Biological PSY wk 2 Flashcards
the nervous system is composed of a vast network of nerve pathways and structures that mediate all aspects of being a human being, these include:
motor activity cognitive activity sensory and perceptual activity emotional and behavioural activity physiological activity
describe the nervous system
Vast networks that have nerve pathways and structures and mediates all aspects of being a human
define the central nervous system (CNS) and its parts
CNS - directs psychological and basic life processes (responds to stimuli)
WITHIN THE CNS :
SPINAL CORD - receives sensory input, sends info to the brain.
BRAIN - directs psychological activity , processes info and maintains life support
describe the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and its parts
PNS - carries info to and from the CNS
SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM - sends motor messages to muscles and conveys sensory info from the CNS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM - serves basic life functions, such as beating of the heart and response to stress
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM - Readies the body in response to threat
PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM - helps keep the body calm, saves energy
what are neurons?
cells of the nervous system specialised for receiving and transmitting electrochemical signals
neurons send and receive messages from the body to the brain and vice versa by dispersing chemicals called,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
neurotransmitters
how many neurotransmitters are in the brain alone?
85 billion each connecting with 10,000’s of neurons
what does the cell body of a neuron do?
it contains the nucleus and is connected to the dendrites. MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IS MANUFACTURING NEW CELL COMPONENTS
which part of the neuron receives the electrical messages from other neurons?
dendrites
the two main divisions of the nervous system are?
CNS and PSN
Your lecturer asks you to describe the sequence of parts of a neuron that the impulse travels during neural conduction. Which of the following sequences will you offer?
Dendrites, cell body, axon, axon terminal
what are gliall cells?
they play a supportive role with neurons
- repair Injury
- clear up debris
describe resting potential of a neuron?
In its resting state the fluid environment outside the axon is more positively charged than the inside
what are graded potential in a neuron?
GRADED POTENTIALS - are electrical charges caused by neural signals arriving from the axons of other cells.
These can be either:
EXCITATORY –
INHIBITORY –
what is the absolute refractory period?
it is a brief period of time where another AP cannot occurs
what is synaptic transmission?
when nerve impulses travel down the axon to the axon terminal
what does it mean when it is said that ‘the chemical process of synaptic transmission is very precise’
Only one type of neurotransmitter can stimulate a specific post‐synaptic receptor site
Only one type of receptor site can accept a specific neurotransmitter
what is excitatory neurotransmitters?
cause depolarisation, more likely of an AP
what is Inhibitory neurotransmitters?
cause hyperpolarisation and less likely of an AP
what is glutamate?
it is the main excitatory transmitter in the CNS
involved in memory and learning.
alcohol interacts with glutamate
what is GABA?
It is the main inhibitory transmitter in the CNS
dampens neural activity, involved in memory, learning and sleep
drugs enhance GABA
what is Acetylcholine (ACh)?
It is involved in muscle contraction (PNS), cortical arousal (CNS), including aspects of selective attention, sleep and memory
Nicotine increases ACh and botox blocks it.
what Is Noradrenalin (aka Norepinephrin) ?
Involved in cortical arousal and autonomic nervous system activity
(Meth)amphetamine increases noradrenalin
what is dopamine?
motor function and reward (e.g., food, sex, psychoactive drugs, gambling)
Increased levels associated with schizophrenia
Reduced levels associated with Parkinson’s disease
Drugs of dependence / rewards increase dopamine
what is serotonin?
cortical arousal, mood, sleeping, eating
- SSRIs used to treat depression increase serotonin
- Ecstasy (MDMA) increases seroton
what is a psychoactive drug?
Any drug (prescribed or illicit) that interacts with the neurotransmitter system and affects mood, arousal, behaviour
what is an agonist?
It is a type of psychoactive drug that enhance the effect of a neurotransmitter, either by increasing the amount and release, or by mimicking it and binding to receptor
what is a antagonists
inhibits the effect of a neurotransmitter, either by reducing the amount of release or blocking the receptors
what does botox do?
blocks release of acetylcholine (thereby stopping the effects of muscles)
what do Antipsychotics do?
block dopamine receptors, reducing the action of dopamine
a detection of threat activates what nervous system
sympathetic nervous system - stimulates peripheral organ and musculature response (things that happen when you are nervous, eg. shaking, fidgeting, goose bumps)
how is threat appropriately responded too?
a flight of fight situation
what happen when the parasympathetic system is activated?
you are less calm (decreases the activation state of the peripheral organs and musculature, restoring normal levels of function)
what is the endocrine system?
system of glands, that control vital functions. (growth metabolism)
what are hormones?
chemicals that are released into the blood stream by the endocrine glands
what is hypothalamus?
regulates both the ANS and endocrine system (by activating the pituitary gland
what is the pituitary gland? (the master gland)
releases hormones that have an direct effect, or activates glands down the chain
what is oxytocin? (love molecule)
involved in birth contractions, milk production, maternal/romantic love, interpersonal trust
how does the HPA axis work?
it works in conjunction to the sympathetic system, to respond to stress
what does the adrenal glands do?
releases adrenaline and cortisol (triggers fight or flight response)
what does the thyroid gland do?
releases growth and metabolism hormones (can be associated with fatigue and depression)
what does the pancreas do?
controls blood sugar levels
what are gonads? (testes/ovaries)
releases sex hormones (testosterone and oestrogen )
