Chapter 2 (Nervous System)

Question 1

role of the nervous system

Answer 1

• reception of sensory information
• processing of received information
• response of received information

Question 2

nervous system flow chart

Answer 2

nervous system
central ns peripheral ns
brain spinal cord somatic autonomic
afferent. sympathetic.
efferent parasympatheic

Question 3

role of central nervous system

Answer 3

brain - processing system, sent here processed and sent out
spinal cord - group of nerves that connect the brain to other body structures (how brain communicates with body)

Question 4

role of peripheral nervous system

Answer 4

• carry sensory info to spinal cord
• carry motor info from spinal cord
• divided into 2 part (somatic and autonomic)

Question 5

role of somatic nervous system

Answer 5

• network of nerves that carries sensory info from receptor sites to the CNS via sensory neurons
• also carries motor info from the CNS to the voluntary
  skeletal muscles via motor neurons
• use SAME

Question 6

role of autonomic nervous system

Answer 6

• connects the central NS to the body’s involuntary muscles, internal organs and glands
• 2 divisions (sympathetic and parasympathetic NS)
• increased heart rate, pupils dilate, sweating

Question 7

role of sympathetic nervous system

Answer 7

• increasing autonomic arousal
• fight, flight
• release hormones into the bloodstream (adrenaline and noradrenaline)

Question 8

role of the parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 8

• decreasing autonomic arousal
• maintains your body’s normal level of functioning
• also acts to restore homeostasis after the activation of the sympathetic NS

Question 9

conscious response

Answer 9

you notice is cold outside so you go inside and get a jacket

Question 10

unconscious response

Answer 10

• the body’s response to the cold is to start shivering
• involuntary response was made without awareness

Question 11

spinal reflex

Answer 11

• response to stimuli that occurs unconscious and involuntary
• is a somatic nervous system response
• the message doesn’t get sent to the brain until after the response
• sensory info about the situation (e.g hot pan) are received by sensory receptors and then sensory neurons carry and travel along afferent pathways towards the spinal cord, interneurons communicate between sensory and motor neurons and send a message to the moto neurons that then travel back along a efferent pathways and activate the muscles/response

Question 12

neural transmission

Answer 12

• lock and key neural transmission
• communicate by releasing neurochemicals into the synaptic gap
  axon - transmits the action potential
  axon terminal - releases the neurochemical
  dendrites - contain receptors which neurochemical bind

Question 13

structure & function of the neural synapse

Answer 13

• form a connect with the synaptic gap
• between the pre synaptic neuron (axon terminal) and the post synaptic neuron (dendrites)
• stored in sac (vesicles)
• when action potential reaches the axon terminal it with cross the synaptic gap
• binds with the receptor site on the dendrite
• trigger response in neighbouring neuron

Question 14

neurotransmitter exitatory

Answer 14

• increase the chance of action potential forming in post synaptic neuron

-GLUTAMATE

effect - increase the chance of action potential firing

role - important in the role of learning and memory
- forms and strengthens synaptic connections

Question 15

neuro transmitter inhibitory

Answer 15

• decreases the chance of action potential forming in post synaptic neuron
• GABA

effect - decrease the chance of action potential firing

role - preventing overexcitation
- reduces anxiety

Question 16

neuromodulator dopamine

Answer 16

pathway - mid-brain and ventral tegmental area

effect - can have both excitatory and inhibitory effects on the post synaptic neuron

role - coordinating voluntary motor movement, motivation

Question 17

neuromodulator serotonin

Answer 17

pathway - masses of neurons in the brainstem

effect - has a inhibitory effect on the post synaptic neuron

role - mood regulation, sleep and wake cycle

Question 18

define synaptic plasticity

Answer 18

the ability of synaptic connections to change from experience, can be negative or positive

Question 19

mechanisms of plasticity

Answer 19

sprouting - dendrites and axon terminals sprout new growth, allows for new synapses to form

rerouting - alternative synaptic connections can be formed, due to neurons that have damaged connections

pruning - synaptic connects that are not regularly activated can be lost or removed (cut away)

Question 20

structural changes to LTP AND LTD

Answer 20

LTD - decreased number of receptor sites on dendrites on post synaptic neuron
- pruning
- loss of synaptic connections

LTP - increased number of receptor sites on dendrites on post synaptic neuron
- sprouting
- increase number of synaptic connections

Question 21

role of long term depression (LTD)

Answer 21

• long lasting and experience dependent weakening of synapses
• are not regularly activated
• will occur in response to weak use of synapse

Question 22

role of long term potentiation (LTP)

Answer 22

• long last and experience dependant strengthening of synapses
• are frequently activated
• will occur in response to frequent use of synapse