Lecture 1: Nerve Cells And Behavior

Front 1

The kneejerk reflex is a ___________ reflex involving __ neurons. Explain how it works.

Back 1

Monosynaptic
2

stretch receptor on quadriceps tendon --> connected to sensory neuron, which sends axons to CNS --> sensory neuron connects with motor neuron at presynaptic terminal of CNS --> motor neuron sends axons back to muscle, causes contraction. (*** Note: there's also an inhibitory/bypass mechanism)

Front 2

Name the two types of cells in the brain and the proportions of each.

Back 2

Neuroglial cells (80%)
Nerve cells (20%)

Front 3

The 4 types of signals given off by the Neuron are _______ and _________ regulated. Name them.

Back 3

temporally
spatially

1.) Input
2.) Integrative
3.) Conduction
4.) Output

Front 4

Resting membrane potential of neuron (value).

Back 4

-65mV

Front 5

In motor neurons, the input signal is also known as __________.

Back 5

Synaptic potential

Front 6

What are the two key unique properties of the input signal?

Back 6

1.) Graded signal
*amplitude and duration of signal varies

2.) Local signal
*i.e. NOT "all or nothing"/decreases in amplitude over distance.
*spreads PASSIVELY along axon

****Does NOT generate AP****

Front 7

True or false: there are voltage-gated Na+ channels in the input compartment of the neural signal?

Back 7

False. No Na+ channels, so no AP.

Front 8

The integrative signal portion of the neuron is also known as _________. Where is it located?

Back 8

The Trigger Zone
Located at the initial segment of the axon.

Front 9

Explain the function of the integrative signal.

Back 9

"Trigger Zone" where decision to generate AP is made --> contains voltage-gated Na+ channels --> generates AP if integrated signal is greater than threshold potential (~15mV)

Front 10

At the _______ portion of the neuron signal, there is guaranteed conduction along the entire length of the axon. Every action potential has the same _________.

Back 10

Conduction
Wave form (i.e. amplitude and duration)

Front 11

Signals in the output compartment are converted from _______ to _______ energy.

Back 11

electric
chemical

***further converted to mechanical energy (contraction) at NMJ***

Front 12

Neurotransmitters are released as part of the ______ signal. They are released from the _______ to the ______. It is a ______ release that depends on these two things.

Back 12

output
presynaptic terminal
synaptic cleft
graded
1.) Number of APs 2.) Frequency of APs.

Front 13

Neuro/psych disorders are often nerve cell-type/compartment specific:
1.) Tertiary syphilis is marked by the neurological disorder ________ which affects only the ______ columns.
2.) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a.k.a. ________, affects only _______ neurons.

Back 13

Tabes Dorsalis
Dorsal (sensory)
Lou Gehrig's disease
Motor

Front 14

Different aspects of function are localized to different regions of the brain. Function of a given neuron is largely determined by ________.

Back 14

its location during development

Front 15

Discuss Franz Joseph Gall: what was he known for and what principles did he espouse?

Back 15

2 principles:
1.) no soul (all experiences derived from brain)
2.) mental functions are localized to specific regions -- NOT homogeneous like other organs.

PHRENOLOGY -- brain is muscle, areas of brain used more will create bump.

Front 16

Where did Jean Pierre Flourens stand in the aggregate fields vs. cellular connectionistic (a.k.a. holistic v. localizationistic) debate? What was his evidence?

Back 16

Flourens sided with the Holistic, a.k.a. "mass action" or "aggregate field" view -- he rejected Gall's phrenology.

His experiment: took out the "romantic love" portion of mouse brain -- animals still mated.

Front 17

What is Broca's area responsible for? What type of aphasia did Broca study? Where was the lesion located in the patients?

Back 17

Broca's area is involved in language production (motor expression of language)

Broca aphasia patients can understand language, but cannot express language (speak or write)

lesion located in the LEFT FRONTAL brain

Front 18

Broca's area connects to Wernicke's area via _________.

Back 18

arcuate fasciculus

Front 19

What is Wernicke's area responsible for? What type of aphasia did Wernicke study? Where was the lesion located in the patients?

Back 19

comprehension of language

aphasia pt could articulate language but no comprehension

Lesion located in POSTERIOR LEFT brain (occipital, temporal, and parietal lobes)

Front 20

A lesion in the arcuate fasciculus results in ________. Before it was documented, it was predicted by ________.

Back 20

disconnection syndrome (a.k.a. conduction aphasia)

Wernicke

Front 21

Describe Wernicke's model for the biology of language.

Back 21

Read or hear something --> information goes from visual/auditory cortex to Wernicke's area where it is translated to perception of language (and meaning) --> travels through arcuate fascilicus to Broca's area --> in Broca's area, it is transformed from sensory representation (visual/auditory) to motor representation (written/speech)

Front 22

One theory of language production holds that _______ area is responsible for individual words, while _______ area is responsible for grammar.

Back 22

Wernicke's
Broca's

Front 23

Where are the following functions localized?

1.) vision
2.) somatic sensation
3.) planning future action, control of movement
4.) hearing and memory storage

Back 23

1.) occipital lobe
2.) parietal lobe
3.) frontal lobe
4.) temporal lobe

Front 24

Describe the studies of Gustav Fritsch and Eduard Hitzig.

Back 24

Produced the TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP ("The motor map").

Produced very specific movements through electrical stimulation of the pre-central gyrus ("motor cortex")

Front 25

Describe the main findings of the studies of Joy Hirsch

Back 25

** if you grow up bilingual, both languages are represented in Broca's region. If not, the 2nd language locates to a separate region.

---> acquired languages (inc. sign language) go to Broca's area, learned languages (ex. computer languages) do not.

Front 26

________ is the conveyance of one's emotional state through language. This characteristic is represented in the _____ hemisphere of the brain, in regions homologous to _______ and ______ areas.

Back 26

Prosoty
Right
Broca's
Wernicke's