What are the two basic units of the nervous system?
- Central Nervous System (CNS)
- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
CNS includes the brain and spinal cord; PNS consists of nerve cells in the rest of the body.
The Somatic nervous system is responsible for _______.
voluntary behavior
Example: reaching for an object.
The Automatic nervous system controls _______.
less voluntary actions
Example: heart rate.
What are the three phases of neuron communication?
- Reception phase
- Integration phase
- Transmission phase
These phases describe how neurons receive, process, and send signals.
What are the four structural regions of a neuron?
- Dendrites
- Cell body (soma)
- Axon
- Terminal Buttons
Each region has a specific function in neuron communication.
The synapse is defined as _______.
the tiny gap between neurons
It is where chemical communications occur.
What is the resting membrane potential of a neuron?
-70 millivolts
This is due to a greater ratio of negative to positive ions inside the neuron.
What are the two types of ions contributing to a neuron’s resting membrane potential?
- Sodium
- Potassium
These ions play a crucial role in maintaining the neuron’s electrical state.
True or false: An action potential is an electrical signal that passes along the axon.
TRUE
It causes terminal buttons to release chemicals to transmit signals.
What is the All-or-none principle in relation to action potentials?
It fires with the same potency each time
The action potential is not described as weak or strong; it either fires or it doesn’t.
What is the function of the myelin sheath?
Encases and insulates many axons
It allows action potentials to skip quickly along the axon.
What are agonists in the context of neurotransmitters?
Enhance actions of neurotransmitters
They can increase the amount of neurotransmitters made or mimic their action.
What are antagonists in relation to neurotransmitters?
Hinder actions of neurotransmitters
They can reduce the amount of neurotransmitters made or block their receptors.
What is the role of presynaptic neurons?
Sends the signal
They release neurotransmitters into the synapse.
What is the function of the cerebral cortex?
Underlies complex mental activity
It is the outer layer of the cerebral hemisphere.
What are the four lobes of the brain?
- Occipital
- Parietal
- Temporal
- Frontal
Each lobe has specialized functions related to different aspects of mental activity.
What does phrenology propose?
Mental functions correspond to specific brain regions
This theory was not scientifically validated and eventually fell out of favor.
What is the function of Broca’s Area?
Important for speech
Damage to this area affects a person’s ability to speak.
What does EEG measure?
Electrical activity in the brain
It provides insights into brain function but can be imprecise.
What is the purpose of fMRI?
Measures brain’s blood flow
It helps map the workings of the brain during tasks.
What is the corpus callosum responsible for?
Connecting the hemispheres and allowing information to flow between them
It consists of millions of myelinated axons.
The occipital lobes are primarily responsible for what sense?
Vision
They contain the largest area of the primary visual cortex.
In the parietal lobes, which hemisphere perceives touch information from the right side of the body?
Left hemisphere
The right hemisphere perceives touch information from the left side.
What is the somatosensory homunculus?
A distorted representation of the entire body
It illustrates how the cortical area is devoted to the body’s more sensitive areas.
