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Details Title: Neurobiology Description: Neurobiology terms Total Flash Cards: 66 Created: 12/28/2004 11:11:56	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term neurotransmitters Definition chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron Term hormones Definition "chemical messengers, mostly manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another" Term dendrites Definition "the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body" Term enforphins Definition "natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure" Term neurons Definition a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system Term glial cells Definition "cells in the NS that are not neurons but that support, nourish, and protect neurons" Term endocrine glands Definition the body's chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream Term axons Definition "the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages are sent to other neurons, cells, etc." Term synapse Definition the junction between the axon ip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron Term reuptake Definition the process where excess neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron Term threshold Definition the level of stimulatin required to trigger a neural impulse Term action potential Definition a brief electrical charge that travels down the axon; generated by the mmovement of positively charges atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane Term myelin sheath Definition layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing fivers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmissions speed of neural impulses Term cell body Definition the life support system of the cell Term synaptic vesicle Definition membrane sacks of neurotransmitters located in the axon that release neurotransmitters into synaptic gap when triggered Term refractory period Definition a resting period after a message is sent; prevents the message from being sent backwards Term lesion Definition tissue destruction Term interneuron Definition CNS neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory outputs and motor outputs Term affector neuron Definition neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the CNS Term effector neuron Definition neurons that carry outgoig information from the CNS to the muscles and glands Term PET scan Definition a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task Term MRI Definition a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structure w/in the brain Term asociation area Definition "areas of the cereberal cortex that are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking" Term depolarization Definition process where the negative ions rush out of the axon and leave a positive charge in the axon membrane Term repolarization Definition "after the message is transmitted, it is the process where K+ ions flow out of the axon and the charge returns to being negative inside" Term reflex Definition "a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus" Term all-or-none Definition "idea that as long as the neuron reaches threshold, the message will be sent" Term acetylcholine Definition neurotransmitter found @ neuromuscular junctions; impt. in learning and memory; associated w/ Alzheimer's Term dopamine Definition "neurotransmitter that deals w/ movement, learning, attention, emotion, and rewards; associated w/ Parkinson's, depression, and schizophrenia" Term seratonin Definition "neurotransmitter that deals w/ sleep, mood, hunger, and arousal; associated w/ depression, anorexia, and sleep disorders" Term norepinephrine Definition "neurotransmitter that deals w/ fight or flight response, alertness, and arousal; associated w/ depression" Term GABA Definition neurotransmitter that deals w/ hunger and sleep; inhibits the CNS; associated w/ alcohol consumption which causes and inc. in GABA Term agonist Definition neurotransmitters that exite neuron firing by mimicking a particular neurotransmitter or by blocking its reuptake Term antagonist Definition neurotransmitters that inhibit neuron firing by blocking neurotransmitters or by diminishing their release Term curare Definition "a poison that occupies and blocks acetylcholine receptor sites, leaving the neurotransmitter unable to affect the muscles, thus paralyzing the animal or person" Term Parkinson's disease Definition disease associated w/ a decrease in dopamine; leads to the degeneration of motor capabilities Term Alzheimer's Definition "brain disorder characterized by the gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and physical funtioning; assoc. w/ a dec. in acetylcholine" Term schizophrenia Definition "a group of disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inapropriate emotions and actions" Term depression Definition "disorder where there is a decrease in dopamine, seratonin, and norepinephrine; person feels sad, worthless, etc." Term autonomic NS Definition part of the peripheral NS that controls the glands nad the muscles of the internal organs Term somatic NS Definition division of the peripheral NS that controls the body's skeletal muscles Term parasympathetic NS Definition "division of the autonomic NS that calms the body, conserving its energy" Term sympathetic NS Definition "division of the autonomic NS that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations" Term central NS Definition the brain and the spinal cord Term peripheral NS Definition the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body Term limbic system Definition "system of neural structures associated w/ emotions like fear and aggression and drives like those for food and sex; includes hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus" Term amygdala Definition two neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion and aggression Term hypothalamus Definition "neural structure that directs eating, drinking, and body temp.; also helps govern endocrine system via pituitary gland; is linked to emotion" Term cerebelum Definition little brain attached @ rear of brainstem; helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance Term thalamus Definition brain's sensory's switchboard; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas of the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla Term reticular formation Definition a nerve network in the brainstem that plays and important role in controlling arousal Term medulla Definition the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing Term frontal lobe Definition portion of the cerebral cortex involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements Term parietal lobe Definition portion of the cerebral cortex including the sensory cortex Term temporal lobe Definition portion of the cerebral cortex that includes auditory areas Term occipital lobe Definition portion of the cerebral cortex that includes visual areas Term sensory cortex Definition the area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensations Term motor cortex Definition an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements Term Wernicke's area Definition a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe Term Broca's area Definition "an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech" Term corpus callosum Definition the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them Term hippocampus Definition a neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage Term auditory cortex Definition area of the brain where sound is processed Term visual cortex Definition area of the brain where images are processed Term aphasia Definition "impairment of language, usually caised by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area(impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area(impairing understanding)" Term plasticity Definition the brain's capacity to reorganize following damage to the brain