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Never-Ending Road to Licensure > Nervous System, Neurons, and Neurotransmitters > Flashcards

Nervous System, Neurons, and Neurotransmitters Flashcards

1
Q

Nervous system breakdown

A

Nervous system:
1. Central nervous system (CNS)
2. Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

PNS:
1. Somatic nervous system (SNS)
2. Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

ANS:
1. Sympathetic nervous system
2. Parasympathetic nervous system

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2
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

Brain and spinal cord

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3
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

Signals between the CNS and rest of the body

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4
Q

Somatic nervous system (SNS)

A
  1. Signals between CNS and skeletal muscles
  2. Voluntary actions
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5
Q

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A
  1. Signals between CNS and smooth muscles, organs
  2. Involuntary actions (unless learned to control through biofeedback)
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6
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A
  1. Prepares body for action (fight-or-flight)
  2. Can cause rapid physiological changes
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7
Q

Fight-or-flight physiological changes

A
  1. Pupil dilation
  2. Sweating
  3. Increased heart rate
  4. Increased respiration rate
  5. Inhibited digestion
  6. Inhibited sexual activity
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8
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A
  1. Returns body to resting state (after fight-or-flight)
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9
Q

Two types of cells in nervous system

A
  1. Neurons
  2. Glia
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10
Q

Neurons function

A

Communicates information within nervous system

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11
Q

Glia function

A

Provides neurons with structural support, insulation, and nutrients

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12
Q

Neuron structural components

A
  1. Dendrites - receives information
  2. Soma (cell body) - contains classic cell parts (nucleus, mitochondria, etc.)
  3. Axon - transmits information
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13
Q

Myelin

A
  1. Produced by glia
  2. Insulates some neuron axons
  3. Speeds up conduction between neurons
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14
Q

Two processes driving communication in CNS

A
  1. Conduction
  2. Transmission
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15
Q

Conduction in the CNS

A

Electrochemical process:

Cell rests (negatively charged)
>
Dendrites stimulated
>
Cell membrane channels open
>
Sodium ions enter
>
Cell depolarized (less negative)
>
Action potential triggered

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16
Q

Action potential

A
  1. Electrical impulse
  2. All-or-none responses (intensity of a stimulus not based on action potential intensity but number of action potentials)
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17
Q

Transmission in the CNS

A

Typically chemical process (AKA synaptic transmission):

Action potential reaches axon terminal >
Neurotransmitter released to synaptic cleft
>
Neurotransmitter produces effect on postsynaptic neuron
>
Neurotransmitter inactivated

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18
Q

Neurotransmitter inactivation

A
  1. Can be reabsorbed into presynaptic neuron
  2. Can be broken down by enzymes
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19
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

The brain’s ability to change in structure and function throughout development and in response to life experiences

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20
Q

Four types of neuroplasticity

A
  1. Homologous area adaptation
  2. Cross-modal reassignment
  3. Map expansion
  4. Compensatory masquerade
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21
Q

Homologous area adaptation

A

If brain area damaged early, functions shift to corresponding area in opposite hemisphere, can lead to less function in corresponding area

e.g., left parietal lobe takes over for damaged right parietal lobe

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22
Q

Cross-modal reassignment

A

If sensory brain area deprived of stimuli, function in that area changes

e.g., blindness leads to “somatosensory input” (visualizing mentally) in that area

23
Q

Map expansion

A

Temporary or permanent enlargement of a cortical area, usually when learning a new skill

e.g., practicing an instrument

24
Q

Compensatory masquerade

A

If brain area damaged, person will use another brain area with function that compensates for lost function

e.g., using memory of landmarks to compensate for loss of visuospatial ability

25
Q

Two types of neurotransmitters

A
  1. Small-molecule neurotransmitters
  2. Neuropeptides

Based on size and synthesis

26
Q

Small-molecule neurotransmitters

A
  1. Smaller
  2. Synthesized and stored in axon terminal
27
Q

Neuropeptides

A
  1. Larger
  2. Synthesized in cell body and transmitted to axon terminal
28
Q

Two types of neuropeptides

A
  1. Enkephalin
  2. Endorphin

Both endogenous opioids with analgesic and euphoric effects

29
Q

Dopamine

A
  1. Excitatory or inhibitory
  2. Movement, personality, mood, sleep
30
Q

Parkinson’s and dopamine

A

Low dopamine in substantia nigra

31
Q

Tourette’s and dopamine

A

High dopamine in caudate nucleus

32
Q

Schizophrenia and dopamine

A

High dopamine activity (according to dopamine hypothesis)

33
Q

Four types of dopaminergic pathways

A
  1. Mesolimbic
  2. Mesocortical
  3. Tuberoinfundibular
  4. Nigrostriatal
34
Q

Mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway

A
  1. Begins in ventral tegmental area (evidence that dorsolateral prefrontal cortex signals motivation for reward)
  2. Ends in ventral striatum (nucleus accumbent)
  3. Reward circuit (e.g., substance use)
35
Q

Mesocortical dopaminergic pathway

A
  1. Begins in ventral tegmental area
  2. Ends in prefrontal cortex
  3. Emotion, motivation, executive function
36
Q

Tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic pathway

A
  1. Begins in hypothalamus
  2. Ends in pituitary gland
  3. Hormone regulation, inhibits prolactin
37
Q

Nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway

A
  1. Begins in substantia nigra
  2. Ends in dorsal striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen)
  3. Purposeful movement
38
Q

Acetylcholine

A
  1. Excitatory or inhibitory
  2. Movement (muscle contraction), arousal, attention, memory
39
Q

Myasthenia gravis

A

Autoimmune disorder
Muscle weakness due to destruction of acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions

40
Q

Acetylcholine and Alzheimer’s

A

Low acetylcholine in entorhinal cortex and hippocampus related to early memory loss

41
Q

Glutamate

A
  1. Excitatory
  2. Movement, emotions, learning, memory
42
Q

Glutamate-induced excitotoxicity

A

Excessive glutamate

Can cause cell damage and death

Linked to stroke, seizures, neurogenerative disorders (Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s)

43
Q

Norepinephrine

A
  1. Excitatory
  2. Arousal, attention, learning, memory, stress, mood
44
Q

Norepinephrine and mood

A
  1. Low norepinephrine = depression (based on catecholamine hypothesis)
  2. High norepinephrine = mania
45
Q

Serotonin

A
  1. AKA 5-HT
  2. Inhibitory
  3. Arousal, sleep, sexual activity, mood, appetite, pain
46
Q

Serotonin and related disorders

A

Low serotonin:
1. Depression
2. Suicide
3. Bulimia
4. OCD
5. Migraines

High serotonin:
1. Anorexia
2. ASD
3. Chronic schizophrenia w/ large ventricles and/or cerebral atrophy

47
Q

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

A
  1. Inhibitory
  2. Memory, mood, arousal, sleep, motor control
48
Q

GABA and related disorders

A

Low GABA:
1. Insomnia
2. Seizures
3. Anxiety
4. Huntington’s

49
Q

GABA and Huntington’s disease

A

Degeneration of GABA and acetylcholine cells in basal ganglia contribute to motor symptoms

50
Q

Psychoactive drug classes

A
  1. Agonists
  2. Partial agonists
  3. Inverse agonists
  4. Antagonists
51
Q

Agonists

A

Mimic or increase effects of neurotransmitter

Direct = increase neurotransmitter by binding to receptor site and acting as the neurotransmitter

Indirect = increase neurotransmitter without binding to receptor site

52
Q

Partial agonists

A

Produce similar but weaker effects than neurotransmitter/agonist

53
Q

Inverse agonists

A

Produce opposite effects to neurotransmitter/agonist

54
Q

Antagonists

A

Block or reduce effects of neurotransmitter/agonist

Direct = A

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