Chapter 3
What are neurotransmitters?
● Chemical messengers released from vesicles across the synapse.
What is a synapse? What happens at synapses?
● The place where neurons communicate with each other.
What can happen if you have too much dopamine in your synapses and what can
happen if you have too little?
● Too much dopamine can lead to not being able to control your impulses and
aggression
● Too little can lead to decreased motivation, muscle stiffness, and problems with
movement
How do action potentials fire?
● Electrical energy passes through axon of neuron
What is the difference between the chemical messengers in the endocrine system and
nervous system?
● Chemical messengers of endocrine system take longer to reach their location but
have a longer effect
● Chemical messengers in the nervous system fire faster and last less longer
What are the functions of GABA and Glutamate? What happens if you have too much
GABA or too much Glutamate?
● GABA inhibits neurotransmitter firing and contributes to motor control and vision.
Nervous system depressant. Too much GABA can lead to slowed breathing and
drowsiness.
● Glutamate makes neurons fire and has a central role in memory and learning.
Too much can lead to strokes and too little can lead to symptoms of
schizophrenia.
What are SSRI's and how do they work?
● Medication used to treat depression and other mental health conditions. Works
by limiting the reuptake of neurons so that serotonin can stay between the
synapses and not be absorbed.
What are endorphins? What do they do?
● Naturally produced opioids that regulate secretion of other neurotransmitters.
● Reduces pain and elevates mood.
, What are the two hemispheres of the brain and what functions are specific to each?
Which structure connects them?
● Lef and right hemispheres
● Left hemisphere has crucial role in language processing
● Right hemisphere manages visual and spatial tasks
● Corpus callosum connects the hemispheres
What are the four lobes of the brain and what processes occur in each lobe?
● Frontal lobe: higher level cognitive function
● Parietal lobe: integration of sensory information
● Occipital lobe: processing of visual information
● Temporal lobe: hearing and language comprehension
Which parts of the brain make up the hindbrain and what are their functions?
● Cerebellum: motor coordination, memory, balance
● Medulla: regulating heart rate and blood pressure
● Pons: arousal, sleep, facial expressions
What happens if you damage your pons or medulla? What about your cerebellum?
● Can lead to paralysis and disruptions in bodily functions such as breathing and
consciousness
● Can lead to balance issues and speech difficulty
What is the main function of the thalamus?
● Relay center of brain where most senses are routed for processing.
Which parts of the brain make up the limbic system and what are their functions?
● Hypothalamus: contains pleasure centers
● Amygdala: elicits fear and rage
● Hippocampus: learning and forming new memories
Chapter 4
What is the definition of consciousness? What are some different states of
consciousness?
● Awareness of external stimuli and owen mental and other internal processes
● Wakefulness
● Sleepiness
● Drug-induced states
What are neurotransmitters?
● Chemical messengers released from vesicles across the synapse.
What is a synapse? What happens at synapses?
● The place where neurons communicate with each other.
What can happen if you have too much dopamine in your synapses and what can
happen if you have too little?
● Too much dopamine can lead to not being able to control your impulses and
aggression
● Too little can lead to decreased motivation, muscle stiffness, and problems with
movement
How do action potentials fire?
● Electrical energy passes through axon of neuron
What is the difference between the chemical messengers in the endocrine system and
nervous system?
● Chemical messengers of endocrine system take longer to reach their location but
have a longer effect
● Chemical messengers in the nervous system fire faster and last less longer
What are the functions of GABA and Glutamate? What happens if you have too much
GABA or too much Glutamate?
● GABA inhibits neurotransmitter firing and contributes to motor control and vision.
Nervous system depressant. Too much GABA can lead to slowed breathing and
drowsiness.
● Glutamate makes neurons fire and has a central role in memory and learning.
Too much can lead to strokes and too little can lead to symptoms of
schizophrenia.
What are SSRI's and how do they work?
● Medication used to treat depression and other mental health conditions. Works
by limiting the reuptake of neurons so that serotonin can stay between the
synapses and not be absorbed.
What are endorphins? What do they do?
● Naturally produced opioids that regulate secretion of other neurotransmitters.
● Reduces pain and elevates mood.
, What are the two hemispheres of the brain and what functions are specific to each?
Which structure connects them?
● Lef and right hemispheres
● Left hemisphere has crucial role in language processing
● Right hemisphere manages visual and spatial tasks
● Corpus callosum connects the hemispheres
What are the four lobes of the brain and what processes occur in each lobe?
● Frontal lobe: higher level cognitive function
● Parietal lobe: integration of sensory information
● Occipital lobe: processing of visual information
● Temporal lobe: hearing and language comprehension
Which parts of the brain make up the hindbrain and what are their functions?
● Cerebellum: motor coordination, memory, balance
● Medulla: regulating heart rate and blood pressure
● Pons: arousal, sleep, facial expressions
What happens if you damage your pons or medulla? What about your cerebellum?
● Can lead to paralysis and disruptions in bodily functions such as breathing and
consciousness
● Can lead to balance issues and speech difficulty
What is the main function of the thalamus?
● Relay center of brain where most senses are routed for processing.
Which parts of the brain make up the limbic system and what are their functions?
● Hypothalamus: contains pleasure centers
● Amygdala: elicits fear and rage
● Hippocampus: learning and forming new memories
Chapter 4
What is the definition of consciousness? What are some different states of
consciousness?
● Awareness of external stimuli and owen mental and other internal processes
● Wakefulness
● Sleepiness
● Drug-induced states
