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NSCI 175 Final Exam Questions and Answers (All Learning Objectives)
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NSCI 175 Final Exam Questions and Answers (All Learning Objectives)
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NSCI 175 Final (All Learning Objectives)Explain the reductionist approach - Answer-Breaking the topic of neuroscience down into smaller pieces
(Cognitive, Behavior, Systems, Cellular, Molecular).
Pros: can be more detailed; get a better explanation of the topics
Cons: can bterm-0e hard to see the big picture
Compare different levels of analysis in neuroscience research (molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral,
and cognitive neuroscience) - Answer-Molecular- looking at the molecules that bind to receptors and
how that can change the receptors
Cellular- how molecules work together to give neurons their special properties. How do neurons
communication? What are their different functions? Different types of neurons? etc
Systems- how different neural circuits analyze information, form perceptions, make decisions, and
execute movement
Behavioral- how do neural systems work to provide integrated behavior?
Cognitive- neural mechanisms required for higher level mental activity, such as self-awareness,
imagination, and memory.
Describe the four essential steps in the scientific process with examples - Answer-1. Observation-
making a hypothesis and observing results
,2. Replication- replicating your previous findings
3. Interpretation- what we think it means
4. Verification- getting other people to verify that this experiment works.
A single experiment doesn't prove anything; it provides support for a hypothesis or theory
Explain the importance of animal research in the field of neuroscience - Answer-Most of the research in
this field is on animals.
Humane treatment: Animal Welfare Act and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Explain what Golgi and Cajal disagreed about - Answer-The neuron doctrine vs. the reticular theory
Whether neuronal communication is continuous or not.
Interconnected set of tubes (Golgi) or separate cells that communicate extracellularly (Cajal)
Explain the Neuron Doctrine - Answer-The brain is composed of independent cells. Information is
transmitted from cell to cell across synapses. Every neuron is a separate cell, not continuous with one
another.
Explain how histological procedures contributed to the advancement of neuroscience - Answer-
Microscopes and staining were used to visualize the cells. Cajal used the Golgi stain.
Cajal did the drawings and drew in the gaps.
Diagram a neuron and label its components - Answer-From left to right: dendrites, soma, axon hillock,
axon and myelin sheath, axon terminals
Describe the function of each component of the neuron - Answer-Dendrites- usually many per neuron,
diameter tapering progressively toward ending, no hillock-like region, no myelin sheath, often much
shorter than axons
,Axons- usually one per neuron with many terminal branches, uniform start until start of terminal
branching, has a hillock, usually covered in myelin, ranging from practically nonexistent to several
meters long.
Soma- where most of the metabolic activity happens
Axon terminals- where neurotransmitters are released
Microfiliments- skeleton draped with membrane. Not static, can change and move
Detail the ways in which neurons are specialized for communication - Answer-The same DNA is in every
cell.
A cell's function is determined by the genes expressed and the way the resulting proteins are processed
and packaged
Synapses! Presynatpic terminals and postsynaptic membranes
Describe the methods used to classify neurons - Answer-1. Number of nuerites (projections). Unipolar,
bipolar, or multipolar. We usually think of the multipolar
2. Dendrites
3. Connections
4. Axon length
5. Gene
Compare primary sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons - Answer-Motor neurons:
stimulate muscles or glands
Sensory neurons: respond to environmental stimuli, such as light, odor, or touch
Interneurons: receive input from and send input to other neurons
Describe the main types of glial cells, including the main function of each - Answer-Astrocytes- physical
support, clean up debris (phagocytosis), produce chemicals, aid in controlling extracellular chemical
environment, provide nourishment by taking glucose from the blood and breaking it down into lactate
so that neurons can take it up and use mitochondria to make it energy (does this because it's quicker
, than the neuron making ATP from glucose), create the blood-brain barrier, control blood flow, surround
and isolate synapses.
Oligodendrocytes- provide support to axons, produce myelin sheath (not continuous, series of
segments)
Microglia- smallest glia cells, phagocytes that break down dead and dying neurons, immune system of
the brain that protect the brain from microorganisms and is the inflammatory response to brain damage
Shwann cells- provide myelination in the PNS, segment consists of a single Schwann cell, can guide
regrowth in case of axon damage.
Glia either out number or equal the number of neurons in the brain, yet neurons are the predominant
focus of neuroscience textbooks. Explain why that might be the case. - Answer-We focus on neurons
because we could only see neuronal communication in the beginning.
Glia is mostly used for support of the neurons
Why is it difficult to determine the ratio of neurons to glia? - Answer-The ratios vary among different
regions of the brain.
What are other functions of glia not covered well in your textbook? - Answer-Building and breaking
synapses
NG2 cells are in a potential stage
Glia communicates both with itself and neurons through chemical means. Glia have receptors for
chemical messages, and strengthen neuronal messages. Also functions in learning.
Draw a diagram of the tripartite synapse and label its components - Answer-When an astrocyte wraps
itself around a synapse to help support it. Have receptors that give a calcium rise and release
substances.
Explain why a neuron needs a resting potential - Answer-A typical neuron has well defined input and
output structures
The resting membrane potential is the difference between the charge of the outside of the membrane
and inside of the cell when no stimulus is applied
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