Module 9: Bio. Psych And Neurotransmittion

Question 1

Phrenology

Answer 1

Studying the bumps on the skull to reveal underlying brain size, mental abilities, and character traits

Question 2

Neurons

Answer 2

Cells which receive, transfer, and process information allowing your brain to control the body

Question 3

Dendrite

Answer 3

The neurons branching extensions that receive and integrate messages

Question 4

Axon

Answer 4

An single extension of the neuron cell body that passes messaged through its own terminal branches to other neurons, muscles, or glands

Question 5

Myelin Sheath

Answer 5

A layer of fatty tissue that insulated the axon and speeds up their impulses
(A lack of which secant result in multiple sclerosis- loss of muscle control due to lack of neuron communication)

Question 6

Glial Cells

Answer 6

Provide nutrition to the Neurons and play a role learning, thinking, and memory

Question 7

The action potential

Answer 7

The brief neural impulse, the “message”

Question 8

Thresholds

Answer 8

Minimum amount of neurotransmitters needed in the synapse to start the reaction

Question 9

Resting potential

Answer 9

The overall negative charge inside the neuron

Question 10

Refractory period

Answer 10

After the neurons fire, subsequent action potentials can’t occur until the axon return sit a resting state (regular negative state) and that amount of necessary time is the refractory period

Question 11

All or none response

Answer 11

Neurons either fire or they don’t, there is no spectrum

Question 12

Synapse

Answer 12

The junction between the end of one axon and the dendrite branches of another receiving neuron

Question 13

Synaptic Gap

Answer 13

The tiny gap between the Axon of one neuron and the receiving dendrite of the second neuron. Neurotransmitters pass this gap

Question 14

Neurotransmitters

Answer 14

Chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps and bind to receptor sites in the receiving neuron, influencing whether that neuron will generate its own actions potential

Question 15

Reuptake

Answer 15

After neurotransmitters flood the receiving terminal, releasing ions to possibly fire the neuron, the excess neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the sending neuron

Question 16

Mood for enhancing drugs

Answer 16

They work by blocking the reuptake sites. Excess neurotransmitters now flood the synapse and can impact ones mood.

Question 17

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Answer 17

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Thus, a deterioration of ACh leads to memory loss- AKA Alzheimer’s

Question 18

Dopamine

Answer 18

Influenced movement, learning, attention span, and emotion
Oversupply- schizophrenia
Under supply- Parkinson’s disease (tremors and immobility)

Question 19

Serotonin

Answer 19

Mood, hunger, sleep, arousal

Under supply - depression

Question 20

Norepinephrine

Answer 20

Alertness, arousal

Under supply- depression

Question 21

GABA

Answer 21

Inhibitory neurotransmitter (stops messages from passing)
Under supply- seizures, tremors, insomnia

Question 22

Glutamate

Answer 22

Excitatory Neurotransmitter involved in memory

Oversupply can overstimulate the brain and lead to migraines

Question 23

Endorphins

Answer 23

Neurotransmitters that influence the perception of pain and pleasure
Oversupply (opioids) can suppress the body’s natural endorphin supply

Question 24

Agonist Molecules (drugs)

Answer 24

Increases the neurotransmitters’ action. Some increase production of neurotransmitters, some prevent reuptake, while others mimic the neurotransmitters and bind to receptor sites

Question 25

Antagonists

Answer 25

Decrease a neurotransmitter’s action