AP Psychology Neurons and Neurotransmittors Flashcards
Terms : Hide Images [1]
| 4990933054 | Biopsychology | A branch of study that deals with the effects of biological factors on behavior. This branch believes that everything we do is ultimately controlled by our body and our brain. | 0 | |
| 4990945512 | Neurons | Nerve cells | 1 | |
| 4990949002 | Sensory (Afferent) Neurons | Detect stimuli from sense organs and relay this information to glands and muscles. | 2 | |
| 4990952158 | Motor (Efferent) Neurons | Receive signals from the brain and/or spinal cord and relay this information to glands and muscles. | 3 | |
| 4990959042 | Interneurons | Neurons in the brain and spinal cord that coordinate activity between sensory and motor neurons. | 4 | |
| 4990963047 | Glial Cells | Provide nutrients to neurons, insulate neurons, and remove debris when neurons die. | 5 | |
| 4990969432 | Cell Body | The cell's "control center," the part that looks like a really weird fried egg. |  | 6 |
| 4990983611 | Dendrites | The spindly bits coming out of the cell body that receive messages from other cells. |  | 7 |
| 4990991058 | Axon | Passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands. |  | 8 |
| 4990999617 | Myelin Sheath | Covers the axons of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses. |  | 9 |
| 4991005114 | Nodes of Ranvier | The uncovered portion of the axons where the neural impulses jump to. |  | 10 |
| 4991072111 | Schwann Cells | The protective, fatty layer over the axon. Each individual cell is a Schwann Cell, and all together they form the myelin sheath. |  | 11 |
| 4991089979 | Terminal Branch (Button) | Form junctions with the other cells in the system, and release neurotransmitters. |  | 12 |
| 4991097186 | Resting Potential | When the neuron is not transmitting information, the electrical charge is at -70mv, and there are more negative ions inside the neuron than out. The selectively permeable membrane is closed. | 13 | |
| 5000423552 | Action Potential | Rapid, powerful change in the state of the neuron, where the neuron reaches the threshold of excitation (-50mv) and excitatory signals outnumber inhibitory ones. Na+ comes in, K+ comes out. | 14 | |
| 5002388971 | All-or-None | The neuron either fires, or it doesn't. The intensity of the signal just depends on how often it fires, and in how many neurons fire. | 15 | |
| 5029216421 | Absolute Refractory Period | Period immediately after an action potential, when another action potential cannot occur. | 16 | |
| 5029221118 | Relative Refractory Period | Period after an absolute refractory period, when a neuron will only respond to a stronger than normal impulse. | 17 | |
| 5029237469 | Neurotransmitters | Signals released from vesicles that send messages to other neurons, may be inhibitory, excitatory, or both. They regulate many aspects of behavior, and an imbalance may cause maladaptive behavior. | 18 | |
| 5029249673 | Acetylcholine (ACh) | The most common neurotransmitter. Enables muscle function, learning, and memory. Alzheimer's causes the ACh-producing neurons to deteriorate. | 19 | |
| 5029264205 | Dopamine | Influences learning, movement, learning, attention, and emotion. Too much dopamine is related to Schizophrenia, whereas not enough dopamine is related to the brain tremors and decreased mobility associated with Parkinson's. | 20 | |
| 5029287024 | Serotonin | Affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal. An undersupply can lead to depression. Prozac and other drugs are meant to treat this by raising serotonin levels. | 21 | |
| 5029297273 | Norepinephrine | Helps control alertness and arousal, associated with the "fight or flight" response. An undersupply can depress mood. | 22 | |
| 5029313304 | GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) | A major inhibitory transmitter, an undersupply can be linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia. | 23 | |
| 5029318687 | Glutamate | A major excitatory neurotransmitter related to memory, an oversupply can cause brain migraines or seizures. (Some people avoid MSG because it contains glutamate.) | 24 | |
| 5029332280 | Agonists | Mimic, prevent, or quicken release from pre-synaptic neuron | 25 | |
| 5029334485 | Antagonists | Block neurotransmission | 26 | |
| 5029341230 | Botoulism | Blocks release of ACh at the neuromuscular junction, causing paralysis. "Botox" is the toxin used to prevent wrinkling in facial muscles. | 27 | |
| 5029353148 | Curare | A poison found in vines in South America, can be used to stun and kill prey quickly. Blocks ACh receptors, preventing movement. | 28 | |
| 5029362882 | Antipsychotic Medicines | Block dopamine receptors to reduce schizophrenic hallucinations. | 29 | |
| 5029366181 | Caffine | Increases the release of excitatory transmittors by blocking the inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine. | 30 | |
| 5029375495 | Cocaine | Prevents re-uptake of dopamine, leads to heightened arousal of the entire nervous system. | 31 |