"Rites" rhymes with kites
What is a neuron?
What is a nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system.
What are neurotransmitters?
What is a chemical substance released by the terminal branches of the axon of one neuron, sent across a synapse, to the dendrites of another neuron. Neurotransmitters are what neurons use to intercommunicate.
What structure is at the bottom of the brainstem?
What is the medulla
What structures make up the limbic system
What is the hypothalamus, the amygdala, and the hippocampus.
What is the cerebral cortex?
What is the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres and the brain’s ultimate control and information processing center.
What are the parts of a neuron? (hint: there are 4)
What are cell body, dendrites, axon, and terminal branches of axon.
What is the purpose of dopamine?
It influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion.
What structure is at the top of the brainstem?
What is the thalamus?
What does the amygdala look like?
It looks like 2 lima-bean-sized neural clusters.
What is the cerebral cortex divided into and what are the names of the divisions? (hint: there are 4 divisions)
The cerebral cortex is divided into the frontal lobes, the parietal lobes, the occipital lobes, and the temporal lobes.
What is the myelin sheath and what is its purpose?
The myelin sheath covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses.
What happens when one has an undersupply of Norepinephrine?
The undersupply may cause a depressed mood.
What are the functions of the medulla?
It controls heartbeat and breathing.
What is the amygdala linked to? (hint: name 3 things)
It is linked to emotion, fear, and aggression.
What are the functions of the frontal lobe?
It is involved in speaking, motor movements, judgment, and decision making.
How is a neural impulse generated?
If the chemical signals exceed a minimum threshold, the neuron fires, transmitting an electrical impulse (the action potential) down the axon. The action potential must either fire or not fire, there is no in between (it’s an all-or-none response).
Compare Agonists and Antagonists
Agonists increase a neurotransmitter’s actions. Antagonists inhibit a neurotransmitter’s actions.
What are the functions of the pons?
It controls sleep and helps coordinate movements.
What are the functions of the hippocampus?
The hippocampus helps process explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events.
Where is the occipital lobe located and what is it responsible for?
At the rear of the brain. It is responsible for visual perception.
What is depolarization?
The action potential or the rushing in and out of positively charged ions.
Name 6 neurotransmitters and, for each, name something thing they influence.
Answers include: Acetylcholine and muscle action, Dopamine and attention, Serotonin and mood, Norepinephrine and arousal, Glutamate, Endorphins and perception of pain and pleasure.
What are the functions of the cerebellum?
It processes sensory input, coordinates movement and balance, and is involved in nonverbal learning and memory.
What are the functions of the hypothalamus? (hint: it has 4 main functions)
It is linked to eating, drinking, and body temperature. It also helps control the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.
What are Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas?
Broca’s area is involved in language expression. Wernicke’s area is involved in language reception.