonin -Dopamine -Norepinephrine -Acetylcholine -GABA -Endorphins |
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The Structure of the Nervous System
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-Central Nervous System -Peripheral Nervous System -Somatic System -Autonomic System -Sympathetic Division -Parasympathetic Division |
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Central Nervous System
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-the brain and spinal cord -interprets and stores information/ sends orders to muscles, glands & organs -the spinal cord is the pathway connecting the brain to the peripheral nervous system |
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Peripheral Nervous System
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-nerves outside the nervous system -transmits information to and from the central nervous system -external information and sensory input |
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Somatic System
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-Carries sensory information towards the brain and controls movement of the skeletal muscles -without it you would be immobile |
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Autonomic System
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Autonomically regulates glands, internal organs & blood vessels, pupil dilation, and blood pressure |
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Sympathetic Division |
-prepares the body to react and expand energy in times of stress -triggers release of chemicals -(arousing Division) |
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Parasympathetic Division
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-maintains body functions under ordinary conditions -saves energy, lowers blood pressure, restores lost energy from sympathetic division |
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Phineas Gage
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1850s, rod went through his skull his personality went through a complete change his frontal lobe was ruptured (moral compass compromised) |
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The Cerebral Cortex |
-Outer layer of the brain -2 mm thick -80% of the brains total volume -Seat of higher mental processes |
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Corpus Callosum |
band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemisphere and allows information to pass from one hemisphere to the other |
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Frontal Lobes |
deals with they higher mental functions of decision making, planning, judgement, and emotions
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Motor Cortex |
-controls voluntary muscle movement -motor strip -rear of frontal lobe -fingers take up a large portion of it |
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Broca's Area |
-Strictly left hemisphere -Language & speech production |
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Parietal Lobes |
deals with body senses such as touch, temperature, pressure, and pain |
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Somatosensory Cortex |
-Sense of touch -The somatosensory strip is located at the front of the parietal lobe -falls adjacent to the motor strip |
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Temporal Lobes |
Auditory Information |
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Wernicke's Area |
-left temporal lobe -comprehension -ability to understand speech and language |
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Occipital Lobes |
-deals with vision -plays and important role in visual processing |
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Hindbrain (or Brain stem) |
-Structures at the base of the brain that receive information from the spinal cord -basic mental functions -keeps you alive basically |
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Medulla |
controls vital involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate, swallowing |
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Pons (bridge) |
connects the lower and higher regions of the brain |
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Reticular Formation |
deals with general arousal such as sleeping, waking, and orienting |
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Cerebellum |
deals with balance and coordination of motor movements (allows complex motor skills) |
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Midbrain |
Neural relay stations for auditory & visual information |
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Forebrain |
Region for higher mental functioning in the brain along with the lobes and Cerebral Cortex |
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Thalamus |
processing center for sensory input |
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Hypothalamus |
controls bodily function such as eating, drinking, body temperature, and sexual arousal |
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Hippocampus |
Plays an important role in memory |
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Amygdala |
plays an important role in emotions such as fear, anger, aggressive, and offensive behavior |
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Basal Ganglia |
involved in planning and producing deliberate movements |
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Lateralization |
each side of the brain is responsible for performing some unique & independent function |
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Right Hemisphere |
deals with spatial abilities, emotions, facial recognition, visual imagery, and music |
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Left Hemisphere |
deals with language (Broca's and Wernicke's areas), math, and logic |
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Contralateral transmission |
-opposite sides -each hemisphere controls the opposite side of that hemisphere -Right controls Left, Left controls Right |
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Split Brain Patients |
individuals who have had their corpal collosum surgically severed to prevent seizures |
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Plasticity |
is the flexibility of the brain to adapt to changing circumstances or injury |
