Neuroscience Fundamentals - Brain Structures & Neurotransmitters Flashcards

Question 1

Parietal Lobe

Accepted Answer

The cortical region located posterior to the frontal lobe; integrates somatosensory information (touch, temperature, pain), spatial awareness, and visuomotor guidance.

Question 2

Frontal Lobe

Accepted Answer

The anterior region of the cerebral cortex responsible for executive functions (planning, decision-making, impulse control), primary voluntary motor execution, and speech production via Broca's area.

Question 3

Temporal Lobe

Accepted Answer

The lateral cortical region involved in processing auditory information, sensory language comprehension (Wernicke's area), higher-order visual processing, and memory encoding alongside the hippocampus.

Question 4

Occipital Lobe

Accepted Answer

The rearmost region of the cerebral cortex housing the primary visual cortex (V1), dedicated to processing visual stimuli including motion, color, and shape.

Question 5

Hippocampus

Accepted Answer

A seahorse-shaped structure in the medial temporal lobe essential for consolidating short-term memory into long-term declarative memory and mediating spatial navigation.

Question 6

Amygdala

Accepted Answer

An almond-shaped nucleus in the temporal lobe that processes emotional stimuli—particularly fear, threat detection, and emotional memory enhancement.

Question 7

Thalamus

Accepted Answer

The central subcortical relay station that processes and routes almost all sensory inputs (except olfaction) to their corresponding cortical destinations.

Question 8

Hypothalamus

Accepted Answer

A crucial homeostatic control center below the thalamus regulating the autonomic nervous system, endocrine output via the pituitary gland, body temperature, hunger, thirst, and circadian rhythms.

Question 9

Cerebellum

Accepted Answer

Located at the base of the brain; coordinates fine motor control, balance, posture, motor learning (e.g., procedural memory), and timing of movements.

Question 10

Basal Ganglia

Accepted Answer

A group of subcortical nuclei (including the caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus) involved in motor planning, movement initiation, procedural learning, and reward-based action selection.

Question 11

Brainstem (Midbrain, Pons, Medulla)

Accepted Answer

The lower structure connecting the cerebrum to the spinal cord; controls vital autonomic functions such as respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and arousal.

Question 12

Corpus Callosum

Accepted Answer

A broad band of dense myelinated nerve fibers connecting the left and right cerebral hemispheres, enabling interhemispheric communication.

Question 13

Glutamate

Accepted Answer

The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Excitotoxicity occurs when excess glutamate damages neurons.

Question 14

Glutamate Receptors (AMPA & NMDA)

Accepted Answer

Ionotropic receptors for glutamate. **AMPA** mediates fast excitatory transmission. **NMDA** receptors act as coincidence detectors (voltage- and ligand-gated, requiring $Mg^{2+}$ unblocking) crucial for Long-Term Potentiation (LTP).

Question 15

GABA (γ-Aminobutyric Acid)

Accepted Answer

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mature CNS. Decreases neuronal excitability to prevent overexcitation, anxiety, and seizures.

Question 16

GABA Receptors ($GABA_A$ vs. $GABA_B$)

Accepted Answer

**$GABA_A$**: Fast, ionotropic ligand-gated $Cl^-$ channels (targeted by benzodiazepines and barbiturates).
**$GABA_B$**: Slow, metabotropic G-protein-coupled receptors linked to $K^+$ channel opening.

Question 17

Dopamine (DA)

Accepted Answer

A monoamine neurotransmitter involved in reward processing, motivation, motor control, and executive function. Synthesized from L-DOPA via tyrosine metabolism.

Question 18

Major Dopaminergic Pathways

Accepted Answer

1. **Mesolimbic**: VTA to nucleus accumbens (reward/addiction).
2. **Nigrostriatal**: Substantia nigra to striatum (movement; degenerates in Parkinson's).
3. **Mesocortical**: VTA to prefrontal cortex (cognition/emotion).
4. **Tuberoinfundibular**: Hypothalamus to pituitary (inhibits prolactin).

Question 19

Serotonin (5-HT)

Accepted Answer

A monoamine neurotransmitter produced primarily in the Raphe nuclei; regulates mood, sleep-wake cycles, appetite, and gut motility. Most receptors are metabotropic except $5-HT_3$ (ionotropic).

Question 20

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Accepted Answer

A key neurotransmitter in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Mediates muscle contraction at the neuromuscular junction, autonomic parasympathetic activity, and central cognitive processes like attention and memory.

Question 21

Cholinergic Receptors (Nicotinic vs. Muscarinic)

Accepted Answer

**Nicotinic (nAChR)**: Fast, ligand-gated ionotropic cation channels ($Na^+/K^+$).
**Muscarinic (mAChR)**: Slow, metabotropic G-protein-coupled receptors ($M_1-M_5$) mediating parasympathetic effects.

Question 22

Norepinephrine (NE)

Accepted Answer

A catecholamine neurotransmitter synthesized primarily in the locus coeruleus; mediates arousal, alertness, vigilance, and the sympathetic 'fight-or-flight' stress response.

Question 23

Ionotropic vs. Metabotropic Receptors

Accepted Answer

**Ionotropic**: Direct ligand-gated ion channels providing fast synaptic transmission.
**Metabotropic**: G-protein-coupled receptors triggering intracellular second-messenger cascades, leading to slower, longer-lasting neuromodulatory effects.

Question 24

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

Accepted Answer

A persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity, characterized by increased $Ca^{2+}$ influx through NMDA receptors, trafficking of AMPA receptors to the postsynaptic membrane, and structural dendritic growth.

Neuroscience Fundamentals - Brain Structures & Neurotransmitters

Card Preview

Related Flashcard Sets

Concurrency & Parallelism in Software Engineering

Organic Chemistry - Reaction Mechanisms & Synthesis

BIO102 - Cell Biology & Fundamental Processes

French A1 & A2 - Essential Grammar & Everyday Phrases