Download Biological Psychology Basic Structure of a Neuron 1. What are the

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Section 1
Biological Psychology
Basic Structure of a Neuron
1. What are the two basic types of cells in the nervous system?
Neurons and Glial Cells
a. Cells that process incoming signals and respond by sending out signals of their
own and are considered the basic building blocks of the brain’s anatomy are
called neurons
b. Cells that aid in the transferring of a signal and help keep the basic structure of the
nervous system intact and are necessary for neurons to function are called glial
cells
2. All neurons have an outer membrane that helps protect information kept within the cell
body. The outer regions of a neuron contain branch-like structures that receive
information from adjacent neurons called dendrites
a. The centerpiece of a neuron that contains information (DNA) that determines how
a neuron will function is called the nucleus
b. The cell body of the nucleus that produces neurotransmitter substances and helps
protect the vital information contained in the nucleus is called the soma
c. What is just outside of the soma that serves as a “gatekeeper” through
determining whether information will proceed down the neuron?
Axon hillock
d. When the axon hillock allows information to precede, this information then
travels down the axon, which is the neural fiber that transmits or sends
information form the soma to the other end of a neuron.
e. A fatty tissue substance that protects information stored inside the axon and also
aids in the speed of the transmission of information is called the myelin sheath
i. If myelin breaks down, the electrical impulse within the axon will leak out
resulting in information not traveling down the axon. The depletion of
myelin, as a result, could lead to?
Multiple sclerosis
f. Spaces or gaps between sections of myelin that speed up the process of
transmission are called nodes of ranvier
g. Once information reaches the axon terminal/buttons, the ending part of a neuron,
it is sent via release channels into the synapse/ synaptic cleft, the space between
axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrites of an adjacent neuron.
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h. Chemicals that transfer information from one neuron to another and are released
into the synaptic cleft or synapse are called neurotransmitters
i. An area of the dendrites that accepts neurotransmitters is called the receptor site
m. Neurotransmitters that do not quickly bind to an appropriate receptor site are
forced to return back to the axon terminal via or through the reuptake centers where
they then wait until another signal allows them to reenter the synapse.
Types of Neurons
3. What are responsible for the communication of information?
Neurons
a. Neurons that transmit information form the spinal cord to the brain, and help our
brain register sensory information are called afferent (sensory) neurons
b. Efferent or motor neurons are responsible for?
Transmit information from the brain to muscles and glands
i. Your brain is able to identify that your hand is touching something hot via
which type of neuron?
Sensory neurons
ii. Your hand dropping whatever is hot is made possible via which type of a
neuron?
Motor neuron
Neural Communication
4. How one neuron communicates with another neuron is possible through a neural?
Neural impulse
5. Negatively charged chloride (CI-) ions exist within the axon, resulting in a negative
charge called polarization
a. Negatively charged ions wait for stimulation within the axon- the neuron is said to be
inactive and is waiting for another action potential. This refers to the resting
potential
b. When a neuron is stimulated, channels along the axon start to allow positively
charged sodium (NA+) and potassium (K+) ions to enter. This then allows the
sodium and potassium channels to open allowing the electrochemical process to
continue down the axon. This process is called?
Depolarization
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c. A change in the balance of the overall charge of the neuron causes the
electrochemical signal to travel or is fired along the axon. This is referred to as a?
Action potential
d. A point of excitation on the neuron that must be reached for an action potential to
occur refers to exceeding the threshold
e. After a neuron fires, there is a time period when the neuron recharges itself
electrically until it reaches polarization. Until this occurs the neuron can’t fire an
action potential. This period is referred to as the?
Refractory period
Neurotransmitters
6. Inside the buttons or knobs at the end of the axon terminals are sacs or vesicles that
contain substances known as?
Neurotransmitters
a. Neurotransmitters are involved in everything from bodily movements to emotions and
can be either inhibitory or excitatory:
b. If a neurotransmitter carries an inhibitory message then what happens?
Discouraging the firing of the receiving neuron
c. If a neurotransmitter carries an excitatory message then what occurs?
Encouraging the firing of the receiving neuron
7. Explain the functions of each of the following neurotransmitters and discuss when excess
of or deficiency of each could result in.
Neurotransmitter
Acetylcholine
Function
Memory, mood,
voluntary muscle
movement
Feelings of euphoria
(reward), movement
Excess
Convulsions or
excess shaking
Deficiency
Alzheimer’s disease
paralysis
Schizophrenia
Parkinson’s disease
Serotonin
Mood, appetite,
impulsiveness
Tremor’s,
headaches
GABA
Mood, sleep,
movement
Lethargy
Norepinephrine
Alertness, sleep,
learning
Fear, anxiety
Depression, eating
disorders,
alcoholism,
aggression
Anxiety disorders,
Huntington’s
disease
Depression
Glutamate
Memory
Brain damage due to Neurological
overstimulation
disorders
Dopamine
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___ 1. The part of a neuron that receives information from other neurons is called: *RC:
Like the entrance to a water slide*
A) Dendrites B) Axon C) Soma D) Axon hillock E) Nucleus
___ 2. The part of a neuron that covers or insulates the axon and speeds up the transmission;
when depletes could lead to multiple sclerosis. *RC: Think of the water in a slide that
allows you to go faster down the slide*
A) Dendrites B) Axon C) Myelin sheath D) Axon hillock E) Synapse
___ 3. The synapse is defined as: *RC: Think of the pool that you have to swim through to
get to other side to ride the slide again*
A) The aid and support provided to a neuron for suspendibility.
B) The receiving part of a neuron.
C) The sending part of a neuron.
D) The insulation of the axon allowing speedy transmission of a message.
E) The gap between two neurons that neurotransmitters cross.
___ 4. Occurs though the process of depolarization when positive energy surpasses the
threshold leading to a(n): *RC: Think of crossing the finishing line reaching full
speed*
A) Synaptic cleft
D) Repolarization
B) Action potential
E) All-or-nonresponse
C) Refractory period
___ 5. The inability after an action potential to generate another action potential is referred
to as: *RC: Think of trying to flush a toilet right after the water goes down*
A) All-or-nonresponse
D) Refractory period
B) Depolarization
E) Synapse transmission
C) Repolarization
Chapter 2
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_A__ 1. The part of a neuron that receives information from other neurons is called: *RC:
Like the entrance to a water slide*
A) Dendrites B) Axon C) Soma D) Axon hillock E) Nucleus
_C__ 2. The part of a neuron that covers or insulates the axon and speeds up the transmission;
when depletes could lead to multiple sclerosis. *RC: Think of the water in a slide that
allows you to go faster down the slide*
A) Dendrites B) Axon C) Myelin sheath D) Axon hillock E) Synapse
_E__ 3. The synapse is defined as: *RC: Think of the pool that you have to swim through to
get to other side to ride the slide again*
A) The aid and support provided to a neuron for suspendibility.
B) The receiving part of a neuron.
C) The sending part of a neuron.
D) The insulation of the axon allowing speedy transmission of a message.
E) The gap between two neurons that neurotransmitters cross.
_B__ 4. Occurs though the process of depolarization when positive energy surpasses the
threshold leading to a(n): *RC: Think of crossing the finishing line reaching full
speed*
A) Synaptic cleft
D) Repolarization
B) Action potential
E) All-or-nonresponse
C) Refractory period
_D__ 5. The inability after an action potential to generate another action potential is referred
to as: *RC: Think of trying to flush a toilet right after the water goes down*
A) All-or-nonresponse
D) Refractory period
B) Depolarization
E) Synapse transmission
C) Repolarization