Brain and Neuropsychology (P2) Flashcards
What is the human nervous system divided into?
Central nervous system (CNS)
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
What do the CNS and PNS do?
They are connected and work together to collect information from inside the body and outside.
They process the information then dispatch info to the rest of the body.
What is the CNS made up of?
Brain and spinal cord.
What does the brain do?
Brain is central to maintaining life, has basic functions such as:
- Regulating temperature, heart rate and breathing
- Coordinating movement
- Coding sensory data
- Problem solving
What does the spinal cord do?
Ensures that signals from the brain are transmitted to the rest of the body
What connects the brain and spinal cord?
Brain stem
What does the PNS do?
Transmit messages throughout the body to and from the brain/CNS.
What is the PNS divided into?
The Somatic nervous system (SNS) and the Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
What does the somatic nervous system do?
Transmits and receives messages from the senses, apart from sight.
How does the somatic nervous system work?
Senses, such as sound, smell and touch all travel via the SNS to the brain.
The SNS then directs all the muscles to move appropriately, meaning that the SNS control VOLUNTARY movements.
What type of movement does the somatic nervous system control?
Voluntary, including things like reflexes.
What does the autonomic nervous system (ANS) do?
It controls autonomic functions (hormone release, blood sugar, etc..)
It is INVOLUNTARY, it cannot be controlled.
What type of movement does the autonomic nervous system control?
Involuntary movement
What is the autonomic nervous system divided into?
The Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)
What is the sympathetic nervous system associated with?
‘Fight or flight’
It gets the body ready for physical activity
What is the parasympathetic. nervous system associated with?
‘Rest and digest’
It helps to conserve the body’s activity and energy levels (by decreasing activity to be used later.)
Regulates bodily functions like digestion and urination
Slows heart and breathing rates, lowers blood pressure as body becomes ‘relaxed’
What is a neuron?
A cell within the nervous system
How do neurons communicate information?
Electrical and chemical messages
What are the three types of neurons?
Relay, Sensory and motor.
What is a neuron composed of?
Cell body, dendrites, axon, myelin sheath, terminal knobs.
What do the dendrites do?
They are like tree branches, they carry the electrical charges from one neuron to the next
What does the axon do?
Carries the charge down the length of the neuron
What does the myelin sheath do?
It is a protective fatty membrane, contains gaps which speed up the message’s transmissions
What does the terminal knobs do?
Communicate across the synaptic cleft to the next neuron
What does the sensory neuron do?
Send information to the brain from the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Can the sensory neuron transmit messages two-way?
No, it only transmits messages one way and cannot receive messages.
What is the adaption to the sensory neuron?
Long dendrite and short axon
What does the motor neuron do?
Carries signals from the CNS towards the organ or muscles and gland.
They control physical movements such as contraction/relaxation of muscles
Can the motor neuron transmit messages two-ways?
Yes, it can transmit and receive messages
Adaptations to the motor neuron?
Short dendrites and long axons
What is the relay neuron?
They connect the sensory neuron and motor neuron
Where are relay neurons located?
In the CNS (central nervous system) and carry signals across this part of the nervous system
Can relay neurons transmit messages two-ways?
Yes, it can transmit and receive messages.
Adaptations of relay neuron?
Short axon and short dendrites
What is the junction where two neurons meet known as?
Synapse
What does a synapse consist of?
- Presynaptic knob
- Synaptic cleft
- Postsynaptic membrane
