Chapter 3 Study Guide

Front 1

Synapticcleft

Back 1

the gap between the presynaptic andpostsynaptic neuron

Front 2

Temporal summation:

Back 2

Repeated stimuli within a brief time having a cumulative effect.

Front 3

Spatial summation

Back 3

Several synaptic inputs originating from separate locations exerting a cumulative effect on a postsynaptic neuron.

Front 4

Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP

Back 4

A graded depolarization; decays overtime and space. This occurs when an excitatory neurotransmitter stimulates areceptor on a receiving cell

Front 5

Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

Back 5

A temporary hyperpolarization of apostsynaptic cell

Front 6

The Properties of Synapses (specialized gaps between neurons)

Back 6

The probability of an action potential on a given neuron depends on the ratio of EPSPs to IPSPS at a given moment.

Front 7

Types of Neurotransmitters

Back 7

Chemicals that are released by one neuron at the synapse and affect anothe rneuron are neurotransmitters.

Front 8

Types of Neurotransmitters

Back 8

Catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine): ocontain a catechol and an amine group.

Front 9

When an action potential reaches the axon terminal

Back 9

1. the depolarization causes calcium to flow into the terminal,

2. Exocytosis - the neuron releases a neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleftwithin 1-2 milliseconds

3. the neurotransmitter diffuses across the synaptic cleft to the postsynaptic membrane, where it will attach to receptors (proteins embedded in the membrane).

Front 10

Inactivation of neurotransmitters

Back 10

1. Reuptake

2. Enzymatic breakdown

Front 11

Hormones

Back 11

a chemical that is secreted primarily by endocrine glands and travels in blood to other organs

Front 12

Ventral

Back 12

towards the stomach

Front 13

Dorsal

Back 13

towards the back

Front 14

Coronal

Back 14

brain slice top view

Front 15

Sagittal

Back 15

brain slice side view

Front 16

Horizontal

Back 16

brain slice top view

Front 17

Central nervous system (CNS)

Back 17

Consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Front 18

The Spinal Cord

Back 18

Part of the CNS found within the spinal column

Front 19

Hindbrain

Back 19

consists of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum.

Front 20

hindbrain

Medulla

Back 20

Controls breathing, heart rate, vomiting, coughing, andother vital reflexes

Front 21

Hindbrain

Reticular activating formation

Back 21

ascending portion increases arousal and attention in cerebral cortex

Front 22

Hindbrain

Cerebellum

Back 22

helps regulate motor movement (balance andcoordination), also shifting between auditory and visual stimuli

Front 23

The Midbrain

Substantia Nigra

Back 23

Midbrain structure that contains dopamine neurons,cell loss occurs in Parkinson's Disease

Front 24

Forebrain

Back 24

Consists of two cerebral hemispheres, Each hemisphere receives contralateral sensory information and controlscontralateral motor movement

Front 25

Forebrain

The corpus callosum

Back 25

is a large bundle of axons that allow the two brainhemispheres to communicate with one another

Front 26

Forebrain

Thalamus

Back 26

Most sensory information is first processed in the thalamus before going to the cerebral cortex, exception is olfactory information.

Front 27

Forebrain

Hypothalamus

Back 27

- Small structure containing many distinct nuclei.Important for motivated behavior (e.g., eating, drinking, etc.) and temperature regulation, sleep reproduction.

-Sends messages to the pituitary gland, altering its release of hormone into the blood stream.

Front 28

Forebrain

Basal Ganglia

Back 28

-A group of subcortical structures including the caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus.

-Planning of motor movement and procedural memory

-Deterioration of the basal ganglia is prominent in Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease (movement disorder).

Front 29

Forebrain

Hippocampus:

Back 29

This structure is important for new memory storage.

Front 30

The Cerebral Cortex

The Occipital Lobe

Back 30

contain Primary Visual Cortex:

Destruction of the visual cortex causes cortical blindness. Normal pupil reflex

Front 31

The Parietal Lobe

Back 31

contains Postcentral Gyrus or primary somato sensory cortex:

the primary target for touch sensations

Front 32

The Temporal Lobe

Back 32

contains auditory cortex

it is the primary target for auditory information.

Front 33

The Frontal Lobe

Back 33

Contains the primary motor cortex and prefrontal cortex.

Front 34

The Frontal Lobe

Precentral Gyrus

Back 34

Specialized for the control of fine motor movements,

Front 35

The Frontal Lobe

Prefrontal Cortex

Back 35

- Receives information from all of our senses, involved taking initiative, planning, impulse control and working memory.

- people with prefrontal damage lose their social inhibitions and often acted impulsively.

Front 36

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Back 36

Consists of the nerves outside the brain and the spinal cord. The PNS has two divisions:

Front 37

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Somatic nervous system

Back 37

More Voluntary

Front 38

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Autonomic nervous system

Back 38

A set of neurons that control the heart, theintestines, and other organs. Involuntary

Front 39

Autonomic nervous system

Sympathetic nervous system:

Back 39

"Fight or Flight" system (prepares body for action byincreasing heart rate, blood pressure, etc.). The sympathetic system mainly uses norepinephrine.

Front 40

Autonomic nervous system

Parasympathetic nervous system

Back 40

maintains resting/relaxed state, reverses sympathetic nervous system effects. Short postganglionic fibers release acetylcholine.

Front 41

neuron development

Proliferation

Back 41

Production of new cells; cells along the ventricles of the brain divideto become neurons and glia.

Front 42

neuron development

Migration

Back 42

Movement of primitive neurons and glia toward their final destination in the brain.

Front 43

neuron development

Differentiation

Back 43

Neurons develop an axon and dendrites (this distinguishes neurons from other cells in the body)

Front 44

neuron development

Myelination

Back 44

Glia cells produce myelin sheaths around axons which allow for rapid transmission. Myelination begins during the prenatal period and continues into adulthood.

Front 45

neuron development

Synaptogenesis

Back 45

Formation of synapses. This is the last step in neural development and continues throughout life.

Front 46

Endogenous circadian rhythm

Back 46

In humans, the circadian rhythm has a self-generated duration of about 24 hours (justa little longer).

Front 47

Endogenous circadian rhythm

Zeitgeber

Back 47

Stimulus that resets the circadian rhythm. Light is the dominant zeitgeber for land animals.

Front 48

Mechanisms of the Biological Clock

The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Back 48

-The SCN controls the rhythms for sleep and temperature. The neurons of the SCN generate impulses that follow a circadian rhythm.

-The SCN is reset by the retinohypothalamic path that extends directly from the retina to the SCN.

Front 49

Circadian Rhythm

Melatonin

Back 49

Pineal gland releases the hormone melatonin, which increases sleepiness. Melatonin release usually starts 2 or 3 hours before bedtime.

Front 50

Stages of Sleep and Brain Mechanisms

Back 50

Stage 2 sleep is characterized by sleep spindles and K-complexes

Stages 3 and 4 are known as slow-wave sleep (SWS), which is comprised of slow, large-amplitude waves. Stage 3 has less than 50% SWS, Stage 4 greater than 50% SWS

Front 51

Paradoxical or REM Sleep

Back 51

-brain is very active but postural muscles are completely relaxed. Facial twitches and eye movements are common. It is deep sleep in some ways and light in others.

-activity increases in the pons

-decreasing activity of motor neurons that control postural muscles.

-REM is characterized by PGO waves (Pons, Geniculate, Occipital)

Front 52

Paradoxical or REM Sleep

Back 52

Early in the night, stages 3 and 4 predominate, but toward morning, stage 4 grows shorter and REM grows longer.

Front 53

Brain Mechanisms of Arousal and Attention

Locus coeruleus

Back 53

releases norepinephrine in response to meaningful events toarouse cortex

Front 54

Brain Mechanisms of Arousal and Attention

Back 54

Sleep depends on GABA-mediated inhibition. While spontaneously active neurons continue to fire at a normal rate, we are unconscious because GABA neurons fire and inhibit synaptic activity.

Front 55

Lateralization

Back 55

-Refers to the behaviors and cognitive abilities that each hemisphere specializes in - results in 2 hemispheres that are slightly different from each other(asymmetrical)

-For example, language ability is primarily localized in the left hemisphere.

-Each hemisphere receives input and controls the contralateral side of the body