Neurons
More Neurons
Even More Neurons
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters and Neurons
100
The tiniest unit of the nervous system, comprised of a single cell.
What is a neuron?
100
Term for the Space between two neurons.
What is the Synapse?
100
Term for a neuron "Firing Off" and having an electrical charge run down it, resulting in the release of neurotransmitters.
What is Action Potential
100
A chemical which is similar in shape to a neurotransmitter and has the same effect as a neurotransmitter or which increases the amount of a neurotransmitter is said to be a(n) ____ for that neurotransmitter.
What is an agonist?
100
Inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in emotional states, sexual behavior, pain perception and sleep. Deficits may cause depression and insomnia. SSRIs such as Prozac and Zoloft are agonist for it.
What is Serotonin?
200
The bushy branching structures of a neuron which receive messages from other neurons.
What are dendrites?
200
Term for the rings of fat on the axons of many neurons which insulate the neuron and speed neural transmission, and which are attacked by Multiple Sclerosis.
What is Myelin Sheath?
200
The principle which states that a neuron either fires off completely or not at all; it does not fire off in smaller or larger amounts.
What is All-Or-None Principle.
200
A chemical which blocks a neurotransmitter is said to be a(n) ___ for that neurotransmitter.
What is an antagonist?
200
Neurotransmitter involved in increasing heartbeat, arousal, learning, memory and eating. Imbalances may cause depression or anxiety. Caffeine, cocaine and amphetamines are agonist and lithium is antagonist.
What is Norepinephrine?
300
The long tail of a neuron, down which an electrical charge passes during an action potential.
What is an axon?
300
The term for the chemical messengers which are released from pre-synaptic neurons during an action potential and cross the synapse to carry messages to the dendrites of post-synaptic neurons.
What are neurotransmitters?
300
Term for the time, following an Action Potential, when a neuron cannot fire off again until the chemicals are re-balanced (the sodium has been pumped out of the cell). Analogous to "setting the dominoes back up."
What is Refractory Period
300
A neurotransmitter which is involved with muscle contraction and memory formation, and is reduced in Alzheimer's patients, and for which nicotine, nerve gas, and black widow spider venom are agonist and Botulin toxin (botulism and botox) are antagonist.
What is Acetylcholine or ACH?
300
The body's endogenous morphine, or natural painkiller. Opiates such as morphine and heroin and oxy are agonist.
What is endorphin?
400
The containers located in the axon bud which hold neurotransmitters and release them during an action potential.
What are vesicles?
400
The amount of electrical charge inside a neuron during the resting potential.
What is -70mv
400
When a sufficient number of excitatory neurotransmitters have bonded with the receptor sites on a neuron's dendrites to trigger an action potential, we day that the neuron has reached this.
What is Stimulus Threshold.
400
Neurotransmitter associated with voluntary muscle movements, learning, memory and emotional arousal; a deficit of which causes Parkinson's and a surplus of receptor sites for which causes Schizophrenia.
What is dopamine?
400
Type of neuron which carries sensory info from the sensory receptors to the brain.
What is Afferent neuron?
500
The substance which moves across the selectively permeable membrane of a neuron during an action potential to create an electrical charge in the neuron.
What are sodium ions?
500
The amount of electrical charge that moves down the axon of a neuron during an action potential.
What is +30mv?
500
Name for the two varieties of the chemicals released by the vesicles of a pre-synaptic neuron during an action potential, one of which increases the likelihood that a post-synaptic neuron will have an action potential and the other of which decreases the likelihood that the post-synaptic neuron will fire off.
What are excitatory neurotransmitters and inhibitory neurotransmitters?
500
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter associated with allergies. Antihistamines such as Benadryl are agonist for it.
What is GABA?
500
Type of neuron in between other neurons; most neurons are of this type.
What is Interneuron?
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