Biology Of Behavior Flashcards
Neuron
A nerve cell. Basic building block of the nervous system
Dendrites
Receive the info. Bushy branch extensions
Dendrites listen
Axon
Neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons.
Terminal button
Axons speak
Myelin sheath
Fatty tissue encasing the axons or some neurons. Axons are in the middle and it surrounds them - on diagram
Glial cells
Cells in the nervous system that support and protect neurons
Action potential
Brief electrical charge. Neural impulse
Threshold
Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse. -55 mv up to +40 mv. Either fires or it doesn’t
Rest of neurons
-70 mv inside
Neurotransmitter
Can turn on or off a receiving neuron. Fits like a lock and key
Synapse
Junction between axon tip of the sending neuron and the cell body of the receiving neuron
Acetylcholine
Enables muscle action
Not enough- paralysis
Too much- muscle spasms
Serotonin
Sleep, mood
Not enough: Linked to depression
Dopamine
Reward, addictions, motor movements
Not enough- Parkinson’s
Too much - schizophrenia
Gaba
Inhibitory, calms you down
Not enough: anxiety
Glutamate
Excitatory neurotransmitter, memory
Not enough: Alzheimer’s
Central nervous system
Brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
Outside the brain, neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Somatic nervous system
Controls the body’s skeletal muscles
Sensory neurons
Eyes ears, carry info from sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Motor neurons
Carey info from the brain to muscles,spinal cord and glands
Para sympathetic
Calms you down, lowers blood sugar and heart rate
Sympathetic nervous system
Fight or flight. Blood pressure, heart rate go up. Pupils dilate
Autonomic
Controls our glands and internal organs
Eg heart beat and digestion
