Mitch Nimmich

26 February 2004

Test 1 Questions

1.  What is the difference between extracellular and intracellular recordings and what are the advantages/disadvantages of each?

2.  Name the three layers of the meninges.

3.  What are the three basic components of the immature brain? What does each become in the adult brain?

4.  Write both the Nernst and the Goldman equation. Define each variable and write what each equation gives you.

5.  Imagine you are eating sushi and your mouth begins to go numb. What toxin have you ingested, and what is the biochemical reason for the numbness? If the membrane was stimulated beyond threshold what would the membrane potential graph look like?

6.  What do the two regions (positive and negative) of the voltage clamp current graph mean in terms of the actual membrane potential and in terms of what kind of current the voltage clamp device is pumping into the cell?

7.  Describe the setup of the voltage clamp experiment and name the neuroscientist who developed this technique.

8.  What does the variable λ stand for and what is the equation used to calculate it?

9.  What are two different ways for an organism to increase action potential velocity?

10.  If the concentration of Na+ was 0 mM how would the resting and action potential graph deviate from normal; if Na+ concentration was 10x the normal value how would the resting and action potential graph deviate from normal?

11.  What three arteries come together to form the Circle of Willis? What is the evolutionary advantage of the Circle of Willis?

12.  If both tetraethyl ammonium (TEA) and tetrodotoxin (TTX) are added to normal Ringer’s solution and then the neuron stimulated past threshold what will the graph look like? What could explain this?

13.  If the inside of the membrane is clamped at +100 mV which direction will Na+ flow and why?

14.  Why is the inside of the resting neuron at a negative potential? Describe which ions come into play and there relative concentrations (high/low) outside and inside the cell.

15.  Describe the neural pathway of the knee jerk reflex. Compare the relative frequency of action potentials between the neurons involved.

16.  Damage to the cingular cortex would cause what major symptom?

17.  What is the grey matter made of and what is the general term for these components?

18.  Why is the hippocampus a good region to begin the study of cortex?

19.  What axons make up the internal capsule?