Transcript Neuroscience and Behavior

Neuroscience and Behavior
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Neuron
Cells in the nervous system that communicate with one another to perform information processing tasks.
Cell Body
The part of a neuron that coordinates information processing tasks and keeps the cell alive.
Dendrites
The part of a neuron that receives information from other neurons and relays it to the cell body.
Axon
The part of a neuron that transmits information to other neurons, muscles or glands.
Myelin Sheath
An insulating layer of fatty material
Glial Cells
Support cells found in the nervous system
Synapse
The junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another
Sensory Neurons
Neurons that receive information from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the
spinal cord.
Motor Neurons
Neurons that carry signals from the spinal cord and produce movement.
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Interneurons
Neurons that connect sensory neurons, motor neurons and other interneurons.
Resting Potential
The difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neuron’s cell membrane.
Action Potential
An electric Signal that is conducted along an axon to a synapse.
Refractory Period
The time following an action potential in which new action potential cannot be initiated.
Terminal Buttons
Knoblike structures that branch out from an axon.
Neurotransmitters
Chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neuron’s dendrites.
Receptors
Parts of the cell membrane that receive the neurotransmitter and initiate a new electric signal.
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter that regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure and emotional arousal.
Glutamate
A major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in information transmission throughout the brain.
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GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)
The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.
Norepinephrine
A neurotransmitter that influences mood and arousal.
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter that is involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating and aggressive
behavior.
Endorphins
Chemicals that act within the pain pathways and emotion centers of the brain.
Agonists
Drugs that increase the amount of a neurotransmitter.
Antagonists
Drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter.
Nervous System
An intersecting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical information throughout the body.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The part of the nervous system that is composed of the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The part of the nervous system that connects the CNS to the body’s organs and muscles.
Somatic nervous System
A set of nerves that conveys information into and out of the CNS
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Thalamus
A subcortical structure that relays and filters information from the senses and transmits the information to
the cerebral cortex.
Hypothalamus
A subcortical structure that regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst and sexual behavior
Pituitary Gland
The “master gland”. Secretes stimulating hormones to all but two of the endocrine glands. Without
stimulating hormones the rest of the endocrine system could not function.
Limbic System
A group of forebrain structures including the hypothalamus, amygdala and hippocampus which are involved
in motivation, emotion, learning and memory.
Hippocampus
A structure for creating new memories and integrating them into a network of knowledge so that they can be
stored indefinitely in other parts of the cerebral cortex.
Amygdala
A part of the limbic system that plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation
of emotional memories.
Basal Ganglia
A set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movement.
Corpus Callosum
A thick band of nerve fibers that connects larger areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and
supports communication of information across the hemispheres.
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Occipital Lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information
Parietal Lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.
Temporal Lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for learning and language
Frontal Lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking,
planning, memory and judgment
Association Area
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are composed of neurons that help provide sense and
meaning to information registered in the cortex.
Gene
The unit of hereditary transmission
Chromosomes
Strands of DNA wound around each other in a double helix configuration
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
A device used to record electrical activity in the brain
My Story
Okay, 25 years ago when I was 20 (you can do the math), I was quickly losing my eyesight
and had developed problems with peripheral vision. I went to my optometrist and he referred
me to an ophthalmologist who tested my visual field acuity and found there was a severe
problem on both sides of my periphery. So, several more tests were run, and he thought I
was either going blind from the Reyes’ Syndrome I had five years prior, I had a tumor
somewhere in my brain.
It turned out to be the latter. I had a pituitary adenoma.
It seemed like a week later, I was rushed into surgery and had the tumor removed (October
5, 1984). I was in the hospital for three weeks. During this time, I was put on Prednisone of
adrenal replacement, DDAVP for antidiuretic hormone replacement (from your
hypothalamus), the pill for estrogen and progesterone replacement (which never really
worked), and later my endocrinologist added Synthroid because my thyroid was failing.
On June 30, 2000, I was admitted to the hospital because I had gone into a myxedema (late
stage hypothyroidism) coma. I was in it for five days. I learned my thyroid had completely
died. At the age of 27, I went through menopause and can never have children. And
recently, I learned I have Thyroid Resistance Syndrome and now take enough Synthroid for
an 800 pound man.