Neurons & Neurotransmitters
What is the basic unit of the nervous system?
Neuron
What structure connects the two cerebral hemispheres?
Corpus callosum
Which lobe primarily processes vision?
Occipital Lobe
what is a typical resting membrane potential for a neuron?
about 70mv
What disorder involves recurrent seizures due to abnormal brain activity?
Epilepsy
What neurotransmitter is linked to mood regulation and depression?
serotonin
What part of the brain coordinates balance and fine motor control?
Cerebellum
Which lobe processes touch and spatial awareness?
Parietal Lobe
Which ion’s influx depolarizes the neuron during an action potential?
Sodium
Name one SSRI commonly used to treat depression.
Setraline
What is the process of reabsorbing neurotransmitters after they are released?
reputake
Which brain area is critical for forming new declarative memories?
Hippocampus
Damage to Broca’s area causes difficulty with what?
Producing speech
What period prevents a neuron from firing again immediately after an action potential?
Absolute refractory period
Which disease results from immune-mediated demyelination in the CNS?
Multiple sclerosis
What disease is associated with the loss of dopamine-producing neurons?
Parkinson's disease
Which structure relays most sensory information to the cortex except smell?
Thalamus
Which lobe is key for planning and impulse control?
Frontal lobe
What structure speeds conduction along axons and enables saltatory conduction?
Myelin Sheath
Which imaging technique tracks blood-oxygen–level changes to map brain activity?
F-mri
Explain how neurotransmitters transmit signals across the synapse.
They are released from vesicles, cross the synaptic cleft, bind to receptors, cause ion changes, then are removed by reuptake, enzymes, or diffusion.
Which region regulates homeostasis and controls the pituitary gland?
Hypothalamus
Wernicke’s area is primarily involved in what function?
Language comprehension
What does the all-or-none principle mean for action potentials?
They fire fully or not at all; intensity is coded by firing rate.
How can deep brain stimulation reduce Parkinson’s motor symptoms?
It modulates abnormal basal ganglia activity, reducing tremors/rigidity.