Exam 2 Terms

Question 1

Picks up sound waves in the environment

Answer 1

Outer ear

Question 2

Convey and amplify sound waves

Answer 2

Middle ear

Question 3

Translate sound waves into nerve impulses

Answer 3

Inner ear

Question 4

Psychological aspect of sound related to magnitude

Answer 4

Loudness

Question 5

Psychological aspect of sound related to fundamental frequency

Answer 5

Pitch

Question 6

Magnitude of displacement of a sound pressure wave

Answer 6

Amplitude

Question 7

Number of times per second that a pattern of pressure change repeats

Answer 7

Frequency

Question 8

Denoting a substance that stimulates the growth of microorganisms, especially those with beneficial properties (such as those of the intestinal flora)

Answer 8

Probiotic

Question 9

Frontal lobe area specialized in the production of language

Answer 9

Broca’s Area

Question 10

Temporal lobe area that mediates language comprehension

Answer 10

Wernicke’s Area

Question 11

Difficulty comprehending language due to damage to these areas (or others)

Answer 11

Aphasia

Question 12

Inability to name objects

Answer 12

Agnosia

Question 13

Ordered projection of axons from one region of the nervous system to another, by which the organization of the body (or some function) is reflected in the organization of the nervous system

Answer 13

Map

Question 14

Topographic mapping of frequency across the surface of a structure, which originates in the cochlea and is preserved in ascending auditory structures

Answer 14

Tonotopic map

Question 15

Cortical or subcortical arrangements of sensory pathways that reflect the organization of the body

Answer 15

Somatotopic map

Question 16

Two dimensional representation of the retinal image in the neurons of the primary visual cortex

Answer 16

Retinotopic map

Question 17

Part of the temporal lobe involved in consolidation of short-term memories into long-term memories (cortex)

Answer 17

Hippocampus

Question 18

Integral membrane proteins possessing pores that allow certain ions to diffuse across cell membranes, thereby conferring selective ionic permeability

Answer 18

Ion channel

Question 19

Electrical signal conducted along axons (or muscle fibers) by which information is conveyed from one place to another in the nervous system

Answer 19

Action potential

Question 20

Atom or molecule with a net electrical charge

Answer 20

Ion

Question 21

Acquisition of novel behavior through experience

Answer 21

Learning

Question 22

Faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information

Answer 22

Memory

Question 23

Strengthening or weakening of synapses

Answer 23

Molecular basis of memory

Question 24

Altering the interconnections between neurons

Answer 24

Cellular basis of memory

Question 25

A swelling specialized for the release of neurotransmitter that occurs at the end (or along) an axon – pre-synaptic (before the synaptic cleft) - Also known as an axon terminal or terminal boutons

Answer 25

Synaptic bouton

Question 26

Proteins on the post-synaptic membrane that sense the neurotransmitter

Answer 26

Receptors

Question 27

Receptors in which the ion channel is an integral part of the receptor molecule (as of course is the ligand binding site) - Ionotropic receptors are also called ligand gated ion channels

Answer 27

Ionotropic receptor

Question 28

Large group of neurotransmitter receptors that combine receptor and ion channel functions into a single molecule - Presence of the ligand allows ion flow – “gating” (controlling the passage of)

Answer 28

Ligand gated ion channel

Question 29

Molecule that binds to another (usually large) molecule

Answer 29

Ligand

Question 30

Receptors in which the ligand binding site is an integral part of the receptor molecule but the receptor is only indirectly linked to an ion channel - Also known as G-protein-coupled receptors – the intracellular signaling pathways use G-proteins - Also known as 7 transmembrane receptors

Answer 30

Metabotropic receptor

Question 31

Direct effect on ion flow, effects fast and brief - Ions flow through the receptor - Most fast receptors are of this type

Answer 31

Ionotropic

Question 32

Indirect effects on ion flow; conformational change transmits information across the membrane - Often involve biochemical cascades that can affect many processes - Can be longer lasting

Answer 32

Metabotropic

Question 33

Allows ion flow in response to membrane depolarization

Answer 33

Voltage sensitive sodium channel

Question 34

Periodic gaps in the myelin of axons where action potentials are generated

Answer 34

Node of Ranvier

Question 35

Mechanism of action potential propagation in myelinated axons - So named because action potentials “jump” from one node of Ranvier to the next due to generation of action potentials only at these sites

Answer 35

Saltatory conduction

Question 36

Influx of Ca++ at synapse causes vesicles to fuse with the membrane and release neurotransmitter

Answer 36

Voltage Gated Ca++ channel

Question 37

Substance that binds to a receptor and activates it

Answer 37

Agonist

Question 38

Substance that binds to a receptor and prevents its activation

Answer 38

Antagonist

Question 39

Neurotransmitter typically binds to an ionotropic receptor on the post-synaptic membrane activating a single neuron - Glutamate is a key example in the brain - Glutamate synapses can be readily strengthened or weakened - Acetylcholine is used at the neuromuscular junction

Answer 39

Fast excitatory

Question 40

Rapidly inhibit target neurons via ion channels - GABA is the main brain inhibitor, glycine in the spinal cord - Sedatives typically enhance GABA signaling

Answer 40

Fast inhibitory

Question 41

Typically small proteins acting via GPCRs that change neural activity for longer periods, often in multiple neurons - Dopamine, serotonin, epinephine (adrenaline)

Answer 41

Slow neuromodulators

Question 42

Electrical difference across the cell membrane of -70 milli Volts that results from the action of the Na+/K+ pump - The cell is polarized: there is an electrical difference across the cell membrane

Answer 42

Resting Potential

Question 43

Displacement of the cell’s membrane potential to a less negative value

Answer 43

Depolarization

Question 44

Displacement of the cell’s membrane potential to a more negative value

Answer 44

Hyperpolarization

Question 45

Activation by ligand binding such as a neurotransmitter allows ion flow across the membrane

Answer 45

Ligand gated channel

Question 46

Activated by changes in membrane potential allowing ion flow across the membrane

Answer 46

Voltage gated channel

Question 47

Swelling at the junction of the neuronal cell body (soma) and the start of the axon - Starting point for action potentials

Answer 47

Axon hillock

Question 48

1) Self regenerating 2) All or none change in voltage 3) Propagates from axon hillock (cell body) 4) Induces synaptic transmission

Answer 48

Action potential characteristics

Question 49

Depolarizes target neuron | - Glutamate allows Na+ and Ca++ influx

Answer 49

Excitatory neurotransmitter

Question 50

Hyperpolarizes target neuron | - GABA allows Cl- ion influx

Answer 50

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

Question 51

Away from the synapse

Answer 51

Diffusion

Question 52

Neurotransmitter re-enters presynaptic axon terminal | - Enzymatic destruction inside terminal cytosol or synaptic cleft

Answer 52

Reuptake

Question 53

Alkaloid neurotoxin, produced by certain puffer fish, tropical frogs, and salamanders, that selectively blocks voltage-sensitive Na+ channels

Answer 53

Tetrodotoxin

Question 54

Small molecule excitatory neurotransmitter that acts at motor neuron synapses - Also acts in the autonomic nervous system (unconscious functions such as breathing, digestion) and modulates synapses in the brain (important in Alzheimer’s disease)

Answer 54

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Question 55

Amino acid that is the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain

Answer 55

Glutamate

Question 56

Major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain (technically an amino acid)

Answer 56

GABA

Question 57

Cell death resulting from the toxic actions of excitatory amino acids such as glutamate - Progression of hyperexcitability, excitotoxicity, cell death - Elevated calcium levels trigger cell death enzymes

Answer 57

Excitotoxicity

Question 58

Support cells associated with neurons, providing support and protection

Answer 58

Glia

Question 59

Star shaped glial cell, closely associated with neuronal synapses, which regulates the ionic environment of the neurons and sometimes neurotransmitter reuptake - Most abundant cells of the human brain

Answer 59

Astrocyte

Question 60

Glial cell in the central nervous system that elaborates myelin

Answer 60

Oligodendrocyte

Question 61

Glial cell in the peripheral nervous system that elaborates myelin

Answer 61

Schwann cell

Question 62

Glia cell concerned primarily with repairing damage following neural injury - Macrophages – immune cells responsible for engulfing foreign particles and cellular debris including dead cells

Answer 62

Microglia

Question 63

Method in which the combination of genetic manipulation and optical stimulation can be used to elicit either gain or loss of function events in specific cells - Expression of algal ion channels that are activated by specific wavelengths of light – can depolarize or hyperpolarize neurons

Answer 63

Optogenetics

Question 64

Genetically encoded Calcium indicator that emits (green) fluorescent light when calcium is present - Indicates synaptic activity in living organisms

Answer 64

GCaMP

Question 65

Study of the electrical properties of neurons (and cells in general)

Answer 65

Electrophysiology

Question 66

Measures action potentials, tip located near the cell | - Can be used to stimulate the neuron by passing current

Answer 66

Extracellular electrode

Question 67

Record electrical activity inside the cell

Answer 67

Intracellular electrode

Question 68

Maintains the voltage at a given level allowing the ionic current flow across the membrane to be measured - Important as voltage sensitive channels are only open at certain voltages

Answer 68

Voltage clamp

Question 69

Control the current flow to allow measurement of the membrane potential (voltage) - Can stimulate action potentials by passing current

Answer 69

Current clamp

Question 70

Extraordinarily sensitive voltage clamp method that permits the measurement of ionic currents flowing through individual ion channels

Answer 70

Patch clamp

Question 71

Wave of activation (depolarization) followed by inactivation | - Causes release of substances that irritates pain neurons

Answer 71

One theory of migraines