The Neuron
What is the basic building block of the nervous system?
Neuron (a nerve cell)
What do we call the tiny gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of another?
Synaptic Gap (Synapse)
How many major lobes are in each cerebral hemispheres?
Four major lobes
The Central Nervous System (CNS) is made up of what two major structures?
Brain and spinal cord
True or False: The left hemisphere controls the left side of the body and the right hemisphere controls the right side of the body.
False
Which part of the neuron receives incoming signals from other neurons?
Dendrite
What are chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap called?
Neurotransmitters
Which lobe is primarily associated with speaking, logic, and decision making?
Frontal Lobe
What is the name of the oldest part of the brain?
Brainstem
Name one function primarily associated with the frontal lobe?
planning, decision making, impulse control
Name the long fiber that passes electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body.
Axon
Give one example of how neurotransmitters influence behavior.
By exciting or inhibiting the receiving neuron, neurotransmitters alter mood, movement, or perception. Ex. Dopamine motivates and reinforces behavior by activating the bodies "reward system"
Which lobe is mainly responsible for processing visual information?
Occipital Lobe
Which brain structure is primarily linked to memory function?
Hippocampus
The brainstem is crucial for keeping us alive. What are three of its major functions?
Breathing, heartrate, blood pressure, swallowing
What fatty layer encases some axons and increases the speed of neural transmission?
Myelin Sheath
What process removes neurotransmitters from the synaptic gap to end their signal?
Reuptake
Which lobe is most involved in processing auditory information and language comprehension?
Temporal Lobe
Which structure plays a key role in emotion, especially fear and aggression?
Amygdala
What does a motor neuron do, and how does it move through the body?
transmits impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
Describe what an action potential is in one sentence.
An action potential is a brief electrical charge that travels down the axon.
Explain how an excess of a particular neurotransmitter could affect behavior or mood-give a specific example.
Excess serotonin might be linked with reduced depression symptoms; excess dopamine can be associated with psychosis.
Which lobe processes somatosensory information (touch, pain, temperature, pressure)?
Parietal Lobe
Where are the Cerebrum, Cerebral Cortex, and Cerebellum located within the brain?
Cerebrum is the largest and part of the brain; located at the top. Cerebral Cortex is the out layer of the cerebrum. Cerebellum is located at the back of the brain below the cerebrum.
What does a sensory neuron do, and how does it move through the body?
transports sensory information (touch, light, heat, pain) from the bodies peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system