AP Psychology Neurons and Neurotransmittors Flashcards

5883962860	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
5883962861	Neurons	Nerve cells	1
5883962862	Sensory (Afferent) Neurons	Detect stimuli from sense organs and relay this information to glands and muscles.	2
5883962863	Motor (Efferent) Neurons	Receive signals from the brain and/or spinal cord and relay this information to glands and muscles.	3
5883962864	Interneurons	Neurons in the brain and spinal cord that coordinate activity between sensory and motor neurons.	4
5883962865	Glial Cells	Provide nutrients to neurons, insulate neurons, and remove debris when neurons die.	5
5883962866	Cell Body	The cell's "control center," the part that looks like a really weird fried egg.	6
5883962867	Dendrites	The spindly bits coming out of the cell body that receive messages from other cells.	7
5883962868	Axon	Passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands.	8
5883962869	Myelin Sheath	Covers the axons of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses.	9
5883962870	Nodes of Ranvier	The uncovered portion of the axons where the neural impulses jump to.	10
5883962871	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
5883962872	Terminal Branch (Button)	Form junctions with the other cells in the system, and release neurotransmitters.	12
5883962873	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
5883962874	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
5883962875	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
5883962876	Absolute Refractory Period	Period immediately after an action potential, when another action potential cannot occur.	16
5883962877	Relative Refractory Period	Period after an absolute refractory period, when a neuron will only respond to a stronger than normal impulse.	17
5883962878	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
5883962879	Acetylcholine (ACh)	The most common neurotransmitter. Enables muscle function, learning, and memory. Alzheimer's causes the ACh-producing neurons to deteriorate.	19
5883962880	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
5883962881	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
5883962882	Norepinephrine	Helps control alertness and arousal, associated with the "fight or flight" response. An undersupply can depress mood.	22
5883962885	Agonists	Mimic, prevent, or quicken release from pre-synaptic neuron	23
5883962886	Antagonists	Block neurotransmission	24
5883962890	Caffine	Increases the release of excitatory transmittors by blocking the inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine.	25
5883962891	Cocaine	Prevents re-uptake of dopamine, leads to heightened arousal of the entire nervous system.	26