What are the four main parts of a neuron?
The four main parts of a neuron are the cell body, dendrites, axon, and axon terminal.
The cell body houses the genetic material; dendrites receive signals from other neurons; the axon carries signals away from the cell body; and the axon terminal sends signals to other neurons.
What is the role of the somatic nervous system?
The somatic nervous system includes sensory (afferent) neurons that bring information from the senses to the brain and motor (efferent) neurons that send information from the central nervous system to the muscles.
It is responsible for voluntary movements and sensory processing.
What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?
The autonomic nervous system controls activities outside of conscious control, such as digestion and respiration.
It is divided into the sympathetic system (energy-spending) and the parasympathetic system (energy-preserving).
What is the purpose of myelin in a myelinated neuron?
Myelin acts as insulation that speeds up neurotransmission.
It comes from glial cells like Schwann cells.
What are the nodes of Ranvier?
The nodes of Ranvier are gaps in the myelin sheath that help propagate the electrical signal down the axon.
They play a crucial role in the efficiency of action potential transmission.
Describe the process of an action potential.
An action potential begins with a resting potential of -70mv, depolarizes to a threshold (e.g., -55mv), fires an impulse down the axon, and enters a refractory period as it returns to resting potential.
This process involves electrochemical changes within the neuron.
What are neurotransmitters?
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals from one neuron to another across a synapse.
They play critical roles in various brain functions.
What specific functions are associated with dopamine?
Dopamine facilitates movement, reward/pleasure, and concentration.
It is linked to conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and drug addiction.
Define neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections, allowing for adaptation, learning, and recovery from injury.
It can involve changes in the number or length of dendrites, neuron size, glial cell number, or synapse count.
List the four lobes of the cerebral cortex.
The four lobes are:
* Frontal lobe
* Temporal lobe
* Parietal lobe
* Occipital lobe
Each lobe has distinct primary functions.
What is the primary function of the frontal lobe?
The frontal lobe is responsible for higher cognitive functions.
This includes decision making, problem-solving, and planning.
What is Broca’s aphasia?
Broca’s aphasia is characterized by difficulty speaking fluently and forming grammatically correct sentences, though comprehension is relatively preserved.
It results from damage to the Broca’s area in the frontal lobe.
What is Wernicke’s aphasia?
Wernicke’s aphasia involves fluent but meaningless speech and impaired comprehension of spoken and written language.
It arises from damage to the Wernicke’s area in the temporal lobe.
Differentiate between cerebral infarction and anoxic brain injury.
A cerebral infarction is a loss of blood supply to part of the brain, while an anoxic brain injury occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen for an extended period.
Both can lead to significant cognitive impairments.
What is anterograde amnesia?
Anterograde amnesia is characterized by difficulty forming new long-term memories after the onset of amnesia.
Task-based memory is often preserved.
What is retrograde amnesia?
Retrograde amnesia is characterized by difficulty remembering past events that occurred before the onset of amnesia.
General knowledge and skills are usually retained.
What is the resting potential of a neuron?
The resting potential of a neuron is typically -70mv.
This is the electrical potential when the neuron is not stimulated.
What role does GABA play in the central nervous system?
GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, facilitating smooth movement and sleep.
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It helps regulate excitability in the nervous system.
What is the role of serotonin in mood regulation?
Serotonin is associated with better mood, less appetite, and better memory.
It plays a crucial role in conditions such as depression.
What is neurogenesis?
Neurogenesis is the formation of new neurons in the brain, which occurs throughout life.
It is essential for learning and recovery from injuries.
What are the functions of the temporal lobe?
The temporal lobe is responsible for auditory processing, language comprehension, and memory.
It plays a key role in processing sounds and understanding language.
What is hemineglect?
Hemineglect is a perceptual disturbance involving difficulty seeing, responding to, or acting on information from one side of the world.
It is often linked to damage in the parietal lobe.
What is the role of the corpus callosum?
The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres of the brain.
It facilitates communication between the left and right sides of the brain.
What is the role of the thalamus?
The thalamus relays and processes sensory stimuli.
It acts as a hub for sensory information before it reaches the cerebral cortex.
