Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Physiological Psychology > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

(76 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Central nervous System

A

brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

The part of the nervous system outside of the brain and the spinal cord, including the nerves attached to the brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Nerves

A

Bundles of individual neurons contained within a protective membrane; that relay sensory from the body to the central nervous system and relay motor information from the central nervous system to the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Axoplasmic Transport

A

An active process by which substances are propelled along microtubes that run the length of the axon; occurs only within one axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Anterograde

A

In a direction along an axon from the cell body toward the terminal button

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Retrograde

A

In a direction along an axon from the terminal button toward the cell body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Membrane

A

Structure consisting principally of lipid molecules that defines the outer boundaries of a cell, and also constitutes many of the cell organelles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Presynaptic cell

A

Sending cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Postsynaptic cell

A

Receiving cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Action Potential

A

Carried by an axon; involves both an electrical and chemical component to messages; electrical and chemical event that starts near the end of the axon, near cell body and travels to the terminal buttons; always same size and duration; when it reaches end of terminal branches, it splits, but does not lesson in size or duration, and each branch receives full strength of action potential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Cytoskeleton

A

Formed of microtubes and other protein fibers, linked to each other, and forming a cohesive mass that gives the cell its shape

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Microtubule

A

A long strand of bundles of protein filaments arranged around a hollow core; part of the crytoskeleton and involved in transporting substances from place to place within the cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Cytoplasm

A

Semi liquid substance contained in the interior of a cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Chromosome

A

Strand of DNA, with associated proteins, found in the nucleus; carries genetic information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

A

A long complex macro-molecule consisting of two interconnected, helix strands; along with associated proteins, strands of DNA constitute the chromosomes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Gene

A

Functional unit of the chromosomes, which direct synthesis of one or more proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Enzyme

A

A molecule that controls a chemical reaction, combining two substances, or breaking a substance into two parts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Mitochondria

A

Organelles that are responsible for extracting energy from nutrients; breaks down glucose and other nutrients

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

A

A molecule of prime importance to cellular energy, metabolism; it’s breakdown liberates energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Glia

A

The supporting cells of the central nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Astrocyte

A

A glia cell that provides support for neurons of the central nervous system, provides nutrients and other substances, and regulates the chemical composition of the extracellular fluid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Phagocytosis

A

Process by which cells engulf and digest other cells or debris caused by cellular degeneration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Oligodendrocyte

A

A type of glia cell in the CNS that forms myelin sheaths

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Microglia

A

The smallest of the glial cells; they act as phagocytes and protect the brain from invading microorganisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Schwann Cell
A cell in the peripheral nervous system that is wrapped around a myelinated axon, providing one segment of its myelin sheath
26
Blood-Brain Barrier
A semi-permeable barrier between the blood and the brain produced by the cells in the walls of the brains capillaries
27
Area Postrema
Region in the medulla where the blood-brain barrier is weaker; poisons can be detected there and initiate vomiting
28
Membrane potential
The electrical charge across a membrane; the difference in electrical potential inside and outside the cell
29
Resting Potential
The membrane potential of a neuron, when it is not being altered by excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials; approximately -70mV in many neurons
30
Hyperpolarization
An increase in the membrane potential of a cell, relative to the normal resting potential; when the inside of an axon becomes more negative than the outside
31
Depolarization
Reduction (toward zero) of the membrane potential of a cell from its normal resting position; inside of axon is more positive than the outside
32
Threshold of Excitation
The value of the membrane potential that must be reached to produce an action potential
33
Diffusion
Movement of molecules from regions of high concentration to regions of low concentration
34
Ion
A charged molecule
35
Cation
Positively charged ion
36
Anion
Negatively charged ion
37
Electrostatic Pressure
The attractive force between atomic particles charged with opposite signs with repulsive force between atomic particles charge with the same sign
38
Intracellular Fluid
Fluid contained within cells
39
Extracellular Fluid
Body fluids located outside of cells
40
Sodium-potassium transporter
A protein found in the membrane of all cells that extrudes sodium ions from and transports potassium ions into the cell
41
Ion Channel
Specialized protein molecule that permits specific ions to enter or leave cells
42
Voltage Dependent Ion Channel
Ion channel that opens or closes, according to the value of the membrane potential; first, membrane must reach level of excitation, sodium channels in membrane open, Na+ rushes in, propelled by forces of diffusion and electrostatic pressure
43
All-or-none law
The principle that once an action potential is triggered in an axon, it is propagated, without decrement to the end of the fiber; an action potential either occurs full strength, or it does not occur at all; it does not grow or diminish in size or strength
44
Rate Law
The principle that variations in the intensity of stimulus or other information, being transmitted in an axon, are represented by variations in the rate at which the axons fire
45
Salatory Conduction
Conduction of action potential‘s by myelinated axons. The action potential appears to jump from one node of Ranvier to the next; action potential gets re-triggered, or repeated at each node of Ranvier; axons need less energy to maintain sodium balance; speeds up the process
46
Decremental Conduction
Electrical messages, get smaller as they are passed on the axon, but it is still strong enough to trigger a new action potential at the next node; a decrease in the size of the electrical message
47
Refractory
When the channel cells become blocked and cannot be opened again
48
Rate of firing action potential
Represents an axons variable information; a high firing rate causes a strong muscular contraction, and this is caused by strong stimulus
49
Synaptic Transition
Primary means of communication between neurons; relay messages from one neuron to the other across the synapse
50
Postsynaptic potential
Alterations in the membrane potential of a postsynaptic neuron, produced by liberation of neurotransmitter at the synapse; brief depolarizations, or hyperpolarizations that increase, or decease the rate of action potential’s in the action of the postsynaptic neuron
51
Binding Site
Neurotransmitters exert their effects on cells by attaching to a particular region of receptor molecules, called the binding site; the location on receptor protein, to which a ligand binds; neurotransmitter molecules fit into a binding site the way to key fits into a lock
52
Ligand
A chemical that binds with the binding site of receptors; neurotransmitters are naturally occurring Ligands produced, and released by neurons; can only bind to receptors, cannot enter a neuron through binding site, although they may open ion channels through which ions can enter the cell
53
Dendritic Spine
A small bump on the surface of a dendrite, with which a terminal button of another neuron forms a synapse
54
Presynaptic membrane
The membrane of a terminal button that lies adjacent to the postsynaptic membrane, and through which the neurotransmitter is released
55
Postsynaptic membrane
Cell membrane opposite of the terminal button in a synapse; the membrane of a cell that receives the message
56
Synaptic Vesicles
Small bubble like structure found in the terminal button; contains molecules of neurotransmitter; found in greatest number around the part of the presynaptic membrane that faces the synaptic cleft
57
Postsynaptic receptor
Receptor molecules in the postsynaptic membrane of a synapse that can find a binding site for a neurotransmitter; sites of special proteins
58
Neurotransmitter-dependent ion channels
Allow the passage of specific ions in and out of cells; opening, when a molecule of a neurotransmitter binds with the postsynaptic receptor
59
Iontropic receptor
Direct method, simpler; a neurotransmitter, dependent ion channel equipped with its own binding site; when a molecule of appropriate neurotransmitter attaches to it, the ion channel opens
60
Metabotropic receptor
Direct method of opening ion channels; requires the cell to spend metabolic energy; a receptor that contains a binding site for neurotransmitter activates an enzyme that begins a series of events that opens an ion channel elsewhere in the membrane of the cell, when a molecule of the neurotransmitter attaches to the binding site
61
G-protein
A protein coupled to metabotropic receptors conveys messages to other molecules, when a ligand binds with and activates the receptor
62
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential
An excitatory depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane of a synapse caused by the liberation of a neurotransmitter by the terminal button
63
Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential
An inhibitory hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane of a snap caused by the liberation of a neurotransmitter by the terminal buttons
64
Enzyme deactivation
The destruction of a Neurotransmitter by enzyme after it’s release— for example, the destruction of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase
65
Acetylcholinesterase
Enzyme that destroys acetylcholine soon after it leaves the terminal button; terminates the action potential
66
Acetylcholine
Neurotransmitter found in the brain, spinal cord, and parts of peripheral nervous system; responsible for muscle contraction
67
Neural integration
The process by which inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic potentials summate and control the rate of firing of a neuron
68
Auto-receptor
A receptor molecule located on a neuron that responds to the neurotransmitter released by that neuron (respond to the neurotransmitter, they themselves released)
69
Presynaptic inhibition
The action of presynaptic terminal button in an axoaxonic synapse; reduces the amount of neurotransmitter released by the post synaptic terminal button
70
Axoaxonic Synapse
Do not contribute directly to neural integration; occurs on axon; alters amount of neurotransmitter released by the terminal buttons of the postsynaptic axon; produce presynaptic modulation: presynaptic inhibition or presynaptic facilitation
71
Presynaptic facilitation
The action of a presynaptic terminal button, in an axoaxonic synpase; increases the amount of neurotransmitter released by the postsynaptic button
72
Neuromodulator
A naturally secreted substance that acts like a neural transmitter, except that it is not restricted to the synaptic cleft, but is used through extracellular fluid; travels further, and dispersed, more widely than a neurotransmitter
73
Peptide
A chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds; most neuromodulators and some hormones made of peptide bonds
74
Hormone
Chemical substance that is released by the endocrine gland that has effects on target cells, and in other organs
75
Endocrine Gland
A gland that releases chemical messengers into the extracellular fluid around capillaries, and hence into the bloodstream
76
Target Cell
The type of cell that is directly affected by hormone or other chemical signal

Physiological Psychology (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions