Brain Basics/Neurons
This is the energy molecule that enzymes and other cell components use to function.
What is ATP?
These are the two main forces that act on ion in an aqueous solution.
What is diffusion and electrostatic?
These are the two main methods of communication between synapses.
What are electrical (gap junctions) and chemical (neurotransmitters)?
This is the slower of the two receptor types in which the binding of a ligand leads to an intracellular cascade of events.
What are metabotropic receptors?
This is an estimate of how many synapses are in an average human brain.
This area of the brain that mostly contains cell bodies of neurons and their dendrites.
What is gray matter?
Cell types contain the same DNA, but produce different proteins because of this step in protein synthesis.
What is transcription?
This is what happens when several EPSP signals are sent to an neuron in rapid sucession.
What is temporal summation?
This occurs when glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, binds to its receptor on the postsynaptic membrane
What is an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)?
This is what bananas and neurons have in common.
What is potassium?
His head was impaled by a spike which destroyed much of his prefrontal cortex. This resulted in his personality changing to become more aggressive and profane.
Who is Phineas Gage?
This is what happens when the membrane potential of cell is more positive than the resting potential which causes sodium to enter the cell.
What is depolarization?
This is what happens when a ligand binds to a receptor.
What is changing the receptor's shape and function?
The name of the three proteins invovled in the SNARE complex
This is the toxin that would potentially kill you if you decided to order pufferfish at a sketchy sushi restaurant.
What is tetrodotoxin (or TTX)?
This scientist studied neurons and correctly concluded that the brain is composed of individual neurons that connect to one another with their long projections.
Who is Ramon y Cajal?
This is the equilibrium potential for chloride in a neuron
What is -80mV?
This is the ion that can enter a dendrite to make the membrane potential more negative by generating an IPSPs.
What are chloride ions?
This is what happens to the dopamine in your brain when you decide to partake in some recreational cocaine (dopamine reuptake inhibitor)
What is increased dopamine in the synaptic cleft (due to blocking dopamine transporters)?
These are the main benefits from having the brain surrounded by CSF.
What are protection, reduced weight, nutrient and waste management, and stable environment?
These are some of the methods used on animal models to study the brain. (Name at least 2)
What are lesions, genetic manipulations, microscopy, electrophysiology?
These are the two factors causing a neuron to have a refractory period after an action potential is fired.
What is inactivated voltage-gated sodium channels and hyperpolarization?
This is what happens when there is an influx of calcium in the axon terminal which allows for the neurotransmitters to be spilled into the synaptic cleft.
What is exocytosis (release) of synaptic vesicles?
These are the two main types of proteins all neurons need to have if the neuron has neurotransmitters
What are transporters and enzymes for synthesis and breakdown of NT?
The name of neurotransmitter I study
What is serotonin?