The Nervous System
The peripheral nervous system is made up of these two major divisions
autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system
These enter the axon at the start of an AP
sodium ions
This involves measuring brain activity by attaching electrodes to the scalp and recording brain wave patterns
The medulla, pons and reticular formation make up this part or area of the brain
brain stem
Neurotransmitters are released from vesicles into this area between neurons
synaptic gap or cleft
This division contains the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
autonomic nervous system
This fatty covering on some axons decreases the time it takes for an AP to fire
myelin sheath
Case studies of SM have revealed that she has damage to this area of her brain
amygdala
This structure called the “little brain” is involved in coordinated movements and balance
cerebellum
This neurotransmitter is commonly associated with mood and sleep
sertonin
This secondary subdivision is activated during a “fight or flight” situation
sympathetic nervous system
The initiation of an AP is described as following this type of “law”
all or nothing
A technique that involves radioactive “tags” on glucose molecules to observe energy consumption in various brain regions
positron emission tomography (PET)
This limbic system brain structure is involved in regulating basic “needs” and homeostasis, including the circadian rhythm
hypothalamus
This neurotransmitter works by inhibiting other neurons and body functions
gamma-aminobutyric-acid (GABA)
This division controls sensory inputs and motor outputs of skeletal muscles and the skin
somatic nervous system
These ions leave the intracellular fluid during an AP
potassium ions
This involves using magnetic pulses to spin electrons in brain cells so that the brain’s structure and function can be observed
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
This hemisphere-lobe combination has been found to play a major role in facial recognition for most people
right temporal lobe
The analogy that is used to describe the way in which a neurotrasmitter fits into a receptor site
lock and key
These two classes of neurons are located outside of the spinal cord and brain
sensory and motor neurons
After the initiation of an AP, the membrane state when ions are still being pumped back into and out of the axon
hyperpolarization
These studied irregularities or “cuts” involve small, isolated damage to specific parts of the brain
lesions
This prevents many substances in the circulatory system from entering the CNS
blood-brain barrier
Three possible "fates" of a neurotransmitter molecule immediately after it is ejected from a post-synaptic receptor
1) reoccupy (restimulate) the receptor,
2) enzymatic degredation,
3) reuptake
4) diffusion