Basic Neuroscience

Dendrites

(rootlike parts of cell) grow to make synaptic connections with other neurons

Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT or CT scan)

A sophisticated x-ray can only show the structure of the brain, not the functions or the activity of different brain structures

Peripheral nervous system

All the nerves in your body other than the brain and spinal cord nerves; all the nerves not encased in bone Divided into the autonomic and somatic nervous systems

Receptor site

Areas on a dendrite designed to receive a specific neurotransmitter

Dopamine

Associated with motor movement and alertness lack of dopamine is associated with Parkinson's disease; overabundance is associated with schizophrenia

Terminal buttons

Braced end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals contained in terminal buttons that enable neurons to communicate

Functional MRI (fMRI)

Combines elements of the MRI and PET scans Can show details of brain structure with information about blood flow in the brain, tying brain structure to brain activity during cognitive tasks

Autonomic nervous system

Controls heart, lungs, internal organs, glands, etc. controls responses to stress- fight of flight Divided int two categories: sympathetic and parasympathetic

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Device that detects brain waves Can identify different stages of consciousness

Threshold

Level of neurotransmitters required to "fire" a neuron

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Measures how much of a certain chemical parts of the brain are using. The more used, the higher the activity.

Sympathetic nervous system

Mobilizes our bodies to respond to stress The alert system of the body. It accelerates some functions (heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration) but conserves resources needed for a quick response by slowing down other functions such as digestion

Central nervous system

Part of the nervous system that consists of our brain and spinal cord

Parasympathetic nervous system

Responsible for slowing down the body after a stress response

Synapse

Space between the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Use of magnetic fields to measure the density and location of brain material Only gives information of the brain structure and not their function (like CAT/CT scan)

Axon

Wirelike structure ending in the terminal buttons that extends from the cell body

All-or-none principal

a neuron either fires completely or it does not fire at all

Serotonin

associated with mood control and memory lack of serotonin is associated with clinical depression

Acetylcholine

associated with motor movement lack of acetylcholine is associated with Alzheimers disease

Endorphins

associated with pain control involved with drug addictions

Somatic nervous system

controls voluntary muscle movements

Action potential

electric charge that spreads down the length of a neuron after the threshold is achieved

Myelin sheath

fatty covering around the axon of some neurons that speeds neural impulses

Neuron

neural cell made up of specific structures: dendrites, cell body, axon, and terminal buttons