Lecture 5 (6) Basic Neurobiology

Question 1

Bridging the gap between the nervous system and our mind, and behaviour, allows us to what

Answer 1

span multiple levels of analysis

Question 2

what is one of the fastest moving areas in Psychology

Answer 2

Progress in exploring the neurobiology of mind has made considerable advances in the past decade.

Question 3

is the involved neurobiology the seat of the behaviour (such as a thought, a memory, a perception), or does their activation give rise to the experience (i.e., allows the organism to experience a thought, a memory, a perception)?

Answer 3

that is the big question! we are not too sure

Question 4

In memory research, and similar in other areas of mind research, some hold the view that memories do not exist physically in the brain, where does it come from

Answer 4

In memory research, and similar in other areas of mind research, some hold the view that memories do not exist physically in the brain. But physical brain processes give rise to these memories, i.e., this generates the experience, which cannot be located itself

Question 5

what are the two subsections of the nervous system

Answer 5

central nervous system

peripheral nervous system

Question 6

what is included in the central nervous system

Answer 6

brian

spinal cord

Question 7

what is included in the peripheral nervous system

Answer 7

somatic nervous system

autonomic nervous system

Question 8

what is in the somatic nervous system

Answer 8

skin, muscles and joints send signals to the spinal cord and brain
brain and spinal cord send signals to the muscles and joints and skin

Question 9

what is under the autonomic nervous system

Answer 9

glans and internal organs send signals to the spinal cord and brain
brain and spinal cord send signals t the glands and internal organs

Question 10

wat is under “brain and spinal cord send signals t the glands and internal organs”

Answer 10

sympathetic nervous system

parasympathetic nervous system

Question 11

what ARE A BASIC COMPONENT OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Answer 11

NEURONS

Question 12

what are the BUILDING BLOCKS OF CNS

Answer 12

NEURONS AND GLIAL CELLS

Question 13

what is the Function of neurons

Answer 13

Function of neurons is communication in form of propagating electrical signals

Question 14

what do Glial cells do

Answer 14

Glial cells are an essential part of the nervous system allowing neurons to function (Glia means “glue” in Greek)

Question 15

what are the 2 types of glial cells

Answer 15

microglia and there are macroglia

Question 16

what do the Microglia do

Answer 16

Microglia protect CNS neurons. They are smaller than the other glial cells, and are mobile within the brain. They can metabolise dead tissue and are involved in keeping the CNS healthy

Question 17

what are examples of macroglia

Answer 17

Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are macroglia

Question 18

what are Astrocytes:

Answer 18

link neurons to blood vessels, forming part of the blood-brain barrier. They engulf synapses (where neurons connect), regulating neurotransmitter release during synaptic transmission

Question 19

what are Oligodendrocytes:

Answer 19

they surround axons in the CNS, forming the myelin sheath that insulates axons, which allows the electrical signal that travels in the axon to travel faster

Question 20

how does INFORMATION FLOW IN REFLEXES (pricking finger on a nail)

Answer 20

1. sensory receptors in skin
2. information to sensory neurons
3. information through interneuron (in section of spinal cord)
4. motor neurons
5. muscle contraction raises forearm

Question 21

what are the 3 functional types of neurons

Answer 21

Sensory (receptor or afferent) neurons
Motor (efferent or effector) neurons
Interneurons or associative neurons

Question 22

what is a neuron

Answer 22

a specialized cell

Question 23

what is the cell body of a neutron called

Answer 23

soma

Question 24

from the soma, 2 kinds of cytoplasmic processes extend, what are they

Answer 24

a) one or more dendrites, and b) a single axon

Question 25

are all neutrons the same

Answer 25

no, Neurons can have different shapes, depending on their function and location

Question 26

what are the Sensory (receptor or afferent) neurons.

Answer 26

Act as receptors of stimuli or are connected to receptors

Question 27

what are the Motor (efferent or effector) neurons.

Answer 27

Send information from CNS to the body’s effectors (muscles/glands)

Question 28

what are the Interneurons or associative neurons.

Answer 28

Are neither sensory nor motor but connect neurons with other neurons

Question 29

where are the Afferent and efferent neurons:

Answer 29

mostly outside (CNS); interneurons entirely within CNS (99% of neurons in body)

Question 30

how does information flow int he neuron

Answer 30

1. A signal is received at the dendritic spines, at the post-synaptic terminals, where the neuron synapses with the axon of another neuron. 2. This signal can produce an electric current that travels from the dendrite to the soma of the neuron. 3. If the signal accumulating at the axon hillock in the soma is strong enough, the receiving neuron will “fire”, i.e., it will produce an electrical impulse at the axon hillock. 4. This electrical impulse travels down the axon toward the terminal buttons (the pre- synaptic terminals). 5. When the electrical impulse reaches the pre-synaptic terminal, it can produce a chemical signal: the release of neurotransmitters. 6. When neurotransmitters reach the post-synaptic terminal of the receiving neuron: Go back to point 1 above.

Question 31

what is resting potential

Answer 31

At rest, when a neuron is not active, the electrical charge inside and outside the neuron is different This difference in charge is called a potential. It is the potential electrical charge that could be released

Question 32

A neuron at rest has the resting potential of ____

Answer 32

A neuron at rest has the resting potential of around -70 millivolts (-70mV; i.e., there are more negatively charges inside the neuron than outside of it)

Question 33

what is Electrical potential

Answer 33

refers to how much energy is stored up in a system

Question 34

If the electrical stimulation is strong enough, what happens to the neutron

Answer 34

If the electrical stimulation is strong enough, it exceeds the threshold of excitation and the axon of the stimulated neuron will fire an action potential

Question 35

what happens During the action potential

Answer 35

During the action potential, the neuron is briefly depolarized, so the membrane potential reaches about +40mV

Question 36

what is Diffusion

Answer 36

refers to the phenomenon that particles tend to move from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration, eventually reaching equilibrium of equal dispersion Diffusion is a force that pushes particles along their concentration gradient (from high to low)

Question 37

what does Diffusion result from

Answer 37

from Brownian movement, which correlates with temperature

Question 38

what is Electrostatic pressure

Answer 38

refers to the fact that equally electrically charged particles repel each other, and differently charged particles attract each other