Brain and Neuropsychology Flashcards
Neuron
A specialised nerve cell which generates and
transmits an electrical impulse.
Synapse
The small gap between the dendrite of one
neuron and the receptor site of the next one.
Neurotransmitter
A chemical which is released into the synapse
by one neuron, and picked up by the next
neuron.
Cognitive
neuroscience
The study of how cognitive processes connect
with brain activity and structure.
The nervous system…
…Collects and responds to information.
Coordinates organs including the brain.
What is in the CNS?
Brain and spinal chord
What are the parts of the PNS?
ANS (autonomic NS) and the SNS (somantic NS)
What are the parts of the ANS?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions
Sympathetic nervous system
Physiological arousal,triggered when stressed and leads to ‘fight or
flight’ response.
Parasympathetic nervous system
Produces ‘rest and digest’ response to return body to resting state.
What are the 4 stages of the fight or flight response?
- Brain detects threat
- release of adrenaline (sympathetic response)
- Fight or flight response (adrenaline triggers psychological changes)
- parasympathetic response when threat has passed
What is the James-Lange theory of emotion?
Hypothalamus arouses sympathetic division of ANS.
Adrenaline released leading to physiological arousal
The brain interprets the physiological activity
Evaluation of James-Lange’s theory of emotion
S- emotional states DO come after arousal as shown by phobias
W- challenged by Cannon-Bard theory as some emotions occur at the same time as physiological arousal
W- theory may be too simple, we need social cues to label an emotion, emotion cannot be determined off of physiological response alone
Sensory Neuron
From PNS to CNS
long dendrite
short axon
Relay neuron
connect sensory neuron to motor neuron
short dendrite
short axon
