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Neuroscience Essentials
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1
Question
What is the basic function of a neuron?
Answer
To receive, process, and transmit information through electrical and chemical signals.
2
Question
What is the role of dendrites?
Answer
They receive messages from other neurons.
3
Question
What is the role of the cell body (soma)?
Answer
It processes incoming information and contains the nucleus.
4
Question
What is the role of the axon?
Answer
It carries signals away from the cell body to other neurons or muscles.
5
Question
What is the myelin sheath?
Answer
A fatty coating that speeds up neural transmission.
6
Question
What happens when myelin is damaged?
Answer
Signals slow down, leading to problems with movement or coordination.
7
Question
What is a synapse?
Answer
The tiny gap between neurons where communication occurs.
8
Question
What are neurotransmitters?
Answer
Chemical messengers that carry signals across the synapse.
9
Question
What are receptor sites?
Answer
Locations on the receiving neuron that neurotransmitters bind to.
10
Question
What is an action potential?
Answer
An electrical impulse that travels down the axon when a neuron fires.
11
Question
What is the “all-or-none principle”?
Answer
A neuron fires at full strength or not at all.
12
Question
What ion movement starts an action potential?
Answer
Sodium ions rush into the neuron.
13
Question
What restores the neuron after firing?
Answer
Potassium ions move out to reset the charge.
14
Question
What is the refractory period?
Answer
A brief time when the neuron cannot fire again.
15
Question
What does dopamine influence?
Answer
Reward, pleasure, movement, motivation.
16
Question
What does serotonin influence?
Answer
Mood, sleep, appetite.
17
Question
What does acetylcholine control?
Answer
Muscle movement and memory.
18
Question
What do endorphins do?
Answer
Reduce pain and increase pleasure.
19
Question
What is an agonist drug?
Answer
A drug that mimics or increases the action of a neurotransmitter.
20
Question
What is an antagonist drug?
Answer
A drug that blocks a neurotransmitter.
21
Question
How does cocaine affect the brain?
Answer
It blocks dopamine reuptake, increasing dopamine levels.
22
Question
Why can cocaine lead to addiction?
Answer
The brain reduces natural dopamine, causing dependence.
23
Question
What is sensation?
Answer
Detecting physical energy from the environment.
24
Question
What is transduction?
Answer
Turning sensory signals into neural messages.
25
Question
What is the pathway of vision?
Answer
Retina → Optic nerve → Thalamus → Visual cortex.
26
Question
What is the pathway of hearing?
Answer
Cochlea → Auditory nerve → Thalamus → Auditory cortex.
27
Question
What is the pathway of smell?
Answer
Olfactory receptors → Olfactory bulb → Cortex (skips thalamus).
28
Question
What is the pathway of taste?
Answer
Taste buds → Brainstem → Thalamus → Gustatory cortex.
29
Question
What is the pathway of touch?
Answer
Skin receptors → Spinal cord → Thalamus → Somatosensory cortex.
30
Question
What is perception?
Answer
The brain’s interpretation of sensory information.