The Nervous System, the Neuron & Neural Firing (College Board AP® Psychology): Flashcards
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Define central nervous system (CNS).
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Define central nervous system (CNS).
The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord, and processes and coordinates the body's responses.
What role does the spinal cord play in producing a response to a stimulus?
The spinal cord can produce rapid, automatic responses to a stimulus without first involving the brain.
True or False?
Damage to the spinal cord cannot affect behavior because the brain takes over its functions.
False.
Damage to the spinal cord can disrupt the transmission of motor signals between the brain and body, causing paralysis.
The ________ is the body's central processing center for thoughts, motivations, and emotions.
The brain is the body's central processing center for thoughts, motivations, and emotions.
Define peripheral nervous system (PNS).
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, relaying messages between the CNS and the body.
What type of processes does the somatic nervous system control?
The somatic nervous system controls voluntary processes, such as the movement of skeletal muscles under conscious control.
True or False?
The autonomic nervous system governs voluntary bodily processes.
False.
The autonomic nervous system governs involuntary processes such as heart rate, breathing, and digestion.
Define sympathetic nervous system.
The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for physical activity in response to a perceived threat or stressor, producing rapid physiological changes.
Which brain structure detects a threat and triggers the release of adrenaline during the sympathetic response?
The hypothalamus detects the threat and triggers the adrenal glands to release adrenaline during the sympathetic response.
The sympathetic nervous system is often known as the fight or __________ system.
The sympathetic nervous system is often known as the fight or flight system.
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do after a threat has passed?
The parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to a resting state after the sympathetic response, slowing heart rate and promoting digestion.
Define homeostasis.
Homeostasis is the state of overall bodily equilibrium maintained by the opposing actions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
Define dendrites.
Dendrites are branch-like extensions of a neuron that receive incoming signals from other neurons and carry them toward the cell body.
What is the function of the myelin sheath?
The myelin sheath is a fatty coating around some axons that insulates them and speeds up the transmission of electrical signals.
True or False?
Neurons can transmit signals equally well in either direction along the axon.
False.
Neurons fire in only one direction, from the dendrites through the cell body and down the axon to the next neuron.
The gaps in the myelin sheath are called nodes of ____________.
The gaps in the myelin sheath are called nodes of Ranvier.
Define glial cells.
Glial cells are non-neuronal cells that support neurons by providing structure, insulation, communication, and waste transport.
What is the function of sensory neurons?
Sensory neurons, also called afferent neurons, carry information from sensory receptors toward the brain and spinal cord.
True or False?
Interneurons carry instructions directly from the spinal cord to the muscles.
False.
Interneurons connect sensory and motor neurons within the CNS; motor neurons carry instructions out to the muscles.
Define synapse.
The synapse is the gap between the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of the next, across which chemical signals pass.
What is the function of motor neurons?
Motor neurons, also called efferent neurons, carry instructions from the brain and spinal cord out to muscles and organs.
In a reflex arc, the spinal cord coordinates the response and informs the ________ afterward.
In a reflex arc, the spinal cord coordinates the response and informs the brain afterward.
Why is the reflex arc considered an adaptive response?
The reflex arc is adaptive because its speed protects the body from harm before conscious awareness of the stimulus occurs.
Define terminal buttons.
Terminal buttons are the branched endings at the tip of the axon that release neurotransmitters into the synapse.
Define resting potential.
The resting potential is the electrical charge of a neuron when it is not firing, with the inside negatively charged relative to the outside.
What happens once a neuron reaches threshold?
Once a neuron reaches threshold, positive ions rush into the cell and the neuron fires an action potential.
True or False?
A stronger stimulus produces a stronger action potential in a single neuron.
False.
By the all-or-none principle, an action potential's strength stays the same regardless of stimulus strength; a stronger stimulus instead causes more neurons to fire.
Reuptake is the process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed back into the ____________________ neuron.
Reuptake is the process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed back into the presynaptic neuron.
Define synaptic cleft.
The synaptic cleft is the gap between the terminal buttons of the presynaptic neuron and the dendrites of the postsynaptic neuron.
What is the function of dopamine?
Dopamine is involved in motor movement, alertness, and anticipation of reward.
True or False?
GABA is the brain's primary excitatory neurotransmitter.
False.
GABA is the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter; glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter.
Define summation.
Summation is the combined effect of all excitatory and inhibitory signals a neuron receives, which determines whether it fires.
Which disorder results from the immune system blocking acetylcholine receptor sites at the neuromuscular junction?
Myasthenia gravis results from the immune system blocking acetylcholine receptor sites, causing muscle weakness and fatigue.
Multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system attacks and deteriorates the myelin __________ surrounding axons.
Multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system attacks and deteriorates the myelin sheath surrounding axons.
What is the function of endorphins?
Endorphins control pain and produce feelings of wellbeing, and are involved in addiction.
Define refractory period.
The refractory period is the brief interval after a neuron fires during which it cannot fire again.
What roles does acetylcholine play in the nervous system?
Acetylcholine supports memory in the central nervous system and triggers muscle contraction in the peripheral nervous system.
Define endocrine system.
The endocrine system is a body system that communicates using hormones released into the bloodstream to regulate behavior and mental processes.
What are hormones?
Hormones are chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream that travel to target organs and tissues throughout the body.
True or False?
Neurotransmitters travel through the bloodstream to reach their targets.
False.
Neurotransmitters travel across the synaptic cleft to an adjacent neuron, whereas hormones are the chemical messengers carried through the bloodstream.
Which gland is often called the "master gland"?
The pituitary gland is often called the master gland because it regulates and controls the activity of other endocrine glands throughout the body.
Melatonin levels rise in ______________ to promote sleep and fall in daylight to promote wakefulness.
Melatonin levels rise in darkness to promote sleep and fall in daylight to promote wakefulness.
Define adrenaline.
Adrenaline (also called epinephrine) is a hormone secreted in response to stress or threat that activates the fight-or-flight response, increasing heart rate, breathing rate, and alertness.
What role does the hypothalamus play in hormone regulation?
The hypothalamus monitors the body's internal state and sends signals to the pituitary gland, which then releases hormones that trigger responses in other glands.
True or False?
Oxytocin primarily regulates hunger and satiety.
False.
Oxytocin is known as the bonding hormone and plays a key role in social bonding, trust, and attachment; hunger and satiety are instead regulated by leptin and ghrelin.
What effect does leptin have on appetite?
Leptin, produced by fat cells, signals fullness to the brain and suppresses appetite.
How does the speed of hormone action compare to neurotransmitter action?
Hormones act more slowly than neurotransmitters, producing effects within seconds to hours rather than milliseconds.
Disruptions to leptin signaling are associated with overeating and ____________.
Disruptions to leptin signaling are associated with overeating and obesity.
What effect does ghrelin have on appetite?
Ghrelin, produced in the stomach, signals hunger to the brain and stimulates appetite, with levels rising before meals and falling after eating.
Define psychoactive drugs.
Psychoactive drugs are chemicals that alter brain chemistry to produce an altered state of consciousness by influencing neurotransmitter function.
How do agonist drugs affect neural firing?
Agonist drugs occupy postsynaptic receptor sites and activate them, mimicking the natural neurotransmitter and making an action potential more likely.
How do antagonist drugs affect neural firing?
Antagonist drugs occupy postsynaptic receptor sites without activating them, blocking the natural neurotransmitter and discouraging neural firing.
True or False?
Reuptake inhibitors work by activating postsynaptic receptor sites directly.
False.
Reuptake inhibitors block the reabsorption of a neurotransmitter into the presynaptic neuron, keeping it active in the synapse for longer rather than acting on receptors themselves.
Which receptors does marijuana act on to produce its effects?
Marijuana acts on cannabinoid (CB1) receptors in the brain, which can induce sensory distortions and altered perception.
Opioids such as heroin act as agonists for the brain's ________________ receptors, producing pain relief and euphoria.
Opioids such as heroin act as agonists for the brain's endorphin receptors, producing pain relief and euphoria.
Define stimulants.
Stimulants are psychoactive drugs, such as caffeine and cocaine, that increase neural activity and produce increased alertness and energy.
What is the main effect of depressants on the central nervous system?
Depressants, such as alcohol, decrease neural activity, slowing brain processes and impairing judgment and coordination.
True or False?
Tolerance means a person needs increasingly larger doses of a drug to achieve the same effect.
True.
With repeated use, the brain reduces its sensitivity to a drug, so larger doses are needed to produce the same effect as the brain attempts to maintain normal functioning.
What is the difference between psychological and physical dependence?
Psychological dependence is an intense craving for a drug to feel a certain way, while physical dependence is the body's adaptation that requires the drug to function normally.
What typically happens to a person during drug withdrawal?
During withdrawal, a person who has stopped taking a drug they are physically dependent on experiences symptoms that are typically the opposite of the drug's effects.
Many addictive drugs stimulate activity in the brain's ______________________ reward pathway, reinforcing continued drug use.
Many addictive drugs stimulate activity in the brain's dopaminergic reward pathway, reinforcing continued drug use.
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