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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the autonomic nervous system?
What is the primary function of the autonomic nervous system?
Which part of the neuron is primarily responsible for receiving messages?
Which part of the neuron is primarily responsible for receiving messages?
Which component of the central nervous system is primarily responsible for processing and distributing information?
Which component of the central nervous system is primarily responsible for processing and distributing information?
Which statement is true regarding how neurons fire?
Which statement is true regarding how neurons fire?
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What is the primary function of Broca's Area?
What is the primary function of Broca's Area?
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What does the term neuroplasticity refer to?
What does the term neuroplasticity refer to?
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Which brain area is associated with the comprehension of speech?
Which brain area is associated with the comprehension of speech?
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What does the parietal lobe primarily deal with?
What does the parietal lobe primarily deal with?
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What condition is associated with an excess of dopamine?
What condition is associated with an excess of dopamine?
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A deficiency in serotonin may lead to which of the following conditions?
A deficiency in serotonin may lead to which of the following conditions?
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Which neurotransmitter is involved in the feeling of euphoria and pleasure?
Which neurotransmitter is involved in the feeling of euphoria and pleasure?
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What can be a potential condition resulting from too little GABA?
What can be a potential condition resulting from too little GABA?
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Study Notes
Nature or Nurture
- The effects of biochemistry on behavior impact how we think, feel and act.
The Neuron
- Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system
- They are long, thin cells of nerve tissue
- Messages travel to and from the brain along neurons
- Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that determine the rate at which other neurons fire
Parts of the Neuron
- Dendrite: Receives messages from other neurons and conducts them towards the cell body
- Soma: Cell body containing the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery
- Axon: Extends from the soma and transmits messages to other neurons, muscles, or glands
- Myelin sheath: Fatty layer that insulates the axon, enabling faster transmission of neural impulses
- Nodes of Ranvier: Gaps in the myelin sheath that increase transmission speed
- Terminal buttons/bulbs/knobs: Small knobs that release neurotransmitters into the synapse
The Synapse
- The junction between the terminal of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
- The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft
How Neurons Fire
- All-or-none principle: Neurons fire at full strength or not at all
- Electro-chemically: Electrical signals travel within the neuron, while chemical signals are used across the synapse
Types of Neurotransmitters
- Excitatory: Open chemical locks or excite receptors, encouraging the next neuron to fire
- Inhibitory: Stop or inhibit the next neuron from transmitting
Examples of Neurotransmitters
- Acetylcholine: Triggers voluntary muscle contraction, helps with memory and learning
- Endorphins: Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters that control pain and contribute to feelings of pleasure
- Dopamine: Involved in voluntary movement, learning, attention, and pleasurable emotions
- Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline): Associated with alertness, arousal, and the fight-or-flight response
- Serotonin: Regulates mood, hunger, sleep, arousal, and perception
- GABA: Major inhibitory neurotransmitter, involved in relaxation and reducing anxiety
- Glutamate: Major excitatory neurotransmitter, important for learning and memory
The Brain
- It consists of many different parts that have evolved for specific functions
- Weighs roughly 3 pounds in an adult human
- Develops from the back forward
- It is broadly divided into the “feeling brain” (limbic system) and the “thinking brain” (cerebral cortex)
The Cerebral Cortex
- Thin mantle of gray matter covering the surface of each cerebral hemisphere
- Responsible for higher-level cognitive functions
Brain Lobes
- Frontal lobe: Responsible for personality, movement, planning, and speech production (Broca's area)
- Parietal lobe: Processes sensory information, including touch, taste, and spatial awareness
- Occipital lobe: Responsible for vision
- Temporal lobe: Processes auditory information, memory, and language comprehension (Wernicke's area)
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Description
Explore the fundamentals of neuroscience, focusing on the structure and function of neurons, neurotransmitters, and synapses. This quiz delves into how these elements influence behavior and communication within the nervous system.
