PSC 101 Exam 1

some behavior is only studied in humans, ability to study disease/clinical conditions

limited options far data collection and establishing cause/effect relationships

patterns of electrical activity in the brain

to examine activity in individual neurons

there are powerful tools available to manipulate the expression of gene

we can study frontal cortex function and certain brain diseases

humans

prairie voles

forebrain

dopamine receptor that is genetically engineered to become flourescent when activated by dopamine

transmitter is taken up into the presynaptic cell

reduced FA across the brain for individuals with schizophrenia

increases the speed

group of brain regions that includes regions in the forebrain and midbrain

radioactive tracer fluid injected into bloodstream to map their dsstination by glucose

1. use chemical messaging to influence neural activity
2. makes contact with capillary to control blood flow

neurons and glial cells

anandamides break down more easily, while THC is much more stable

impacts social interaction (good to better, bad to worse)

binds to a receptor and prevents activation (metabotrophic)

motivational component (will you work to get a reward?)

a fast automatic neural pathway that controls an involuntary response to stimuli

destroy debri, attack germs, clean up damaged cells

axons with white myelin sheaths

the voles developed with oxytocin receptors, but they were then inactivated

internasal administration for certain drugs or hormones that get access to the brain (narcan)

provides blue light to activiate the dopamine sensor AND a detector to measure the green light

receiving information

sensory pleasure (how good do you feel when you get that reward?)

astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes

dopamine deficient mice still preferred the sugar solution to water, even if they did not have to work for it

clinical screening instrument used to assess potential for opioid medication misuse in the context of chronic pain

simple series of neurons

calcium

proteins that detect chemical messages

the evolutionary cause behind a trait

binds to a receptor and activates it (iontropic)

puts an upper limit on the # of AP that can be produced per second

anandamide and THC

only method that can detect neurotransmitters or hormone receptors

it's possible to deliver antagonists and agonists at a specific time to specifc parts of the brain, many tools for low costs

rats

monkeys/primates

technology that can be used to edit genes (such as in prairie voles)

helps prevent infections and toxin from coming in contact with brain cells

detects small changes in metabolism (like oxygen use) in active brain areas (while performing a task)

stress did not reduce interaction

neurotransmitters and hormones made in body (anandamides)

they envolved an additional Na+ channel that is not used for AP, preferentially binds scorpion toxin instead

fit onto receptors to activate or block them

"trojen horse" tricks insulin receptors into picking up a drug out of the blood

slow, alter chemical reaction in the cell to open an ion channel

drugs and toxins from outside the body (THC)

Sodium (Na+) and Potassium (K+)

a drug that blocks the natural oxytocin in the brain, reducing the effects of stress

social withdrawal and many mental illnesses

midbrain

sending chemical or electrical signals

result from Na+ entering the cell, making inside more positive

summing of potentials that arrive at the axon hillock at different times

a neurotransmitter produced by the brain that activates the CB-1 receptors on the axon terminal

1. AP travels down through axon terminal
2. stimulates voltage-gated calcium channels open, allows calcium to enter axon terminal
3. triggers release of neurotransmitter (chem signal)
4. neurotransmitter binds to receptors in post-synaptic neuron
5. neurotransmitter is inactivated, recycled or destroyed

resting, but still using energy (Na+/K+ pump is always working)

produce myelin as a form of insulation for the neuron's axon (resembles a wire)

even if the antagonist/agonist is specific to one type of receptor, effects on behavior may not be specific

stress still reduced interaction

an immediate underlying cause based on the operation of internal mechanisms processed by an individual

tight junctions between endothelial cells that prevent large molecules from passing from blood into the brain

decreasing oxytocin receptors in gene expression of adult prairie voles reduces pair bonding

special presynaptic receptors involved in reuptake

1. Na+/K+ pump moves Na+ out and K+ in
2. Depolarization: Na+ enters neutron
3. Voltage-gated Na+ channels open, sodium continues to enter until threshold
4. K+ channels open, K+ leaves the cell
5. Na+/K+ pump restores Na+ out and K+ in

caused by inhibitory messages, decreases the probability that the neuron will fire an AP

uses magnets and radio waves to determin tissue density (structure of the brain)

speeds up the transmittion of AP

carrying electrical signals

result from chloride ions (Cl-) entering the cell, making inside more negative

caused by excitatory messages, increases the probability that the neuron will fire an AP

brief but large changes in membrane potential

higher scores = higher levels of opioid receptors binding

natural/sexual selection

training an individual to perfrom a behavior to obtain a reward

the anticipation and motivation chemical that drives us to seek a reward

summing the potentials that come from different parts of cell (but arrive at the same time)

hormonal mechanisms and developmental effects

the voles did not have any oxytocin receptors, but other bodily systems could take over instead

control systems that must work quickly

mediates affects of opioid based pharmaceuticals

sensory neuron, motor neuron, and synapse

transmitting information

fast, ion channels that change shape so the ions can go through

white matter pathway is smaller in individuals with schizophrenia

maps tissue density in a medical environment (detailed images quickly)

blocks calcium from entering the axon terminal, inhibiting neurotransmitter release

mice

social withdrawal, reduced motivation to engage socially

the immune system damages the oligodendrocytes, leading to reduced myelin/inefficient nerval signals

cell bodies and dendrites which lack myelin

tracks the diffusion of water molecules across the brain