The Teenage Brain

4. The gap between neighboring neurons or between a neuron and an effector.
5. Neurotransmitter that hyperpolarizes a neuron’s membrane potential by causing negative chloride ions to enter the postsynaptic neuron.
8. Along with the spinal cord, this organ comprises the central nervous system.
10. Fatty substance, created by Schwann cells, that acts as an electrical insulator. (2 words; 6, 6)
12. The region of the human brain that coordinates body movement, posture, and balance.
13. A cell specialized to transmit electrical impulses.
15. The site at which an axon terminal contacts a muscle cell. (2 words; 13, 8)
17. A self-propagating nerve impulse. (2 words; 6, 9)
18. The potential difference across the cell membrane of a neuron when there is no impulse passing. (2 words; 7, 9)
19. A neurotransmitter that promotes the generation of an electrical signal by depolarizing a neuron’s membrane potential.
20. This region connects the brain with the spinal cord. (2 words; 5, 4)
21. The largest and most anterior part of the human brain.

1. Tree-like projections, arising from the body of a neuron, that transmit post-synaptic impulses.
2. This neurotransmitter can affect behavior and mood.
3. Additive effect of all inputs (stimulatory and inhibitory) on a post-synaptic cell that leads to a final response.
6. The membrane potential to which a membrane must be depolarized to initiate an action potential. (2 words; 9, 9)
7. A specialized cell that detects stimuli and responds by producing a nerve impulse.
9. These chemicals relay signals between a neuron and another cell.
11. A temporary change in membrane potential caused by an influx of sodium ions.
14. Interpretation and coordination of inputs; Computational process by which an individual neuron processes its synaptic inputs and converts them into an output signal.
16. Motor nerves carry impulses from the central nervous tissue to these (e.g. muscles, glands).
18. Transmission of information along neurons and synapses results in this.