Freshman Essentials/Adolescent Brain

The Adolescent Brain

Multiple Choice

What is the soma of a cell?

• communication channel

• cell body

• axon

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of a dendrite?

• A neuron

• Space in between neurons

• Part of the neuron that receives a signal

Multiple Choice

What are neurotransmitters?

• Synapses to send a message.

• Chemical messengers used by the brain to communicate from one neuron to another

Poll

Select the terms that you remember hearing about brain communication

• Neurons

• Synapses

• Axon

• Neurotransmitters

• Soma

Multiple Choice

It isn’t until about the age of 25 that the human brain reaches full maturity.

• True
• False

By the time you are in your early to mid twenties, your brain has reduced the number of synapses or “freeways”.

During this time, your neurons are undergoing increased “myelination”. This involves forming a type of “sheath” or “roads” between neurons.

This allows for the processing of information (or travel between two places) to be smoother and more efficient 

Open Ended

What changes when your brain is finished developing? (What's different about an adult brain.)

Dopamine is the neurotransmitter involved in the pathway of the brain called the “reward pathway"

Open Ended

What happens when you put nicotine in your body?

https://youtu.be/uFX9F-KD7co?list=PLeL9ROmy1WLSIfA5-Njp_TKwz1vZpaRcP

^Click on the link.^

Watch the video then return to this page to answer the review questions.

Multiple Choice

How long can it take to get rid of the receptor earmuffs (dopamine blockers).

• 6 months

• 2 years

• 10 years

Fill in the Blanks

How emotion does dopamine help you feel?