Biological Aspects of Psychology Part 1 Flashcards
The nervous system
is a complex network of nerve cells, which underlies all psychological activity
Neurons
Transmit information through the nervous system (everything we think/feel is controlled by the actions of these cells)
Information travels through the nervous system in the form of
Electrical impulses
Neurotransmitters include;
Glutamate, dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, endorphins.
Neurotransmission
Is the process through which information is transmitted from one neuron to another by neurotransmitters.
What are the two major divisions of the Nervous system
- The central nervous system
- The peripheral nervous system
The peripheral nervous system
conveys messages between the central nervous system.
Transmits sensory information e.g. from the eyes, ears, skin and motor commands
Somatic Nervous system
Transports information to and from bodily structures that carry out basic life processes like breathing and digestion
The autonomic nervous system
The Autonomic Nervous system consists of two functional systems
- Sympathetic nervous system, which acts in times of stress
- The parasympathetic nervous system, which supports routine activities, such as regulating blood sugar levels and heart rate.
The group of neurons in the nervous system that controls how muscles and other organs respond to the environment is known as a(n) ___________ system
Motor
If a neuron becomes hyper-polarised, it is
Less likely to fire an action potential
The endocrine system typically involves four elements:
the brain, the pituitary gland, an endocrine organ and the target organ(s).
The myelin sheath that is wrapped around some axons has gaps to allow an action potential to be propagated and regenerated. These gaps are called:
nodes of Ranvier
an associational relationship
When your body needs food, it sends messages that make you hungry. When your body is ‘full’, it sends messages that make you stop eating.
