Biopsychology

Question 1

What are sensory neurons?

Answer 1

Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. Have long dendrites + short axons

Question 2

What are relay neurons

Answer 2

Connect the sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons. Have short dendrites + short axons

Question 3

What are motor neurons

Answer 3

Connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles + glands. Have short dendrites + long axons.

Question 4

What is meant by summation

Answer 4

The net effect on the post synaptic neuron is inhibitory then the post synaptic neuron is less likely to fire. If it is excitatory it’s more likely to fire.

Question 5

Describe synaptic transmission

Answer 5

• Impulse arrives @ presynaptic neutron (action potential)
• neurotransmitters released from vesicles
• diffuse across synapse
• bind to receptor sites post synaptic neuron
• chemical messages converted back to electronically impulse
• neurotransmitters broken down + reabsorbed into presynaptic neuron

Question 6

Describe the structure and function of a neuron.

Answer 6

• Neurons enable communication within the nervous system
• the cell body contains the genetic material
• branch-like dendrites extend from the cell body (often with dendritic spines)
• dendrites carry functional information towards the cell body
• dendrites can receive information from other neurons
• axons carry messages away from the cell body
• axons can be myelinated to increase speed of nerve transmission
• terminal boutons are at the end of axons, these make synaptic connections with other cells
• axon terminals contain neurotransmitters.