Outline: Brain, Neurophysiology and Imaging

Neurons

Receptor, Interneuron, Effector/Motor neuron
Cell body/soma
Dendrites
Axon
Synapse
Resting potential (e.g. -70 mV)
Depolarization (more positive)/hyperpolarization (more negative)

Forms of conduction

Passive conduction
Action potentials

Threshold
All-or-none
Spikes
Firing rate code (spikes/sec)

Receptors

Graded response

Synaptic communication

electrical vs. chemical synapses
excitation vs. inhibition
summation in the post-synaptic cell

Anatomy

Spinal cord, brain stem, brain, cortex
Gray matter vs white matter
Brain lobes: occipital, temporal, parietal, frontal
Brain mapping

Techniques

Single-unit recording
Lesion studies
Microstimulation
Imaging

Optical imaging
EEG and ERP
PET
fMRI and the BOLD response