Unit Three NeuroBiology

Question 1

describe the structural division of the nervous system

Answer 1

CNS- brain + spinal cord
PNS- somatic nervous system. autonomic nervous system.

Question 2

describe the function of the somatic nervous system

Answer 2

controls mainly voluntary conscious actions
contains sensory + motor neurons

Question 3

what is a sensory neuron

Answer 3

they take impulses from the sense organs to the CNS

Question 4

what is motor neurons

Answer 4

take impulses from the cns to muscles and glands

Question 5

describe the function of the autonomic nervous system

Answer 5

consists of sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
controls involuntary unconscious actions

Question 6

describe the function of the sympathetic nervous system
(fight or flight)

Answer 6

increases heart rate
increases breathing rate
slows down peristalsis
slows down production of intestinal system

Question 7

describe the function of the parasympathetic nervous system
( rest and digest)

Answer 7

decreases heart rate
decreases breathing rate
increases peristalsis
increases production of intestinal system

Question 8

describe antagonistic

Answer 8

they have opposite effects

Question 9

converging pathways

Answer 9

in converging neural pathway, impulses from several neurons travel to one single neuron.
this increases sensitivity to excitatory or inhibitory signals
eg. night vision

Question 10

diverging pathways

Answer 10

in a diverging neural pathways impulses from one single neuron travels to several neurons so affecting more than one destination at the same time
increases coordination and fine motor control
eg. surgery

Question 11

reverberating pathways

Answer 11

neurons later in the pathway links back with earlier neurons , sending the impulse back through the pathway this allows repeated stimulation of the pathway
eg. breathing

Question 12

describe the cerebral cortex

Answer 12

center of conscious thought
recalls memories and alters behaviour due to experiences
brain functions in the cerebral cortex are localised

Question 13

describe the structure and function of the corpus callosum

Answer 13

a band of fibres that connects both hemispheres of the brain and allows for information to be exchanged

Question 14

describe the left cortex/cerebral hemisphere

Answer 14

controls the right visual field and controls the right side of the body
has speech area

Question 15

describe the right side of the cortex/ cerebral hemisphere

Answer 15

controls the left visual field and controls the left side of the body

Question 16

what is the function of the occipital lobe

Answer 16

sight

Question 17

what is the advantage of a cortex which is extensively convoluted

Answer 17

to maximise surface area on the brain to make space for cells to connect

Question 18

what areas is the cortex divided into

Answer 18

sensory, association, motor

Question 19

what is the role of sensory areas

Answer 19

to receive nerve impulses from sense organs
process sensory organs

Question 20

what is the role of association areas

Answer 20

processing language, personality, imagination and intelligence

Question 21

what is the role of motor areas

Answer 21

send nerve impulses to he muscles+ glands
generate movement signals

Question 22

define memory

Answer 22

memory is the storage, retention and retrieval of information including past experiences knowledge and thoughts

Question 23

define short term memory

Answer 23

all information entering the brain passes through sensory memory and eters short term memory

Question 24

describe sensory memory

Answer 24

sensory memory retains all the visual and auditory input recieved only for a few seconds. only selsected images and sounds are then encoded into short term memory

Question 24

define long term memory

Answer 24

information is then either transferred to long term memory or discarded

Question 24

what is the capacity of most people's short term memory and how long does it typically last

Answer 24

7-9 pieces of information for 20-30 seconds at a time

Question 24

How does chunking help with short term memory

Answer 24

Grouping to make single items together to improve capacity

Question 24

How does rehearsal help with memory

Answer 24

A shallow form of encoding information into long term memory

Question 24

What is the serial position effect

Answer 24

The tendency of a person to recall items that come first and last best and forget the intermediate items

Question 25

What is working memory

Answer 25

Short term memory being able to process data, to a limited extent as well as store it Can preform simple cognitive tasks

Question 25

How are memories lost from stm

Answer 25

By displacement(replaced by new items entering) Or decay (degradation)

Question 25

Describe Organisation in memory

Answer 25

Involves placing the information into related groups/categories

Question 25

Elaboration meaning

Answer 25

Involves adding extra information to add meaning Elaboration is regarded as deeper form of encoding This leads to improved information retention

Question 25

Contextual cues

Answer 25

Relating to the time and place when information was initially encoded into long term memory

Question 25

How does the brain go about retreiving information

Answer 25

Aided by the use of contextual cues

Question 25

Describe the function of a nerve cell(neuron)

Answer 25

Neuron’s are adapted to carry electrical impulses

Question 26

Describe the function of a glial cell

Answer 26

Produce the myelin sheath and support neurons

Question 27

Describe the cell body

Answer 27

Structure- contains a nucleus and cytoplasm Function - controls all cell activity

Question 28

Describe axons

Answer 28

Structure- single nerve fibre function- transmits electrical signals down the length of the neuron

Question 29

What is the function of interneurons

Answer 29

To send signals

Question 30

Describe the function of myelin

Answer 30

Surrounded by a myelin sheath This insulates the axon and increases the speed of impulse conductions

Question 31

How does. Myelination effects development

Answer 31

Responses to stimuli tin the first two years of life are not as rapid or coordinated as those of an older child or adult

Question 32

Describe multiple sclerosis

Answer 32

Destroys the myelin sheath using a gradual loss of coordination

Question 33

What is the function of a synapse

Answer 33

Connects neurons together

Question 34

What is the function of neurotransmitters

Answer 34

Converts electrical signal to a chemical a signal to diffuse through the gap

Question 35

How are neurotransmitters stored

Answer 35

In vesicles in the axon endings of the presynaptic neurons

Question 36

What happens to the neurotransmitters when the nerve impulse reaches the presynaptic terminal of a nerve fibre

Answer 36

When an electrical impulse arrives at the axon ending the neurotransmitters are released into the cleft

Question 37

How does the post synaptic membrane respond to the neurotransmitters

Answer 37

Diffuse across the cleft and bind to the receptors on the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron This triggers an electrical impulse in the postsynaptic neuron

Question 38

How is removal of neurotransmitters achieved

Answer 38

Acetylcholine is an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters

Question 39

how is the neurotransmitters remove from the synaptic cleft

Answer 39

A hormone noradernaline takes the neurotransmitter back u by the presynaptic membrane

Question 40

Explain how a weak excitatory signal does not cause the neuron to fire

Answer 40

A minimum number of neurotransmitter molecules must attach to receptors on the post synaptic membrane in order to reach the threshold required to transmit the impulse

Question 41

How do endorphins trigger the experience of pleasure or satisfaction

Answer 41

Increased levels of endorphins also stimulate the feelings of pleasure obtained from activities such as eating, sex and prolonged excersise

Question 42

What conditions trigger endorphins release

Answer 42

(Feis) Severe injury Prolonged exercise Stress Certain foods

Question 43

What is an agonist

Answer 43

Drugs which mimic the shape of a neurotransmitter

Question 44

What is effected when drugs are taken

Answer 44

mood, cognition,preception, behaviour

Question 45

What is a presynaptic neuron

Answer 45

Neuron carrying signal before synapse

Question 46

What is a post synaptic neuron

Answer 46

Neuron that carries signal after synapse

Question 47

Neurotransmitter meaning

Answer 47

Protein that crossed the synapse and bind to receptor on postsynaptic membrane

Question 48

Receptors description

Answer 48

Can be inhibitory or excitatory bind to neurotransmitter

Question 49

What is a Threshold

Answer 49

The number of neurotransmitters required to generate a signal

Question 50

Summation

Answer 50

Several weaker signals combining to reach threshold

Question 51

Describe antagonists

Answer 51

A drug that binds to a receptor but causes no action. Blocking any neurotransmitters

Question 52

Reuptake inhibitors

Answer 52

Allows the effects of some neurotransmitters to last longer as they prevent reabsorption of the neurotransmitter

Question 53

Describe inhibitors of neurotransmitters

Answer 53

Inhibit enzymes that break down neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft

Question 54

Describe excitatory and inhibitory receptors

Answer 54

Excitatory- increases contraction of muscle fibres Inhibitory- decreases contraction of muscle fibres