Approaches to Treatment

Assignment Details Approaches to Treatment-Summer 2023
Address the following Short Answer prompts for your Assignment. Be sure to include references to the Learning Resources for this week.
1. In 4 or 5 sentences, describe the anatomy of the basic unit of the nervous system, the neuron. Include each part of the neuron and a general overview of electrical impulse conduction, the pathway it travels, and the net result at the termination of the impulse. Be specific and provide examples. 2. Answer the following (listing is acceptable for these questions): o What are the major components that make up the subcortical structures? o Which component plays a role in learning, memory, and addiction? o What are the two key neurotransmitters located in the nigra striatal region of the brain that play a major role in motor control?
3. In 3 or 4 sentences, explain how glia cells function in the central nervous system. Be specific and provide examples. 4. The synapse is an area between two neurons that allows for chemical communication. In 3 or 4 sentences, explain what part of the neurons are communicating with each other and in which direction does this communication occur? Be specific. 5. In 3-5 sentences, explain the concept of “neuroplasticity.” Be specific and provide examples.
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Assignment Details Approaches to Treatment-Summer 2023
Address the following Short Answer prompts for your Assignment. Be sure to include references to the Learning Resources for this week.

1. A neuron is the basic unit of the nervous system that can transmit electrical impulses. A neuron consists of three main parts: the cell body, the axon, and the dendrites. The cell body contains the nucleus and other organelles that support the neuron’s function. The axon is a long, thin extension that carries the electrical impulse away from the cell body to other neurons or target cells. The dendrites are short, branched extensions that receive signals from other neurons or stimuli and convey them to the cell body. The electrical impulse travels along the axon by opening and closing ion channels that create a difference in voltage across the membrane. When the impulse reaches the end of the axon, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap and bind to receptors on the next neuron or target cell. This can either excite or inhibit the activity of the next cell, depending on the type and amount of neurotransmitters released. For example, acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates muscle contraction, while gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter that inhibits neuronal firing.

2. The subcortical structures are a group of brain regions that lie below the cerebral cortex and are involved in various functions such as emotion, motivation, memory, and movement. The major components that make up the subcortical structures are:
– The thalamus, which acts as a relay station for sensory and motor information to and from the cortex.
– The hypothalamus, which regulates autonomic functions such as body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep, and circadian rhythms.
– The pituitary gland, which secretes hormones that control growth, metabolism, stress response, and reproduction.
– The basal ganglia, which consist of several nuclei that coordinate voluntary movements and habit formation.
– The limbic system, which includes the amygdala, hippocampus, and cingulate gyrus, and is involved in emotion, learning, memory, and addiction.
– The ventricles, which are cavities filled with cerebrospinal fluid that cushion and nourish the brain.

One component of the subcortical structures that plays a role in learning, memory, and addiction is the hippocampus. The hippocampus is essential for forming new memories and consolidating them into long-term storage. It also helps to associate different aspects of a memory, such as time, place, and context. The hippocampus is also involved in spatial navigation and recognition of familiar objects and faces. Moreover, the hippocampus is implicated in addiction because it mediates the rewarding effects of drugs and reinforces drug-seeking behavior.

Two key neurotransmitters located in the nigra striatal region of the brain that play a major role in motor control are dopamine and glutamate. Dopamine is produced by neurons in the substantia nigra and projects to the striatum, where it modulates movement initiation and execution. Dopamine also influences motivation, reward, and learning. Glutamate is released by neurons in the cortex and thalamus and excites neurons in the striatum, where it regulates movement selection and coordination. Glutamate also plays a role in synaptic plasticity and memory formation.

3. Gl