Introduction to Neuroscience
This field studies the brain and nervous system and combines knowledge from biology, psychology, and chemistry.
What is neuroscience?
The CNS is made up of these two main components.
What are the brain and spinal cord?
This nervous system subdivision consists of nerves that relay information between the CNS and the rest of the body.
What is the peripheral nervous system?
This is the name of the basic cell that transmits information in the nervous system.
What is a neuron?
This is the term for the rapid change in electrical charge that travels down a neuron’s axon.
What is an action potential?
This philosopher was the first to suggest that the brain, not the heart, is the center of intelligence.
Who is Hippocrates?
This part of the brain is responsible for coordinating movement and balance.
What is the cerebellum?
This subdivision of the PNS controls voluntary muscle movements.
What is the somatic nervous system?
This part of the neuron receives incoming signals from other neurons.
What are dendrites?
This ion enters the neuron during an action potential, causing depolarization.
What is sodium (Na+)?
This ancient Egyptian practice believed that this organ, not the brain, controlled thinking and emotion.
What is the heart?
This part of the brainstem controls automatic life-sustaining functions like breathing and heart rate.
What is the medulla oblongata?
The sympathetic nervous system triggers this type of response in stressful situations.
What is the 'fight or flight' response?
This structure, found at the end of the neuron’s axon, releases neurotransmitters to communicate with other neurons.
What is the synapse (or synaptic terminal)?
These chemical messengers are released from the synaptic terminal and bind to receptors on the next neuron.
What are neurotransmitters?
This technology, used in neuroscience research, measures electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp.
What is an electroencephalogram (EEG)?
This central nervous system structure acts as the communication highway between the brain and the rest of the body.
What is the spinal cord?
This nervous system branch is responsible for 'rest and digest' activities like lowering heart rate and promoting digestion.
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
The insulating layer that increases the speed of signal transmission along the axon is called this.
What is the myelin sheath?
This neurotransmitter is involved in regulating mood and is linked to depression when its levels are low.
What is serotonin?
Neuroscientists often study this part of the body to understand the connection between brain activity and behavior.
What is the nervous system?
This lobe of the cerebral cortex is involved in decision-making, problem-solving, and controlling behavior.
What is the frontal lobe?
This type of nerve cell transmits sensory information from the body to the CNS.
What is a sensory neuron?
This type of neuron sends signals from the brain to muscles, causing movement.
What is a motor neuron?
This neurotransmitter is associated with reward and pleasure and plays a role in addiction.
What is dopamine?