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# Neuroscience Cheatsheet ## Brain Anatomy ### Brain regions - Cerebrum: responsible for conscious thought and movement - Cerebellum: responsible for coordination and balance - Brainstem: controls autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate - Limbic system: controls emotions and memory ### Neurons - Dendrites: receive signals from other neurons - Cell body: contains the nucleus and other organelles - Axon: transmits signals to other neurons - Synapse: the gap between neurons where chemical signaling occurs ### Neurotransmitters - Acetylcholine: involved in muscle control and memory - Dopamine: involved in reward and motivation - Serotonin: involved in mood and emotion - GABA: inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neural activity ## Experimental Methods ### Electrophysiology - Measures the electrical activity of neurons - Intracellular recording: measures the voltage across the membrane of a single neuron - Extracellular recording: measures the voltage of many neurons in a specific area ### Imaging - Structural imaging: provides information about the brain's anatomy - Functional imaging: provides information about the brain's activity - Examples: MRI, CT, PET, fMRI ## Common Techniques ### EEG - Measures the electrical activity of the brain - Non-invasive and relatively cheap ### TMS - Uses a magnetic field to temporarily disrupt brain activity - Non-invasive and used in both research and therapy ### Optogenetics - Uses light to control the activity of neurons - Invasive and used primarily in research ## Diseases and Disorders ### Neurodegenerative Diseases - Alzheimer's disease: gradual loss of memory and cognitive function - Parkinson's disease: loss of dopamine-producing neurons leading to motor impairments - Huntington's disease: genetic disorder that causes involuntary movements and cognitive decline ### Mental Disorders - Schizophrenia: characterized by abnormal thoughts and perceptions - Depression: characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest in activities - Anxiety disorders: characterized by excessive fear and worry ## Resources - [Society for Neuroscience](https://www.sfn.org/) - [Neuroscience Online](https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/index.htm) - [BrainFacts.org](https://www.brainfacts.org/)