Psych Midterm 1

Front 1

neurons

Back 1

the basic unit of the nervous system that specializes in communication

Front 2

functions of the neuron

Back 2

1) recieve information from neighboring neurons
2) Integrate these signals
3) pass signals to other neurons

Front 3

dendrites

Back 3

short outgrowths that increase the receptive field and detect chemical signals

Front 4

cell body

Back 4

information from thousands is collected and integrated
site of metabolism and genetic action

Front 5

axon

Back 5

electrical impulses are transmitted along a narrow outgrowth

Front 6

nerve

Back 6

bundle of axons that carry information between the brain and body

Front 7

terminal buttons

Back 7

small nodules at the ends of axons that are the fourth region of the neuron
receive the electrical impulses
release chemical signals from the neuron to the synapse

Front 8

synapse

Back 8

site for chemical communication between neurons

Front 9

sensory neurons

Back 9

detect information from the pysical world and pass that information along to the brain via the spinal cord

Front 10

motor neurons

Back 10

direct muscles to contract or relax, thereby producting movement

Front 11

interneurons

Back 11

communicate only with the other neurons; typically with the brain region
vastly outnumber the other types of neurons
work together to create an equilibrium

Front 12

myelin sheath

Back 12

the insulation that encases teh axons and facilitates the passage of electrical impulses along the axon
speeds up neural transmission by causing action potentials to jump across nodes of ranvier
increases how quickly effects the synapse can occur

Front 13

glial cells

Back 13

make up the myelin sheath

Front 14

action potential

Back 14

the nerve impulse flowing down teh axon

Front 15

resting membrane potential

Back 15

electric difference between inside and outside the neuron
in resting state, the electrical charge inside the neuron is slightly more negative inside than outside

Front 16

depolarization

Back 16

neurons are more likely to fire
sodium rushes into the neuron
inside of the neuron is more positive than outside
causes action potential

Front 17

hyperpolarization

Back 17

neuron is less likely to fire
sodium channels are less likely to allow sodium into the neuron

Front 18

agonist

Back 18

increases the amount of neurotransmitter effects--enhances

Front 19

antagonist

Back 19

blocks and decreases the neurotransmitter effects
inhibits