Neurotransmitters and Blood-Brain Barrier
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Questions and Answers

What is the main function of axons?

  • Sending signals to muscles
  • Receiving messages from adjacent cells
  • Transmitting information between neurons (correct)
  • Receiving sensory input

    • What is the term for the branch-like extensions of a neuron that receive input from adjacent cells?

  • Axons
  • Sensory neurons
  • Myelin sheath
  • Dendrites (correct)

    • Where do connections between neurons occur?

  • Synapses (correct)
  • Neuromuscular junctions
  • Astral cells
  • The axon hillock

    • What is the state of the membrane of a neuron at rest?

    <p>Polarised, with a negative inside and positive outside</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of graded potentials?

    <p>They are cumulative</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of dopamine as a neurotransmitter?

    <p>It affects all of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of neurotransmitters depolarise the postsynaptic membrane?

    <p>Excitatory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of terminal buttons?

    <p>To send signals from one neuron to others</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What initiates communication from one neuron to another?

    <p>Neurotransmitters being released in the synapse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do inhibitory neurotransmitters do?

    <p>Hyperpolarise the postsynaptic membrane</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of heritability is estimated for IQ?

    <p>Up to 50%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of the nervous system is responsible for transmitting sensory information to the central nervous system?

    <p>Somatic nervous system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the thalamus in the nervous system?

    <p>To relay sensory information to the cerebral cortex</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the extent to which variation in a trait can be accounted for by genetic variation?

    <p>Heritability coefficient</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of neurons transmit information from sensory cells in the body to the brain?

    <p>Sensory neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the corpus callosum?

    <p>To connect the left and right hemispheres of the brain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of receptors on the post-synaptic neuron?

    <p>To bind with neurotransmitters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to research, which ability do males tend to score higher on?

    <p>Mathematical ability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which neurotransmitter is most explicitly associated with the experience of pleasure?

    <p>Dopamine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the basic unit of the nervous system?

    <p>Neuron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does it mean when someone is referred to as 'left-brained'?

    <p>They are logical and analytical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of genes?

    <p>To influence behaviour and personality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'lateralised' refer to?

    <p>Cortical functions being localised to one side of the brain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What part of the brain is affected by alcohol consumption, leading to staggering and slurred speech?

    <p>Cerebellum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the structure that carries genetic information?

    <p>Chromosomes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the reticular formation?

    <p>To maintain consciousness and regulate arousal levels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of fibres relay information to the back of the spine, and what type of neurons transmit information from the front of the spinal cord to the periphery?

    <p>Sensory fibres, motor neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What terms are used to describe bundles of axons outside and inside the central nervous system?

    <p>Nerves, tracts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the field of behaviour genetics primarily study?

    <p>The genetic basis of behaviour and its disorders</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the thalamus?

    <p>To integrate sensory information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in anxiety regulation?

    <p>GABA</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the blood-brain barrier?

    <p>protecting the brain from foreign substances in the blood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of neurons?

    <p>carrying information from cell to cell within the nervous system and to/from muscles and organs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of an axon?

    <p>a long extension from the cell body</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Approximately how many neurons use GABA for synaptic communication?

    <p>one-third</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following substances is prevented from disrupting neural functioning by the blood-brain barrier?

    <p>foreign substances</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of neurons use GABA in the brain?

    <p>33%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of cell coat is associated with an axon?

    <p>a tight coat of cells composed of fats</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of neuron is primarily responsible for communicating between different neurons?

    <p>Interneurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What part of the neuron is primarily responsible for receiving information from other neurons?

    <p>Dendrites</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In multiple sclerosis, which part of the neuron is primarily affected?

    <p>Myelin sheath</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of terminal buttons in a neuron?

    <p>Receiving nerve impulses from the axon and transmitting signals to adjacent cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process occurs at the synapse when one neuron communicates with another?

    <p>Chemical release alters the electrical charge of the next neuron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What state is a neuron in when it is described as having 'resting potential'?

    <p>Not firing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of the neuron contains the nucleus and the genetic material?

    <p>Cell body</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do neurons mainly transmit information to other neurons?

    <p>By releasing neurotransmitters across the synaptic cleft</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does the degeneration of the myelin sheath have on neuron function?

    <p>It reduces the speed and coordination of nerve impulses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the axon of a neuron primarily do?

    <p>Transmits information to other neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary hormone produced by the male gonads?

    <p>Testosterone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where are the female gonads located?

    <p>In the ovaries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of system is the collection of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream?

    <p>Endocrine system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is the pituitary gland often referred to as the 'master gland'?

    <p>Because it releases hormones that regulate other glands</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which nervous system subdivision includes the somatic and autonomic systems?

    <p>Peripheral nervous system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What structure is the medulla oblongata an extension of?

    <p>Spinal cord</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major issue can result from damage to the reticular activating system?

    <p>Coma</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Stimulation of which area acts as a powerful reinforcer?

    <p>Septal area</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The foundation of human thought and language is found in which brain region?

    <p>Cerebral cortex</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What connects the two cerebral hemispheres?

    <p>Corpus callosum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of inhibitory neurotransmitters?

    <p>hyperpolarize the post-synaptic neuron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    One of the primary purposes of the myelin sheath is to:

    <p>insulate the axon so the action potential is faster</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the nodes of Ranvier?

    <p>Small spaces in the myelin sheath</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The 'grey matter' of the brain gets its color from:

    <p>cell bodies, dendrites and unmyelinated axons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The electrical difference between the inside and outside of a resting neuron is:

    <p>-70 millivolts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The fundamental unit of the nervous system is:

    <p>the neuron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    On average, an individual neuron communicates with:

    <p>1000 neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Information is sent to the brain via sensory or _____ neurons, whereas information is sent to the muscles and glands via motor or _____ neurons.

    <p>afferent, efferent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Within a neuron, the direction of the nerve impulse moves from:

    <p>dendrite to cell body to axon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Narcotics work because they are chemically very similar to:

    <p>endorphins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Neurotransmitters and the Nervous System

    • GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a neurotransmitter that plays an inhibitory role in the nervous system, regulating anxiety.
    • One-third of all neurons use GABA for synaptic communication.
    • Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that affects thoughts, emotions, motivation, and behavior.

    The Blood-Brain Barrier

    • The blood-brain barrier is a membrane that controls the passage of substances from the blood into the central nervous system.
    • It prevents foreign substances in the blood from disrupting neural functioning in the brain.

    Neurons

    • Neurons are the basic units of the nervous system, carrying information from cell to cell within the nervous system as well as to and from muscles and organs.
    • Neurons receive information from adjacent cells and pass it down the axon.
    • The axon is a long extension from the cell body, responsible for transmitting information between neurons.
    • Dendrites are branch-like extensions that receive messages from other neurons and pass it down the axon.

    Communication between Neurons

    • Communication between neurons occurs at synapses, where the axon terminal of one neuron releases neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
    • Neurotransmitters depolarize the postsynaptic membrane, making an action potential more likely.
    • Inhibitory neurotransmitters hyperpolarize the postsynaptic neuron, reducing the likelihood of an action potential.

    The Myelin Sheath

    • The myelin sheath insulates the axon, increasing the speed of transmission of messages.
    • The nodes of Ranvier are small spaces in the myelin sheath, where the axon is not insulated.

    The Nervous System

    • The grey matter of the brain gets its color from cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons.
    • The fundamental unit of the nervous system is the neuron.
    • On average, an individual neuron communicates with about 1000 other neurons.

    The Peripheral Nervous System

    • The peripheral nervous system (PNS) carries information to and from the central nervous system.
    • The PNS has two subdivisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
    • Sensory neurons (afferent neurons) transmit information from sensory cells to the brain.
    • Motor neurons (efferent neurons) transmit information from the brain to muscles and glands.

    The Brain and Endocrine System

    • The pituitary gland is often described as the "master gland" because it stimulates and regulates other glands.
    • The endocrine system is a collection of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.
    • Gonads are endocrine glands that release hormones responsible for sex drive and the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

    The CNS and its Functions

    • The reticular activating system (RAS) is responsible for maintaining consciousness, regulating arousal levels, and modulating the activity of neurons throughout the CNS.
    • The medulla oblongata is an area of the brain that controls heartbeat, circulation, and respiration.
    • The cerebral cortex is responsible for symbolic thinking, making it possible for humans to engage in conversations about abstract concepts.

    Brain Structure and Function

    • The corpus callosum is a band of neural fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
    • The septal area is involved in some forms of emotionally significant learning.
    • The temporal lobe is involved in the foundation of human thought and language.

    Behavior Genetics

    • The field of behavior genetics studies the role of genetics in shaping mental processes and behavior.
    • Research has shown that heritability estimates of IQ are approximately 0.50, and genetic influences on personality traits, such as neuroticism and aggressiveness, range from 0.15 to 0.5.### Nervous System
    • The somatic nervous system is primarily involved in intentional (voluntary) behaviors.
    • It transmits sensory information to the central nervous system and carries out motor commands.
    • Sensory nerves receive information through receptors in the eyes, ears, tongue, skin, muscles, and other parts of the body.
    • Motor neurons direct the action of skeletal muscles.

    Thalamus

    • The thalamus relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex.
    • It acts as a switchboard for routing information from neurons connected to visual, auditory, taste, and touch receptors to the appropriate brain regions.
    • It also filters these messages, emphasizing some and de-emphasizing others.

    Chromosomes

    • Genes are arranged along chromosomes.
    • Chromosomes are strands of paired DNA that spiral around each other.
    • Human cells have 46 chromosomes, except for sperm cells in males and egg cells in females, which have 23.

    Heritability

    • A heritability coefficient quantifies the extent to which variation in a trait across individuals can be accounted for by genetic variation.
    • Heritability refers to genetic influences on the variability of traits among different individuals.
    • A heritability coefficient of 0 indicates no heritability (i.e., no genetic influence), while a coefficient of 1 indicates that a trait is completely heritable (i.e., entirely the result of genetic influence).

    Neurons

    • Interneurons are responsible for connecting other neurons to each other.
    • Dendrites receive information from other neurons and pass it down the axon.
    • The cell body includes a nucleus that contains the chromosomes or genetic material of the cell.
    • Axons are responsible for transmitting information to other neurons.
    • Terminal buttons receive information from the axon and pass it on to adjacent cells via the release of neurotransmitters.
    • Neurons send signals by releasing a chemical that alters the electrical charge of the next neuron.
    • The resting potential of a neuron refers to the condition in which the neuron is not firing.

    Multiple Sclerosis

    • Multiple sclerosis is a disorder that involves problems with the myelin sheath.
    • Degeneration of the myelin sheath occurs on large clusters of axons and can produce jerky, uncoordinated movement.

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    Learn about the functions of neurotransmitters like GABA and the role of the blood-brain barrier in the nervous system.

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