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Questions and Answers
Which lobe of the brain is responsible for receiving sensory input for touch and body position?
Which lobe of the brain is responsible for receiving sensory input for touch and body position?
What is the name of the thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain?
What is the name of the thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain?
Which of the following brain areas is primarily responsible for higher-level cognitive functions like learning, memory, and language?
Which of the following brain areas is primarily responsible for higher-level cognitive functions like learning, memory, and language?
The formation of new neurons is known as:
The formation of new neurons is known as:
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What is the term for the phenomenon where we fail to notice changes in our environment due to a lack of focused attention?
What is the term for the phenomenon where we fail to notice changes in our environment due to a lack of focused attention?
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Which part of the neuron receives messages from other neurons?
Which part of the neuron receives messages from other neurons?
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What is the junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of a receiving neuron called?
What is the junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of a receiving neuron called?
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What is the refractory period in neural processing?
What is the refractory period in neural processing?
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What is the role of glial cells in the nervous system?
What is the role of glial cells in the nervous system?
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Which part of the brain is associated with emotions and drives?
Which part of the brain is associated with emotions and drives?
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What is the all-or-none law in neural firing?
What is the all-or-none law in neural firing?
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What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?
What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?
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What is the role of hormones in the endocrine system?
What is the role of hormones in the endocrine system?
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Study Notes
Plasticity
- The brain's ability to change, particularly during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or creating new pathways based on experience.
Neuron
- A nerve cell, the fundamental unit of the nervous system.
Cell Body
- The part of a neuron containing the nucleus, which is the cell's control center.
Dendrites
- Branching extensions of a neuron that receive and integrate messages from other neurons.
Axon
- The extension of a neuron that transmits messages to other neurons or muscles and glands.
Action Potentials
- A brief electrical charge that travels down an axon, representing a nerve impulse.
Glial Cells
- Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; additionally, they play a role in learning, thinking, and memory.
Synapses
- The junctions between neurons where messages pass from one neuron to another. The gap between neurons is called the synaptic gap or cleft.
Neurotransmitters
- Chemicals released by neurons that cross the synaptic gap to carry messages to other neurons, muscles, or glands.
All-or-None Law
- A neuron's response to a stimulus is either to fire fully or not at all.
Threshold
- The level of stimulation needed to trigger a neural impulse.
Refractory Period
- A brief resting period after a neuron fires during which it cannot fire again.
Nervous System
- The body's speedy communication network, encompassing all the nerve cells (neurons) in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Peripheral Nervous System
- The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body.
Central Nervous System
- The brain and the spinal cord.
Endocrine System
- The body’s “slow” chemical communication system, made up of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
Hormones
- Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that affect various tissues.
Limbic System
- A collection of neural structures located deep within the brain, associating with emotions and drives (e.g., amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus).
Frontal Lobes
- The portion of the cerebral cortex located behind the forehead, involved in speaking, muscle movements, planning, and judgment.
Parietal Lobes
- Sections of the cortex above the ears that receive sensory input for touch and body position.
Occipital Lobes
- The back of the head; receiving visual information.
Temporal Lobes
- Located above the ears, they include areas that receive auditory information
Motor Cortex
- Directs voluntary movements.
Somatosensory Cortex
- Registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
Association Areas
- Areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in higher mental functions like learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
Corpus Callosum
- A large band of neural fibers that connects the two brain hemispheres and facilitates communication between them.
Neurogenesis
- The forming of new neurons.
Consciousness
- Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.
Selective Attention
- Focusing our conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.
Inattentional and Change Blindness
- Failing to notice changes in the environment; a form of inattentional blindness, caused by selective attention.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the fundamental concepts of neuroscience, including neuron structure, brain plasticity, and the role of neurotransmitters. This quiz covers essential terms and functions that are critical to understanding the nervous system.
