-
Nervous system
A network of billions of cells in the brain and the body, responsible for all aspects of what we feel, think, and do
-
3 basic functions of the nervous system
- 1. Receive sensory input from the world through vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell
- 2. Process the information in the brain by paying attention to it, perceiving it, and remembering it
- 3. Respond to the information by acting on it
-
Central nervous system
-The part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and the spinal cord.
-
Peripheral nervous system
-The part of the nervous system that enables nerves to connect the central nervous system with the muscles, organs, and glands.
-
Peripheral nervous system is made of
- 1. Somatic nervous system
- 2. Automatic nervous system
-
What is a neuron?
- -The basic units of the nervous system; cells that receive, integrate, and transmit information in the nervous system.
- -Neurons operate through electrical impulses, communicate with other neurons through chemical signals, and form neural networks.
-
Dendrites
Branchlike extensions of the neuron with receptors that detect information from other neurons.
-
cell body
Part of the neuron where information from thousands of other neurons is collected and integrated.
-
axon
A long, narrow outgrowth of a neuron that enables the neuron to transmit information to other neurons.
-
synapse
- -site where communication occurs between neurons
- -neurons do not actually touch each other, instead communicate by sending chemicals into a tiny gap between the terminal button of the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron
-
Neuron structure
 - -Messages are received by the dendrites, processed in the cell body, transmitted along the axon, and sent to other neurons via chemical substances released from the terminal buttons to the dendrites of the receiving neuron.
-
action potential
- -The neural impulse that travels along the axon and then causes the release of neurotransmitters into the synapse.
- -when the inside of the neuron becomes more positive as sodium enters
-
neurotransmitters
Chemical substances that carry signals from one neuron to another.
-
Neurons communicate with other neurons in three phases
- -During the transmission phase (Step 1), neurons pass signals to receiving neurons.
- -During the reception phase (Step 2), neurons receive signals from neighboring neurons.
- -During integration (Step 3), neurons assess the incoming signals.
-
Acetycholine
- -neurotransmitter responsible for motor control between nerves and muscles
- -botox treatment: inhibits the release of acetycholine. Paralyzes muscles that produce wrinkles
-
Epinephrine
- -neurotransmitter of alertness
- -sudden burst of energy
- -flight or fight response
-
Serotonin
- -neurotransmitter for emotional states
- -impulse control and dreamining
- -no serotonin = sad, anxious moods
- -Drug Prozac to treat depression, eating disorders
-
Dopamine
- - Neurotransmitter for Motivation and reward
- -Ex. people eat when they are hungry
- -Loss of dopamine is connected to Parkinson's disease. Causes disturbances in motor function such as tremors
-
GABA
- -Inhibitory neurotransmitter of action potentials
- -Without GABA, excited neurons might get out of control and spread throughout the brain causing seizures
- -Low levels of GABA = seizures
- -alcohol has similar effect
-
Glutamate
-Excitatory neurotransmitter
-
Endorphins
- -neurotransmitter
- -runners high
- -natural pain reduction
- -helps us perform behaviors even when we are in pain.
-
electroencephalograph (EEG)
-record electrical activity of neurons firing in the brain
-
Functional magnetic resonance (fMRI)
-maps mental activity during a mental task by assessing the blood's oxygen level in the brain
-
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
-momentarily disrupts brain activity in a specific brain region
-
Forebrain
-motivation, emotion, complex thought
-
-
Hindbrain
-survival function, movement
-
Spinal cord
-brain body communication
-
Medulla
- -breathing, heart rate, other survival mechanisms
- -Hindbrain
-
Pons
- -sleep, arousal, left-right body movement coordination
- -Hindbrain
-
Cerebellum
- -motor learning, coordination, balance
- -Hindbrain
- -latin word "little brain"
- -makes it easy to ride bicycle and plan next meal at same time
-
Substantia nigra
- -initiation of voluntary motor activity
- -region important for the production of dopamine
- -Parkinson disease is caused by the death of these cells
- -midbrain
-
Thalamus
- -sensory information except smell
- -the gateway to the brain for almost all sensory information before it reaches brain
- -forebrain
-
Hypothalamus
- -regulation of body functions (temperature) and motivation (hunger, thirst)
- -Forebrain
-
Hippocampus
- -formation of new memories
- -remember how streets are laid out or furniture positioned in a room
- -Forebrain
-
Amygdala
- -association of emotions with experiences
- -fear
- -higher in men
- -Forebrain
-
Basal ganglia
- -motor planning and movement, reward
- -Forebrain
-
-
Parietal Lobes
- -touch, spatial information
- -Forebrain
- -damage to the right region can result in hemineglect or failure to notice anything on the left sides
- -person will shave and put make up on only one side of their face
-
Temporal Lobes
- -hearing, memory
- -Forebrain
-
Frontal Lobes
- -planning, movement, complex thought
- -Forebrain
- -mutliple sclerosis: neurons become demyelinated and person has trouble moving specific body part
-
Somatic nervous system
- -part of the peripheral nervous system
- -transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the central nervous system and skin, muscles, joints
- -Ex. using a pen
-
Autonomic nervous system
- -part of the peripheral nervous system
- -processes that are out of a person's control, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.
- -transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the central nervous system and the bodys glands and interal organs
-
Sympathetic nervous system
- -prepares body for action
- -pupils dilate, respiration increases, heart rate increases
-
Parasympathetic nervous system
- -Returns the body to a resting state
- -pupils contract, respiration decreases, heart rate decreases
-
Endocrine system
- -communication system that uses hormones to influence thoughts and actions
- -nervous system uses electrochemical signals and the endocrine system uses hormones
-
Hormones
- -Chemical substances released into the bloodstream by endocrine glands
- -travel through bloodstream to targeted tissues
- -pineal gland, adrenal gland, pituitary gland, thyroid, and testes or ovaries
-
Pineal gland
-governs bodily rhythms
-
pituitary gland
-governs release of hormones
-
Thyroid
-controls how body burns energy
-
Adrenal
-governs immune system
-
Ovaries
-influence sexual development and sexual behavior in females
-
Testes
-influence sexual development and sexual behavior in males
-
Lateralization
is the idea that the two halves of the brain's cerebral cortex -- left and right -- execute different functions.
-
Language center of the brain
- -front left side of brain
- -Broca's study
- -patient could only say one word
- -patient with language problem all had lesions in the left side of their brain
- -Left: verbal language
- -Right: interprets the language: eye movement
-
What is behavioral genetics?
-the study how genes and environment interact to influence psychological factors is known as behavioral genetics
-
What personality traits are believed to be most strongly influenced by genetics?
-
What are some gender differences in brain structure? How might these differences account for observable differences between males and females?
- -men tend to have larger amygdala:emotions
- -men should have meaner face
-
Plasticity
-how the brain continually changes, after injury, experiences, development
-
Which of the following is true about the functions of dendrites and axons?
-Dendrites detect information from neighboring neurons, whereas axons transmit information
-
Three functions of nervous system
First process, then transmit, and finally integrate sensory information.
-
The probability of an action potential
being propagated from neuron to neuron is increased when the __________
neuron's signal is __________.
postsynaptic; excitatory
-
After a bad fall while rock climbing,
Charisa experienced profound alterations in her ability to initiate
voluntary movements, such as moving her eyes or reaching for a cup of
water. Which brain structure did Charisa's injuries most likely affect?
substantia nigra
-
While on spring break in Acapulco, May
decided to do some cliff diving. As she stood at the edge of a 50-foot
cliff, her heart raced, her respiration increased, and she sweated
profusely. Which of the following divisions of May's autonomic nervous
system had been activated by this experience?
sympathetic
-
James
is a painter who continuously must adjust the tension of his
brush-holding hand to execute strokes. The ability to control his grip
is supported by the __________ nervous system, a subdivision of his
__________ nervous system.
somatic; peripheral
|
|
