Drugs, Brain, And Behavior - Final Exam
Questions With Correct Detailed
Answers.
pharmacology - ANSWER- the scientific study of the *actions of drugs* and their
*effects* on a living organism
neuropharmacology - ANSWER- drug-induced changes in the functioning of the
*nervous system*
psychopharmacology - ANSWER- drug-induced changes in *mood, thinking, and
behavior*
drug action - ANSWER- specific *molecular changes* produced by a drug when it binds
to a particular *target site or receptor*
drug effects - ANSWER- *widespread changes* in physiological or psychological
functions
nonspecific drug effects - ANSWER- effects based not on the chemical activity of the
drug, but on *some unique characteristic of the individual* (e.g. mood, expectations,
drug-taking experience)
sensory neurons - ANSWER- convert *physical stimuli* to electric signals
motor neurons - ANSWER- direct *biobehavioral response*
stem cells - ANSWER- *undifferentiated*, proliferating cells which can become *any
specific tissue or organ cell type*
Nervous system overview - ANSWER-
central nervous system - ANSWER- *brain and spinal cord* - analysis and integration of
sensory and motor information
peripheral nervous system - ANSWER- divided into *somatic* and *autonomic*
divisions; autonomic is further divided into *sympathetic* and *parasympathetic*
somatic nervous system - ANSWER- controls *voluntary movement* of skeletal muscles
and *sensory input* from external environment
,autonomic nervous system - ANSWER- *controls internal environment* (smooth
muscle, cardiac muscle, glands, organs), divided into *sympathetic* and
*parasympathetic* divisions
sympathetic nervous system - ANSWER- *mobilizes* body for emergency, *"fight or
flight"*
parasympathetic nervous system - ANSWER- *conserves* energy to help body recover,
*"rest and digest"*
protective tissue surrounding brain - ANSWER- three layers of tissue called *meninges*
protect brain and spinal cord:
*SKULL*
1) dura mater
2) arachnoid
2a) subarachnoid space (filled with cerebrospinal fluid)
3) pia mater
*BRAIN*
cerebrospinal fluid - ANSWER- fills cavities in the brain called *cerebral ventricles* and
the channel running through the spinal cord called the *central canal*
neurotrophic factors - ANSWER- *proteins* that act as *neuron growth factors* and
influence not only neuron growth, but also *cell differentiation and survival*
gray matter - ANSWER- cell groups which *receive info* from sensory (afferent)
neurons and *cell bodies of motor (efferent) neurons* that *send information to skeletal
muscles*
(consists mostly of *dendrites and cell bodies*)
white matter - ANSWER- composed of *bundles of myelinated axons*, which *connect
various grey matter areas* of the brain to each other
brainstem overview - ANSWER- *relay station* from spinal cord to brain
contains medulla, pons, midbrain
medulla - ANSWER- vital *survival functions* (e.g. respiration, heartrate)
cerebellum - ANSWER- *balance* and *fine motor control*
pons - ANSWER- origin of most tracts using *norepinephrine* and *serotonin*
reticular formation - ANSWER- begins in medulla and runs through pons into the
midbrain, *controls arousal and attention*
,forebrain overview - ANSWER- contains *diencephalon* (thalamus and hypothalamus),
*basal ganglia*, *limbic system*, *cerebral cortex*
thalamus - ANSWER- *relays information* to the cerebral cortex
hypothalamus - ANSWER- *maintains homeostasis* of physiological functions
basal ganglia - ANSWER- modulates *movement*
limbic system - ANSWER- controls *emotion, motivation, learning* (includes amygdala,
hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, olfactory bulbs)
lobes of the brain - ANSWER- 1) *occipital* - vision
2) *temporal* - auditory
3) *parietal* - somatosensory
4) *frontal* - plans and organizes behavior and initiates sequences of actions
orienting the CNS (axes) - ANSWER- *medial*: middle
*lateral*: sides
orienting the CNS (brain slices) - ANSWER-
dorsal root - ANSWER- part of spinal cord containing *sensory neurons*
ventral root - ANSWER- part of spinal cord containing *motor neurons*
substantia nigra - ANSWER- nuclei in *midbrain*, produces *dopamine*
Raphe nuclei - ANSWER- nuclei in *pons*, produces *serotonin*
locus coeruleus - ANSWER- nuclei in *pons*, produces *norepinephrine*
glia - ANSWER- support cells, two main types: *astrocytes* and *oligodendrocytes*
astrocytes - ANSWER- protect brain by forming *blood-brain barrier*
oligodendrocytes - ANSWER- speed up neuronal communication by forming *myelin
sheaths*
neuron anatomy - ANSWER- *cell body (soma)*: contains cystoplasm with nucleus and
other organelles
, *dendrites*: receive inputs
*axon hillock*: where action potential originates
*axon*: transmits action potential
*axon terminals*: hold NTs in vesicles
*myelin sheath*: oligodendrocytes insulate axon to speed up conduction, gaps are
called *nodes of Ranvier*
*synapse*: can be axodendritic, axosomatic, or axoaxonic
cell membrane anatomy - ANSWER- neuronal membranes are *phospholipid bilayers*,
meaning they only let *lipid-soluble* materials through.
*membrane proteins*: receptors, enzymes, ion channels and transporters
ion channels - ANSWER- allow ions (*K+, Na+, Cl-, Ca2+*) to pass into and out of
neuron through water-filled pores
usually closed until a signal opens them
ligand-gated channel - ANSWER- opened by a *ligand* such as a drug,
neurotransmitter, etc.
voltage-gated channel - ANSWER- opened by *change in electric potential*
4 types of glial cells - ANSWER- 1) Schwann cells
2) Oligodendroglia
3) Astrocytes
4) Microglia
Schwann cells - ANSWER- *produce myelin sheath* on axons in *PNS*
dedicated to a *single neuron*
able to *regenerate* damaged axons
oligodendroglia - ANSWER- *produce myelin sheath* on axons in *CNS*
send out "arms" which *wrap around several axons*
NOT able to regenerate damaged axons
astrocytes - ANSWER- large, star-shaped cells with extensions
provide *structural support*