Biopsychology - Neurons

Question 1

Three Types of Neurons:

Answer 1

• Relay
• Sensory
• Motor

Question 2

Functions of the Relay Neuron:

Answer 2

• Connects sensory neurons to other neurons

Question 3

Functions of the Sensory Neuron:

Answer 3

• Carries messages from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system

Question 4

Functions of the Motor Neurons:

Answer 4

• Connects your Central Nervous System to effectors (e.g. muscles and glands)
• Bring around the response to the stimulus

Question 5

Structure of the Relay Neuron:

Answer 5

• Short dendrites

- Short axons

Question 6

Structure of the Sensory Neuron:

Answer 6

• Long dendrites

- Short axon

Question 7

Structure of the Motor Neuron:

Answer 7

• Short dendrites

- Long axon

Question 8

Stimulus –> Response:

Answer 8

• Stimulus (e.g touching something hot)
• Receptors (pain receptors stimulated)
• Sensory (picked up by sensory neuron)
• Relay (passed onto a sensory neuron)
• Motor (passed onto a motor neuron)
• Effectors (receives an impulse from motor neurons )
• Response (e.g removing hand from heat)

Question 9

Synaptic Transmission:

Answer 9

• Neurons are separated by synapses (the point at which a nervous impulse passes from one neuron to another)
• Once an action potential reaches the end of the neuron, the signal must cross the gap through synaptic transmission
• Electrical signal is converted to a chemical signal (vesicles –> neurotransmitters)
• Impulse arrives at the presynaptic neuron –> neurotransmitters are released from vesicles –> neurotransmitters diffuse across synapse –> neurotransmitters bind to receptor sites on the postsynaptic neuron –> chemical message is converted back into an electrical impulse

Question 10

Excitatory Neurotransmitters:

Answer 10

• ‘on switch’
• increase the likelihood that an excitatory signal is sent to the post-synaptic cell
• e.g noradrenaline

Question 11

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters:

Answer 11

• ‘off switch’
• decrease the likelihood of a neuron firing
• e.g serotonin

Question 12

Fight or Flight:

Answer 12

• automatic physiological response to stress
• allows individuals to act quickly in response to stressful situations
• body returns to homeostasis after the threat has passed.