NEUROSCIENCE PY 346 STUDY REVIEW
2026/2027
Neuronal Doctrine - ANSWER-neurons are NOT continuous/communicate by
CONTACT
functional unit of the brain - ANSWER-neuron
Lobes of the brain - ANSWER-frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal
glial cells - ANSWER-support, nourish, and protect neurons
glial cell types - ANSWER-astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, schwann
Astrocytes - ANSWER-help with synapses/control chemical comp of fluid around
neurons located in CNS
Oligodendrocytes - ANSWER-Form myelin sheath in CNS
Mircoglia - ANSWER-phagocytosis in CNS
Schwann cells - ANSWER-guides growth of myelin in PNS
ion channels - ANSWER-channel proteins that transport ions
concertration gradient - ANSWER-ions move from high to low conc. thru diffusion
electrical gradient - ANSWER-difference in electrical charges between the inside and
outside of the cell (opposite charges attracts)
Voltage - ANSWER-great difference between +/- charges, the greater the
movement of current (ions); electrical potential
Ohm's Law - ANSWER-V=IR or Electrical Current (I) = V (diff. of +/-) / Resistance
membrane potential (Vm) - ANSWER-Difference in voltage across the plasma
membrane; unevenly distributed
resting membrane potential - ANSWER--65 mV
equilibrium potential (Eion) - ANSWER-electrical and concentration gradient for a
specific ion
are balanced
, sodium-potassium pump - ANSWER-3 Na+ out, 2 K+ in
action potential - ANSWER-a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down
an axon
how do neurons encode infomation - ANSWER-through frequency and pattern of spikes
phases of action potential - ANSWER-1 - resting state (-65 mv)
2 - depolarization phase (Na+ channels open)
3 - overshoot (1ms)
4- falling (hyperpolarized; K+ open)
5 - undershoot (depolarize a bit to -65mv) (2ms)
threshold - ANSWER--40mv; all or none
voltage-gated sodium channels - ANSWER-voltage dependent activation, shifts gates
up as it reaches -40mv
patch clamp - ANSWER-measurement of currents thru a single channel molecule
Na+ channel model - ANSWER-1 - close
2 - opens at threshold
3 - inactive after 1 ms
4 - deactivate after 2-3 ms
Voltage gated K+ channels - ANSWER-- open during depolarization
- delayed by 1ms
- falling phase = delayed channel opening
- undershoot (increased K+ permeability)
relative refractory period - ANSWER-a stronger/extra depolarization is necessary to
initiate an action potential
Where do action potentials occur? - ANSWER-axon hillock
2 ways to speed up an action potential - ANSWER-- increase axon diameter
- occur only at Nodes of Ranvier (location of voltage Na+ channels)
electrical synapse - ANSWER-synapse in which the cells are connected by gap
junctions, allowing ions (and therefore the action potential) to spread easily from cell to
cell
chemical synapse - ANSWER-synapse at which a chemical (a neurotransmitter) is
released from the axon of a neuron into the synaptic cleft, where it binds to receptors on
the next structure (pre to post)
2026/2027
Neuronal Doctrine - ANSWER-neurons are NOT continuous/communicate by
CONTACT
functional unit of the brain - ANSWER-neuron
Lobes of the brain - ANSWER-frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal
glial cells - ANSWER-support, nourish, and protect neurons
glial cell types - ANSWER-astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, schwann
Astrocytes - ANSWER-help with synapses/control chemical comp of fluid around
neurons located in CNS
Oligodendrocytes - ANSWER-Form myelin sheath in CNS
Mircoglia - ANSWER-phagocytosis in CNS
Schwann cells - ANSWER-guides growth of myelin in PNS
ion channels - ANSWER-channel proteins that transport ions
concertration gradient - ANSWER-ions move from high to low conc. thru diffusion
electrical gradient - ANSWER-difference in electrical charges between the inside and
outside of the cell (opposite charges attracts)
Voltage - ANSWER-great difference between +/- charges, the greater the
movement of current (ions); electrical potential
Ohm's Law - ANSWER-V=IR or Electrical Current (I) = V (diff. of +/-) / Resistance
membrane potential (Vm) - ANSWER-Difference in voltage across the plasma
membrane; unevenly distributed
resting membrane potential - ANSWER--65 mV
equilibrium potential (Eion) - ANSWER-electrical and concentration gradient for a
specific ion
are balanced
, sodium-potassium pump - ANSWER-3 Na+ out, 2 K+ in
action potential - ANSWER-a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down
an axon
how do neurons encode infomation - ANSWER-through frequency and pattern of spikes
phases of action potential - ANSWER-1 - resting state (-65 mv)
2 - depolarization phase (Na+ channels open)
3 - overshoot (1ms)
4- falling (hyperpolarized; K+ open)
5 - undershoot (depolarize a bit to -65mv) (2ms)
threshold - ANSWER--40mv; all or none
voltage-gated sodium channels - ANSWER-voltage dependent activation, shifts gates
up as it reaches -40mv
patch clamp - ANSWER-measurement of currents thru a single channel molecule
Na+ channel model - ANSWER-1 - close
2 - opens at threshold
3 - inactive after 1 ms
4 - deactivate after 2-3 ms
Voltage gated K+ channels - ANSWER-- open during depolarization
- delayed by 1ms
- falling phase = delayed channel opening
- undershoot (increased K+ permeability)
relative refractory period - ANSWER-a stronger/extra depolarization is necessary to
initiate an action potential
Where do action potentials occur? - ANSWER-axon hillock
2 ways to speed up an action potential - ANSWER-- increase axon diameter
- occur only at Nodes of Ranvier (location of voltage Na+ channels)
electrical synapse - ANSWER-synapse in which the cells are connected by gap
junctions, allowing ions (and therefore the action potential) to spread easily from cell to
cell
chemical synapse - ANSWER-synapse at which a chemical (a neurotransmitter) is
released from the axon of a neuron into the synaptic cleft, where it binds to receptors on
the next structure (pre to post)
