Basics Flashcards
(19 cards)
How many neurons does the human brain have?
86 billion
Do we use all of our neurons?
yes
How many people face neurological or psychiatric conditions?
1/4
In order to communicate, the _____ is transformed into a chemical message, which crosses the gap, called a ____. The release of chemical messengers can trigger a second action potential in the neuron on the other side of the synapse, conveying the message onward or, when the action potential triggers the release of a chemical messenger that blunts the transmission of a signal, quelling the message.
action potential, synapse
_____ carry signals from sense receptors to your
brain.
Sensory circuits
____ sends commands to your muscles
Motor circuits
____ carry out automatic reflexes
Simple circuits
____ are required for higher level activities like memory, decision making, and perceiving the world around you
Complex circuits
When do circuits arise?
Before birth
Experiences make simple circuits to ____ circuits
Complex
Most of those will stick around for the rest of your life, yet your brain is constantly changing.
Plasticity
Learn a new skill or language and your brain reacts by strengthening or weakening the connections between ____.
neurons
Early in life, the brain eliminates those extra cells, keeping only those connections you need in a process.
synaptic pruning
Compared with other animals, the human brain possesses an enormous _____ that is brimming with neural circuits dedicated to language.
cerebral cortex
3 lobes of the brain dedicated to interpreting language
temporal, parietal, frontal
The brain runs on how many watts of electricity that is enough to power an LED light?
25
How many types of neuron in our brain?
10,000
Medication for Parkinson’s disease
L-dopa
Medication for depression
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (Prozac)
