biological psychology - neurons & neural transmission

Question 1

neurons

Answer 1

the basic cellular unit of the nervous system, categorised into motor, sensory & inter neurons

Question 2

cell body

Answer 2

aka the soma, the part of the neuron that controls the nucleus

Question 3

axon

Answer 3

the fibre that carries information away from the cell body of the neuron

Question 4

dendrites

Answer 4

a neuron that is connected to the cell body of the neuron; receives messages from the pre-synaptic neuron

Question 5

myelin sheath

Answer 5

a fatty layer coating some axons that protects the axon and assists with speedy delivery of the nerve impulse

Question 6

axon terminal

Answer 6

fibres that branch out from the end of the presynaptic neurons axon and link with dendrites of the postsynaptic neuron; responsible for releasing neuro-transmitters into the synapse

Question 7

motor neuron

Answer 7

knowns as the efferent neuron and axons connect directly to muscle fibres, responsible for sending signals outwards from the central nervous system to skeletal and smooth muscles

Question 8

sensory neuron

Answer 8

known as the afferent neuron, receives sensory input from the environment via specialised receptor cells and transmits this information to the central nervous system to be processed

Question 9

interneuron

Answer 9

exclusively found in the central nervous system, integrates and processes information from sensory neurons and transmits signals to motor neurons

Question 10

action pontentials

Answer 10

an abrupt wave of electrochemical charges that travel down the axon

Question 11

neurotransmitters

Answer 11

chemicals which aid in the transmission of messages between neurons

Question 12

synapse

Answer 12

a microscopic gap between neurons that allows communication to take place

Question 13

excitatory

Answer 13

a neurotransmitter that increases the likelihood of an action potential occurring

Question 14

inhibatory

Answer 14

a neurotransmitter that decreases the likelihood of an action potential occurring

Question 15

serotonin

Answer 15

an inhibitory that regulates mood, sleep & appetite. too little causes depression, sleep problems and increased appetite, too much can cause anorexia

Question 16

dopamine

Answer 16

an excitatory that is involved in reward pathways, learning & motor control - creates feelings of pleasure and is linked with forming addictions. too little is linked to parkinson’s, anxiety & depression. too much has been linked to schizophrenia

Question 17

glutamate

Answer 17

an excitatory involved in memory forming & learning. too little is linked with insomnia and concentration problems, too much is connected with alzheimer’s as neurons are destroyed