Lecture 2.1 Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is a dendrite?
A structure that receives and processes signals from synapses of other neurons.
What is a cell body?
The ‘soma’ of the neuron; contains the nucleus, genetic information, and energy for functioning.
What is an axon?
Conducts electrical signals away from the cell body, connecting to the cell body at the axon hillock.
What is the node of Ranvier?
Gaps in the myelin sheath that help signals travel faster via saltatory conduction.
What is the axon terminal?
Transmit messages to dendrites via neurotransmitters at synapses.
What are Schwann cells?
Cells that produce myelin.
What is the myelin sheath?
A layer of fatty tissue that insulates the axon to help signal conductivity.
What is ion repulsion?
Ions moving away from one another.
What is ion attraction?
Ions moving towards one another and can bind.
What is the concentration gradient?
The difference in concentration of a molecule or substance between 2 areas.
What is diffusion?
Movement via passive transport; no energy is required and is driven by the concentration gradient only.
What lobes are included in the cerebral cortex? What is the function of each?
○ Frontal lobe.
§ Decision making.
§ Attention.
§ Personality.
§ Motor skills.
§ Language.
§ Social skills.
§ Emotional control.
○ Parietal lobe.
§ Sensory processing.
§ Spatial processing.
§ Integrating sensory information.
§ Proprioception.
○ Temporal lobe.
§ Hearing.
§ Language.
§ Memory.
§ Emotions.
○ Occipital lobe.
§ Visual perception.
§ Spatial reasoning.
What are the subcortical structures of the cerebral cortex? What is the function of each?
○ Fornix.
§ cognition / episodic memory recall.
○ Pons.
§ automated processes (sleep/wake cycle, breathing).
○ Medulla.
§ heart beat / breathing / blood pressure.
○ Hippocampus.
§ memory and learning.
○ Caudate.
§ planning / movement / learning / memory / reward.
○ Thalamus.
§ ‘relay station’ / processes all motor and sensory signals (except smell).
○ Putamen.
§ learning and motor control / speech articulation / language / reward.
○ Amygdala.
§ emotion processing / linking emotion to memories and learning.
What are the 2 important principles to understand, irrespective of the cortical/subcortical region or function?
What the region/function does in itself and how it affects other brain regions and functions.
What are the different features within a neuron?
Dendrite, cell body, axon, node of Ranvier, axon terminal, Schwann cells, myelin sheath.
How does electrical and chemical communication differ?
Within neurons, there is electrical communication; however, between neurons, there is chemical communication (since it involves neurotransmitters).
What are the 4 important principles of neuronal communication? Explain each in detail.
Like charges repel and opposite charges attract (how neuronal charges work). Ions diffuse from high to low ion concentration regions. Cell membranes control the electric/diffusion forces. Cell membranes are opened via ion channels.
What would happen if you blocked an ion channel?
Nothing happens; the ion doesn’t pass through. Whatever function the channel has, it doesn’t happen.
What do pharmacological agents all modify, in one way or another?
The opening and closing of the cell membranes and the resultant communication within the brain.
