All Flashcards
What is the 'All-or-None Response'?
A neuron either fires completely or not at all; there's no in-between.
Explain 'Excitatory Signals'.
Signals that make a neuron more likely to fire.
Explain 'Inhibitory Signals'.
Signals that make a neuron less likely to fire.
What role does Acetylcholine (ACh) play?
Enables muscle action, learning, and memory.
What role does Dopamine play?
Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion.
What role does Serotonin play?
Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.
What role does Norepinephrine play?
Helps control alertness and arousal.
What role does GABA play?
A major inhibitory neurotransmitter.
What role does Glutamate play?
A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory.
What role do Endorphins play?
Diminish pain perception and act as a natural sedative.
What is the effect of myelin sheath damage?
Slows down neural impulses and can lead to uncoordinated movement.
What is the effect of an undersupply of Acetylcholine (ACh)?
Deterioration of ACh-producing neurons, as seen in Alzheimer's disease.
What are the effects of an undersupply of Serotonin?
Can lead to depression.
What are the effects of an undersupply of GABA?
Can lead to seizures, tremors, and insomnia.
What are the effects of an oversupply of Glutamate?
Can overstimulate the brain, leading to migraines and seizures.
What are the effects of an undersupply of Endorphins?
Can cause depression, anxiety, and moodiness.
What are the key steps of neural firing?
Resting Potential, Threshold, Action Potential (Depolarization), Refractory Period.
Briefly describe the process of synaptic transmission.
Neurotransmitters are released from terminal branches, cross the synapse, and bind to receptors on the receiving neuron.