Psych Learning Curve 3a

_____ refers to the time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated.

A refractory period

Jaquan suffers from epilepsy because of too much glutamate might be prescribed a drug containing _____ because this type of neurotransmitter inhibits information transmission.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

The spaces between the myelin sheath are referred to as the _____.

Nodes of Ranvier

_____ connect the major types of neurons to each other.

Purkinje cells

The action potential is referred to as an all-or-none event because:

action potentials do not vary in strength, they either occur or do not occur.

Santiago Ramón y Cajal was NOT the first to find or hypothesize that neurons:

are woven together like a tapestry

Lighting a match can be compared with an action potential because both events:

can be described as all-or-none events.

Which condition is a form of progressive brain damage that can cause cognitive and emotional deficits and has been linked to repeated concussions?

chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

During the action potential, potassium (K+) channels are _____ and sodium (Na+) channels are _____.

closed; open

_____ refers to the first stage of neural communication, involving movement of a signal down an axon.

conduction

The first stage of neural communication, _____, refers to the movement of the signal within a single neuron, while _____ refers to the movement of a signal between neurons.

conduction; transmission

The _____ receives information from other neurons and the _____ sends that information on to the next neuron.

dendrite; axon

The three basic parts of a neuron are the cell body, axon, and _____, which receive information from other neurons.

dendrites

Increasing the electric signal beyond the threshold that initiates the action potential:

does not increase the strength of the action potential

Within a neuron, information is transmitted as a(n) _____ signal from the dendrites to the cell body and throughout the axon.

electrical

The first stage of communication between neurons consists of a(n) _____ signal down the axon, and the second stage consists of a(n) _____ signal across the synapse.

electrical; chemical

Both stages of communication between neurons can be said to use _____ signaling.

electrochemical

Juan cut his finger on a piece of glass. After a short time, he felt no pain in his finger. Juan's pain was likely reduced by a natural pain reliever in his brain. This natural pain reliever is the neurotransmitter(s):

endorphins.

Although neurons do not physically touch each other, the synapse is a small gap between neurons where:

information from the axon of one neuron is sent to the dendrite of another neuron.

Norepinephrine and serotonin are both involved in the regulation of:

mood and arousal.

When Michael plays basketball, his _____ are responsible for his ability to dribble the ball and run down the court.

motor neurons

Action potentials are facilitated by the _____ surrounding the axon, which increases the speed of transmission.

myelin sheath

People who suffer from diseases that cause deterioration of the _____ have neurons that communicate less efficiently.

myelin sheath

The _____ acts as an insulator to the axon and speeds transmission of neural signals.

myelin sheath

At the resting potential, the inside of the neuron naturally has a(n) _____ charge.

negative

If a neuron receives stimulation but this stimulation is just under the threshold for the neuron:

no action potential will occur.

The resting potential is based upon differences in the _____ ion concentration inside the cell.

potassium

Which function is NOT attributed to glial cells?

receiving information from other cells (they do hel the axon to transmit information efficiently; digest parts of dead neurons; and provide nutritional support for neurons

In order for a neuron to respond to a particular neurotransmitter, it must possess a(n) _____ for that neurochemical.

receptor

in order for a neurotransmitter to affect surrounding neurons, the molecular structure of the neurotransmitter must fit into the _____ like a key fits into a lock.

receptor

During the _____, the ions of the neuron are imbalanced and it _____ immediately send another signal.

refractory period; cannot

Lately, Temika has had a very odd sleeping pattern and has been depressed. Temika's doctor might check her levels of the neurotransmitter(s):

serotinin

Lately, Steph has had a very odd sleeping pattern and has not been feeling very hungry. After doing a number of tests, her doctor has determined the problem is likely in her brain. Which neurotransmitter might her doctor associate with Steph's problems?

serotonin

Suzanne has been having difficulty falling asleep and waking in the morning. She has also noticed that her appetite has changed and that she has become somewhat more aggressive. What neurotransmitter is MOST likely involved in Suzanne's symptoms?

serotonin

If a neuron was compared with a prison, the _____ could be compared with the prisoners when the neuron is at the resting potential.

sodium ions

If a telephone system was analogous to a neuron, the telephone receiver would represent the dendrites, the switchboard would represent the _____, and the telephone line would represent the axon.

soma (cell body)

The resting potential is the difference in electrical charge between:

the inside and outside of a neuron's membrane.