Psychology 101 WVU Exam Prep
Questions And 100% Correct Answers.
What are neurons? - Answer Brain cells that provide the foundation for the nervous system;
100 billion neurons in the human brain
Dendrites - Answer Branches that extend from the top of the neuron; they receive information
from other neurons
Cell Body/Soma - Answer Contains the nucleus, which holds genetic information and contains
energy and necessary resources
Axon - Answer Main source of output in the neuron; carries signal
Myelin Sheath - Answer A fatty, insulating substance that covers the axon and allows for
messages to travel faster down the axon
Terminal Buttons - Answer At the end of the neuron; sends messages out to other neurons
Synapse (synaptic gap and synaptic vesicles) - Answer The space between two neurons; the
message of one neuron gets picked up by another in this space
Neurotransmitter - Answer Chemical message
Types of cells? - Answer Neurons and Glial Cells
Neuron Types - Answer Sensory, Motor, and Interneurons
Sensory Neurons - Answer Unipolar; afferent; carries messages away to the central nervous
system; helps us receives information form the world
Motor Neurons - Answer Multipolar; efferent; carries messages from the central nervous
system to the voluntary muscles and glands; helps us to initiate movement and interact in the
, Glial Cells (and types) - Answer Cells in the brain with several functions based on type;
oligodendroglia, microglia, and astrocytes
Oligodendroglia - Answer Forms the myelin sheath
Microglia and Astrocytes - Answer Digest debris of dead neurons, carries nutrition to neurons
and regulate ionic composition
Resting State (resting membrane potential) - Answer Stable negative charge; the voltage of the
neuron (~70mV) while it is at rest; negative charge before firing or when messages are sent
Action Potential (change in electrical charge) - Answer Causes the neuron to fire; when
messages are sent; current goes down axon
1) Threshold of excitation: specific membrane potential that must be reached for an action
potential to occur, around ~50mV
2) Change in membrane potential: due to unequal distribution of positively and negatively
charged particles
3) Ion channels: control amount of ions that enter and leave the cell membrane
Absolute Refractory Period - Answer The time immediately after a neuron has fired in which it
cannot fire again
All-or-none law - Answer The neuron either fires or it doesn't
Ex: a gun
Communication within neurons - Answer Electrical reaction
Communication between neurons - Answer Chemical reaction; neurotransmitters
1) At synapse action potential causes the release of neurotransmitters; chemical messages
transfer from one neuron to another after the action potential
2) Neurotransmitters cross the synaptic gap
3) Lock and key type reception; neurotransmitters must fit on the receiving neuron to continue
Types of messages carried by neurotransmitters? - Answer PSP, EPSP, IPSP, and Reuptake
Questions And 100% Correct Answers.
What are neurons? - Answer Brain cells that provide the foundation for the nervous system;
100 billion neurons in the human brain
Dendrites - Answer Branches that extend from the top of the neuron; they receive information
from other neurons
Cell Body/Soma - Answer Contains the nucleus, which holds genetic information and contains
energy and necessary resources
Axon - Answer Main source of output in the neuron; carries signal
Myelin Sheath - Answer A fatty, insulating substance that covers the axon and allows for
messages to travel faster down the axon
Terminal Buttons - Answer At the end of the neuron; sends messages out to other neurons
Synapse (synaptic gap and synaptic vesicles) - Answer The space between two neurons; the
message of one neuron gets picked up by another in this space
Neurotransmitter - Answer Chemical message
Types of cells? - Answer Neurons and Glial Cells
Neuron Types - Answer Sensory, Motor, and Interneurons
Sensory Neurons - Answer Unipolar; afferent; carries messages away to the central nervous
system; helps us receives information form the world
Motor Neurons - Answer Multipolar; efferent; carries messages from the central nervous
system to the voluntary muscles and glands; helps us to initiate movement and interact in the
, Glial Cells (and types) - Answer Cells in the brain with several functions based on type;
oligodendroglia, microglia, and astrocytes
Oligodendroglia - Answer Forms the myelin sheath
Microglia and Astrocytes - Answer Digest debris of dead neurons, carries nutrition to neurons
and regulate ionic composition
Resting State (resting membrane potential) - Answer Stable negative charge; the voltage of the
neuron (~70mV) while it is at rest; negative charge before firing or when messages are sent
Action Potential (change in electrical charge) - Answer Causes the neuron to fire; when
messages are sent; current goes down axon
1) Threshold of excitation: specific membrane potential that must be reached for an action
potential to occur, around ~50mV
2) Change in membrane potential: due to unequal distribution of positively and negatively
charged particles
3) Ion channels: control amount of ions that enter and leave the cell membrane
Absolute Refractory Period - Answer The time immediately after a neuron has fired in which it
cannot fire again
All-or-none law - Answer The neuron either fires or it doesn't
Ex: a gun
Communication within neurons - Answer Electrical reaction
Communication between neurons - Answer Chemical reaction; neurotransmitters
1) At synapse action potential causes the release of neurotransmitters; chemical messages
transfer from one neuron to another after the action potential
2) Neurotransmitters cross the synaptic gap
3) Lock and key type reception; neurotransmitters must fit on the receiving neuron to continue
Types of messages carried by neurotransmitters? - Answer PSP, EPSP, IPSP, and Reuptake
