Neuron Pools
What are groups of interconnected interneurons found throughout the brain and spinal cord called?
Neuronal pools
What circuit divides one neuron sending information to many?
Divergence
What is an automatic, rapid, and involuntary responses to a stimulus?
Which reflex involves one or more interneurons between sensory and motor neurons?
Post-synaptic reflex
What does an IPSP do to a neuron's responsiveness?
it decreases the likelihood that the neuron will fire
Name two things neuronal pools help the nervous system do.
interpret sensory information, plan responses, and coordinate movement
information from several neurons come together to influence one neuron. What circuit is this?
Convergence
Why are reflexes important for protecting the body?
the conscious processing is too slow, so reflexes can respond quickly to minimize injury
What reflex allows you to quickly pull your hand away from a hot pan?
Withdrawal Reflex
Do spinal reflexes usually produce predictable or unpredictable movements?
Predictable Movements
Neurons within neuronal pools are connected in specific patterns called what?
neural circuits
Pain signals pass through several neuronal pools before you become consciously aware of the pain. Which circuit is this?
Serial processing
Which type of reflex contains only one synapse between a sensory neuron and a motor neuron?
Monosynaptic reflex
During the withdrawal reflex, what happens to the flexor muscles?
They are stimulated to contract
What are three main ways the brain can influence existing motor patterns?
facilitation, inhibitoon, and fine-tuning
Neuronal pools can contain what two types of neurons?
Excitatory and inhibitory neurons
Parallel Processing
What reflex occurs when tapping the patellar tendon causes the quadriceps to contract and the lower leg to kick forward?
What receptor detects changes in muscle length?
Muscle spindle
What is the overall purpose of neuronal pools in the nervous system?
Processing information and coordinating appropriate responses
What two things can stop the repeated activity of a reverberating circuit?
Synaptic fatigue or inhibitory signals
Put the five steps of a reflex arc in the correct order; effector, spinal cord, receptor, motor neuron, sensory neuron.
1. Receptor
2. Sensory neuron
3. Spinal cord
4. motor neuron
5. Effector muscle
What reflex cause the opposite leg to extend and support your body when the injured leg withdraws?
The crossed extensor reflex
Why doesn't the brain need to control every individual muscle contraction when producing a complex movement?
Because it can activate an existing spinal motor pattern that coordinates the movement