Psych 002 - Exam 1

What approach do current scientists take?

- Physiological = relates a behavior to the activity of the brain and other organs - Ontogenetic = All about the structure > Environment, experiences affect brain development along the way - Evolutionary = developments over long periods of time e.g. goosebumps Functional = approaches issues like camouflage of animals

Neurons are unique because:

1. they can send info(neural signal) over long distances in brain and body. 2. They are the only clls that have long cord-like structures = AXONS 3.Only cells that communicate with each other through a synapse

mV

= millivolt = thousandth

Interneurons

AKA intrinsic neurons whose dendrites and axons are comletely contained within a single structure

NT Function of: Histamine

Allergies

A neuron's membrane is SELECTIVELY PERMEABLE. This means that it?

Allows some molecules to pass through it, but blocks others

One thing the All-Or-None Law states is that:

An action potential will always travel at the same speed and strength no matter how strong the stimulation on the neuron's dendrites and soma

We can say that the neural signal has SUCCESSFULLY been transmitted between two neurons when a neurotransmitter:

Binds to its receptor on the postsynaptic membrane resulting in graded potentials

Soma

Body

NT Function of: Glutamate

Brain's main excitatory NT

NT Function of: GABA

Brain's main inhibitory NT

At the axon terminal, the release of neurotransmitters by EXOCYTOSIS is triggered by:

Calcium ions entering the presynaptic membrane during depolarization

4 major components of a neuron

Denrites, Soma/cell body, Axon, Presynaptic terminals

The absolute refractory period for a neuron is the time:

During which a second action potential cannot be triggered, no matter how strong the stimulus

of Glial Cells: Oligodendrocytes

In the CNS, specialized fatty flat glial cells that wrap around the axon of some neurons creating the myelin sheath. If the neuron is damged, these promote cell DEATH

of Glial Cells: Schwann cells

In the PNS, specialized fatty flat cells that wrap around the axon of some neurons creating the myelin Sheath. If the neuron is damaged, these promote regrowth

Vesicles are located________and act to _________.

In the presynaptic terminals, store neurotransmitters

If an EXCITATORY grade potential synapses DIRECTLY ONTO the axon Hillock:

It is POSSIBLE that this SINGLE graded potential can fire an action potential

Efferent neuron

Motor Neuron that refers to carrying away information from a structure

What cells are NOT an example of Glia?

Motor neurons

NT Function of: Acetylcholine

Movement

What 2 glial cells make up the myelin sheath?

Ologendrocytes in the CNS & Schwann cells in the PNS

At a typical synapse, the CHEMICALLY-GATED-CHANNELS that open when a neurotransmitter binds to its receptor are found here:

On the postsynaptic membrane

A function of the myelin sheath is to:

Provide insulation to help keep the action potential moving quickly and without losing speed

Animal research pros & cons & issues

Reasons for studying animals include: The underlying mechanisms of behavior are similar across species and often easier to study in nonhuman species. - We are interested in animals for their own sake. - What we learn about animals sheds light on human evolution. - Some experiments cannot use humans because of legal or ethical reasons.

NT Function of: Dopamine

Reward/reinforcement

Afferent neuron

Sensory Neuron that refers to bringing information into a structure

During the DEPOLARIZATION phase of an action potential, what happens first?

Sodium channels open and and Na+ ions flow into the cell?

NT Function of: Norepinephrine

Stimulant energy

Dualism

The idea that minds are one type of substance and matter is another

Monism

The idea that the universe consists of only one type of being

During the DEPOLARIZATION of an action potential, what electrical change takes place?

The inside of the membrane becomes more POSITIVE compared to the outside

What describes a TYPICAL neuron at REST?

The potassium concentration is lower outside the cell that inside

This active transport system is one necessary way of keeping the concentration of sodium and potassium ions balanced (for polarizationO on either side of the selectively-permeable membrane during RMP:

The sodium-potassium pump

Hyperpolarization

when membrane dramatically becomes lower in mV compared to RMP on axon

Depolarization

when the membrane beomes more positively charged as measure in RMP (means exciting or going up)

Animal research Advantages & Disadvantages

• Advantages of human research: - Can follow instructions. - Can report subjective experiences. - Are less expensive. - Have a human brain. • Advantages of animal research: - Have simpler nervous systems. - Possible to use comparative cross-species approach. - Fewer ethical problems.

Blood brain barrier

- a mechanism that surrounds the brain and blocks most chemicals from entering - The immune system destroys damaged or infected cells throughout the body. - Because neurons in the brain generally do not regenerate, it is vitally important to block incoming viruses, bacteria or other harmful material from entering

Neuron / Glial cell ratio

1 Neuron / 10 Glial cells

Which of the folliwng area(s) of a neuron TYPICALLY receive(s) input from other neurons?

Cell body, Dendrite

of Glial Cells: Astrocytes

Help synchronize the activity of the axon by wrapping around the presynaptic terminal and taking up chemicals released by the axon

At an INHIBITORY SYNAPSE on a dendrite, the binding of the neurotransmitter to its receptor causes:

Hyper-polarization of the postsynaptic membrane

NT Function of: Serotonin

Mood/wellbeing

Substance P.

Pain

The term "Saltatory conduction" refers to the:

Propagation of the electrical neural signal down a long, myelinated axon

Speed of AP

Ranges from 1 meter / second to 100 meters/ second

NT Function of: Enkaphalins

Regulate pain and stress

of Glial Cells: Microglia

Remove waste material and other microorganisms that could prove harmful to the neuron

4 categories of potentials (mV) are:

Resting membrane potential (RMP @ -70mV), Threshold potential (@-65 Mv), Graded potentials including: EPSP and IPSP

A neuron received EPSPs simultaneously at SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS on its dendrites and soma. When those EPSPs travel to the axon hillock, they are added together through a process known as :

Spatial summation

NT Function of: Epinephrine

Stimulant confidence & wellbeing

What is true of postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) in general?

They can sum together by spatial and /or temporal summation

What do Biopsychologists do?

They study how the brain and the rest of the nervous system determine what we perceive, feel, think, say, and do.

Where are voltage gated sodium channels not found on a neuron?

Under the myelin sheath

Ions

are either potassium or sodium

Neuron nourishment

needs glucose (a sugar) because the brain uses 20% of the body's oxygen