Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of mirror neurons?
What is the primary function of mirror neurons?
Which of the following abilities may be influenced by mirror neurons?
Which of the following abilities may be influenced by mirror neurons?
How do mirror neurons contribute to empathy?
How do mirror neurons contribute to empathy?
In what context might stimulating the mirror neuron system be beneficial?
In what context might stimulating the mirror neuron system be beneficial?
Signup and view all the answers
What role do mirror neurons play in the imitation behavior of young children?
What role do mirror neurons play in the imitation behavior of young children?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the resting potential of a neuron?
What is the resting potential of a neuron?
Signup and view all the answers
What occurs during depolarization of a neuron?
What occurs during depolarization of a neuron?
Signup and view all the answers
What term describes the period when a neuron cannot fire after an action potential?
What term describes the period when a neuron cannot fire after an action potential?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following molecules can turn a neuron 'on'?
Which of the following molecules can turn a neuron 'on'?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the function of synaptic vesicles?
What is the function of synaptic vesicles?
Signup and view all the answers
Which process involves the breakdown of neurotransmitters by enzymes in the synapse?
Which process involves the breakdown of neurotransmitters by enzymes in the synapse?
Signup and view all the answers
What describes the fluid-filled space between neurons?
What describes the fluid-filled space between neurons?
Signup and view all the answers
What happens to neurotransmitters after they bind to receptor sites?
What happens to neurotransmitters after they bind to receptor sites?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of the axon in a neuron?
What is the primary function of the axon in a neuron?
Signup and view all the answers
Which division of the peripheral nervous system is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response?
Which division of the peripheral nervous system is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response?
Signup and view all the answers
Which part of the neuron is responsible for receiving messages from other neurons?
Which part of the neuron is responsible for receiving messages from other neurons?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of interneurons in the spinal cord?
What is the role of interneurons in the spinal cord?
Signup and view all the answers
Which structure of the neuron contains the nucleus and maintains cell function?
Which structure of the neuron contains the nucleus and maintains cell function?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'contralateral conduction' refer to in the brain?
What does the term 'contralateral conduction' refer to in the brain?
Signup and view all the answers
Which component of the nervous system connects the brain and spinal cord with the rest of the body?
Which component of the nervous system connects the brain and spinal cord with the rest of the body?
Signup and view all the answers
What purpose do sensory neurons serve in the nervous system?
What purpose do sensory neurons serve in the nervous system?
Signup and view all the answers
What role does acetylcholine (ACh) play in the nervous system?
What role does acetylcholine (ACh) play in the nervous system?
Signup and view all the answers
Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in controlling arousal levels and motor function?
Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in controlling arousal levels and motor function?
Signup and view all the answers
Which option is an effect of excessive glutamate levels?
Which option is an effect of excessive glutamate levels?
Signup and view all the answers
What happens when dopamine levels are low?
What happens when dopamine levels are low?
Signup and view all the answers
Which neurotransmitter is primarily responsible for calms anxiety?
Which neurotransmitter is primarily responsible for calms anxiety?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the relationship between serotonin and mood regulation?
What is the relationship between serotonin and mood regulation?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes the function of norepinephrine?
Which of the following best describes the function of norepinephrine?
Signup and view all the answers
What effect do agonists have on neurotransmitters?
What effect do agonists have on neurotransmitters?
Signup and view all the answers
What role do the basal ganglia play in the brain?
What role do the basal ganglia play in the brain?
Signup and view all the answers
Which structure is primarily responsible for memory consolidation?
Which structure is primarily responsible for memory consolidation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of the thalamus in the brain?
What is the primary function of the thalamus in the brain?
Signup and view all the answers
Which lobe of the brain is involved in higher order mental functions such as reasoning and problem solving?
Which lobe of the brain is involved in higher order mental functions such as reasoning and problem solving?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the wrinkling of the cerebral cortex that allows for a larger area of cortical cells?
What is the term for the wrinkling of the cerebral cortex that allows for a larger area of cortical cells?
Signup and view all the answers
What function is primarily associated with the amygdala?
What function is primarily associated with the amygdala?
Signup and view all the answers
Which lobe is primarily responsible for integrating sensory information related to body position?
Which lobe is primarily responsible for integrating sensory information related to body position?
Signup and view all the answers
Which structure regulates various bodily functions such as temperature and hunger?
Which structure regulates various bodily functions such as temperature and hunger?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
The Nervous System
- The nervous system is responsible for sensing, processing, and responding to information from the environment
- Peripheral nervous system (PNS) connects the outer portions of the body with the CNS
- Somatic division controls voluntary movements (e.g., walking, talking)
-
Autonomic division controls involuntary functions (e.g., breathing, heart rate)
- Sympathetic nervous system activates the "fight-or-flight" response
- Parasympathetic nervous system calms the body after a stressful event
- Central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord
-
Brain processes information and controls behavior
- Hemispheres are connected by the corpus callosum
- Hindbrain controls basic life functions, such as breathing and heart rate
- Midbrain involved in movement and attention
- Forebrain involved in higher-level cognitive functions, such as language and thought
-
Spinal cord serves as an information superhighway
- Interneurons connect neurons to each other
- Reflexes are automatic behaviors that bypass the brain for faster responses
-
Brain processes information and controls behavior
The Neuron
- Dendrites receive messages from other neurons
-
Soma (cell body) keeps the neuron alive and functioning
- Contains the nucleus
-
Axon carries messages out to other cells
- Messages travel in one direction
-
Resting potential is the electrical charge of a neuron at rest
- Inside of the neuron is negatively charged relative to the outside
-
Action potential is the electrical signal that travels down the axon
- Neuron quickly reverses its electrical charge
- Absolute refractory period is when the neuron cannot fire
- Relative refractory period is when the neuron is more resistant to firing
-
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals across the synapse, having excitatory or inhibitory effects
- Excitatory increases the likelihood of the receiving neuron firing
- Inhibitory decreases the likelihood of the receiving neuron firing
Sending the Message
- Synaptic vesicles store neurotransmitters
- Neurotransmitters are released into the synapse, where they bind to receptor sites on the next neuron
- Synaptic gap is the fluid-filled space between neurons
- Receptor sites are proteins that bind to specific neurotransmitters
- Diffusion is when neurotransmitters drift away from the synapse
- Reuptake is when neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron
- Enzymatic degradation is when enzymes break down neurotransmitters
How Neurons Fire
- All or none principle: Neurons fire completely or not at all
- Threshold for firing is the minimum amount of stimulation needed to trigger an action potential
- Firing rate is the frequency of action potentials
- Refractory period limits how quickly a neuron can fire again
Neurotransmitters and their Functions
-
Acetylcholine (ACh) - involved in muscle movement, learning, and memory
- Excitatory or inhibitory
-
Dopamine - involved in movement, attention, learning, and pleasure
- Excitatory
-
GABA - the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in anxiety regulation
- Inhibitory
-
Glutamate - the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in learning and memory
- Excitatory
-
Norepinephrine - involved in arousal, alertness, and mood
- Excitatory
-
Serotonin - involved in mood, sleep, appetite, and aggression
- Excitatory or inhibitory
The Brain
-
Subcortical structures are located beneath the cerebral cortex
- Basal ganglia plays a role in motor movement
- Limbic system involved in emotions and motivated behaviors
- Thalamus relays sensory information (except smell) to the cortex
- Hypothalamus responsible for regulating basic body functions (e.g., temperature, hunger)
- Hippocampus involved in memory consolidation (long-term memory)
- Amygdala processes fear and emotional responses
- Cingulate cortex involved in emotional and cognitive processing
Cerebral Cortex
- The** cerebral cortex** is the outer layer of the brain responsible for higher-level functions
-
Lobes - frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital
- Frontal lobe - involved in planning, reasoning, and personality
- Parietal lobe - processes sensory information (touch, temperature, pain)
- Temporal lobe - processes auditory information and language
- Occipital lobe - processes visual information
-
Lobes - frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital
Mirror Neurons
- Mirror neurons fire both when a person performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action
- May play a role in empathy, imitation, and understanding intentions
- May be involved in language development and learning
- May be helpful for treating stroke victims and people with emotional problems
Common Neurological Disorders and Diseases
-
Parkinson's Disease - characterized by tremors, rigidity, and slowed movement
- Related to dopamine deficiency in the substantia nigra
-
Alzheimer's Disease - a progressive neurological disease that causes memory loss and cognitive decline
- Characterized by the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain
-
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - an autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin sheath of neurons, disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses
- Causes a range of symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness, and vision problems
-
Depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia - are psychological disorders with neurological underpinnings
- Involve imbalances in neurotransmitter systems
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the intricate workings of the nervous system, including the central and peripheral systems. Learn about the somatic and autonomic divisions and their roles in voluntary and involuntary functions. Delve into the brain's structure and its various functions from basic life support to advanced cognitive abilities.
