Divisions of the Nervous System
Which major division of the nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord?
What part of the neuron receives incoming signals?
Dendrites
Which type of neuron carries information from sensory receptors to the CNS?
Sensory (afferent) neurons.
Which forebrain structure is primarily responsible for forming new long‑term memories?
The hippocampus.
Which area is primarily responsible for speech production?
Which division carries signals between the CNS and the rest of the body?
PNS
Why is the myelin sheath important for neural communication?
It insulates the axon and increases the speed of action potential conduction.
What is the primary function of motor neurons?
They carry signals from the CNS to muscles or glands.
What is the main function of the cerebellum in the hindbrain?
Coordinating balance, posture, and fine motor control.
Damage to Wernicke’s area results in what type of aphasia?
Fluent (receptive) aphasia with impaired comprehension.
Which branch of the PNS controls voluntary muscle movements?
Somatic NS
How does the axon terminal contribute to synaptic transmission?
It releases neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft to communicate with the next cell.
Where are interneurons primarily located?
CNS
How do the amygdala and frontal lobe interact during emotional decision‑making?
The amygdala generates emotional responses (especially fear and threat detection), while the frontal lobe regulates and evaluates these emotions to guide rational decision‑making.
What is the role of Geschwind’s territory in language processing?
It integrates auditory and visual language information, supporting reading and comprehension.
Which branch of the PNS regulates involuntary functions like heart rate and digestion?
Autonomic NS
Why does the action potential only travel in one direction along the axon?
Because the sodium channels behind the action potential enter a refractory period, preventing them from reopening immediately. This ensures the signal moves forward only.
Why are interneurons essential for reflex arcs?
They connect sensory and motor neurons, enabling rapid, automatic responses.
Compare how damage to the thalamus would produce different deficits in sensory processing
disrupted sensory relay, leading to widespread sensory confusion or loss.
How does damage to Broca’s area affect writing as well as speech?
Broca’s area controls language production, including the motor planning needed for writing. Damage leads to difficulty forming written language (agraphia) similar to the difficulty forming spoken language.
Which subdivision of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for “rest and digest” functions?
Parasympathic NS
When a baby repeatedly practices reaching for a toy, how does this activity help strengthen their neural pathways?
Each time the baby reaches, the same sensory and motor neurons fire together. Repetition strengthens the synaptic connections between these neurons (a process called “neurons that fire together wire together”). Over time, this makes the movement smoother, faster, and more coordinated as the neural pathway becomes more efficient.
Describe how sensory, interneurons, and motor neurons work together to produce a coordinated voluntary movement.
Sensory neurons provide input about the environment or body position; interneurons integrate this information and plan movement; motor neurons execute the movement by activating muscles.
How does the parietal lobe help you coordinate movements based on what you feel or see?
The parietal lobe integrates sensory information, like touch, body position, and visual input to guide accurate movements. This allows you to reach, grasp, or navigate space using real‑time sensory feedback.
What role does Wernicke’s area play when you hear an unfamiliar word?
Wernicke’s area analyzes the sound pattern and attempts to match it to stored language representations. If the word is unfamiliar, it helps process context to infer possible meaning.