Neuroscience Fundamentals Flashcards
7 cards from real Biology Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Neuroscience Fundamentals flashcards as text
Which neurotransmitter is most associated with reward, motivation, and reinforcement learning pathways in the brain?
Answer: Dopamine
Dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area project to the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex, forming the mesolimbic reward pathway central to motivation and reinforcement.
What name is given to the specialized junction between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle fiber?
Answer: Neuromuscular junction
The neuromuscular junction is the chemical synapse where motor neurons release acetylcholine onto nicotinic receptors on the muscle end plate, triggering contraction.
Which type of glial cell acts as the resident immune cells of the central nervous system?
Answer: Microglia
Microglia are CNS-resident macrophages derived from the yolk sac; they survey the brain for pathogens and damage and respond by phagocytosis and inflammatory signaling.
Wernicke's area, associated with language comprehension, is located in which brain region?
Answer: Left temporal-parietal junction
Wernicke's area lies at the junction of the left temporal and parietal lobes (posterior superior temporal gyrus) and is critical for understanding spoken and written language.
What is the role of GABA in the adult brain?
Answer: Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult CNS; it hyperpolarizes neurons by increasing Cl⁻ conductance through GABA-A receptors.
The autonomic nervous system's 'rest-and-digest' state is mediated by which division?
Answer: Parasympathetic
The parasympathetic division conserves and restores energy by slowing heart rate, increasing digestive activity, and promoting glandular secretions.
Which phenomenon describes the ability of the brain to reorganize its synaptic connections in response to learning or injury?
Answer: Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's capacity to alter the strength and structure of synaptic connections throughout life, underlying learning, memory, and recovery from injury.