Introduction to neural structures and function

Question 1

Glutamate

Answer 1

EXCITES neurons, involved in memory and phototransduction

Question 2

GABA

Answer 2

INHIBITS other neurons from firing

Question 3

Serotonin

Answer 3

Affects mood

Question 4

Dopamine

Answer 4

Involved with feeling reward, learning, and emotion

Question 5

Acetylcholine

Answer 5

Involved with memory, attention, and muscle action

Question 6

Norepinephrine

Answer 6

Alertness

Question 7

Imbalance of glutamate (too much)

Answer 7

Migraines or seizures

Question 8

GABA imbalance (too little)

Answer 8

Seizures, tremors, and insomnia

Question 9

Identifiable features of bottom view of brain

Answer 9

Frontal lobe, olfactory bulb, olfactory tract, temporal lobe, occipital lobe

Question 10

Features of the side view of the brain

Answer 10

Frontal lobe, parietal lobe, central sulcus, temporal lobe, lateral sulcus, preoccipital notch, occipital lobe, and cerebellum hemisphere

Question 11

Where does the action potential start?

Answer 11

Axon hillocks

Question 12

Phases of an action potential

Answer 12

1. Activation threshold 2. Depolarization 3. Repolarization 4. Return to resting potential

Question 13

Membrane potential change at activation threshold

Answer 13

From -70 mV to +40 mV

Question 14

Refractory (def.)

Answer 14

Period of time where neuron is unable to fire (usually when sodium ion channel closes)

Question 15

K+ ions cause…

Answer 15

Repolarization then hyperpolarization

Question 16

Ineurons at rest (electrically speaking)

Answer 16

Have an electric potential between inside and outside

Question 17

Usual charge of inside cell

Answer 17

-70mV

Question 18

Depolarization

Answer 18

Cell becomes less negative - sodium enters cell

Question 19

Hyperpolarization

Answer 19

Cell potential becomes more negative inside

Question 20

Resting potential

Answer 20

Polarization level of an unstimulated neuron

Question 21

Nernst equation

Answer 21

E = (RT/zF) on (ion outside/ion inside)
Potential energy (E) depends on ionic gradient, inversely relational to charge on Ion and constants (gas constant, temperature, faraday constant)

Question 22

VEP

Answer 22

“Visual evoked potential” - a type of non-invasive volume recording of electrophysiology. Can detect optic neuritis nerve asymmetry

Question 23

Gas constant

Answer 23

R = 8.31 J/mol K

Question 24

Standard physiological temperature

Answer 24

37 degrees C = 310.2 K

Question 25

Faraday constant

Answer 25

96500 C/mol e-

Question 26

Ion channels

Answer 26

Allow ions to cross membrane - without unable to pass due to lipid bilateral

Question 27

Leakage channel

Answer 27

Always open ion channel

Question 28

Voltage gated ion channel

Answer 28

Ion channels that only open at certain voltages

Question 29

Receptor-linked (ligand gated) ion channel

Answer 29

Ion channels that open in response to the stimulus of a neurotransmitter

Question 30

Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels

Answer 30

Ion channels that open in response to charges in the level of cyclic nucleotides (cGMP)

Question 31

Hypernatremia

Answer 31

Excessive extra cellular sodium - increase size of action potential - increase muscle excitability

Question 32

Hypokalemia

Answer 32

Loss of extracellular K+ -increase resting potential - increase muscle weakness and tremors

Question 33

Na/K ATPase

Answer 33

Key “pump” against concentration gradient -exchange 3Na intracellular for 2K extracellular with 1 ATP

Question 34

Percents of key metabolic resources distributed to the brain

Answer 34

25% glucose 20% oxygen 15% cardiac output

Question 35

Ischemic stroke

Answer 35

Interruption of blood flow to the brain - loss of oxygen requires brain to switch to anaerobic respiration

Question 36

Problems with anaerobic respiration in the brain

Answer 36

Less efficient (ion pumps compromised), lactic acid production (toxic), accumulation of free radicals

Question 37

Amaurosis fugax

Answer 37

Temporary blindness of one or both eyes due to lack of blood flow. A symptom of an underlying problem

Question 38

AION

Answer 38

Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy -sudden (and sustained?)loss of vision -

Question 39

Arteritic AION

Answer 39

Sudden blindness due to inflammation of arteries supplying blood to optic nerve

Question 40

N-AION

Answer 40

Sudden vision loss caused by reasons other than inflammation of arteries

Question 41

Differentiating occipital lobe from temporal lobe

Answer 41

Central sulcus forms an arrow pointing towards occipital lobe

Question 42

size of synaptic cleft

Answer 42

2 nm

Question 43

requirements of synapse

Answer 43

production, storage, release (exocytosis), binding, generation of action potential, and removal/reuptake

Question 44

structural imaging

Answer 44

CT and MRI

Question 45

functional imaging

Answer 45

PET and fMRI