Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

biological psychology > CNS and synaptic transmission > Flashcards

CNS and synaptic transmission Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

what does PNS stand for

A

peripheral nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what does the CNS do

A

processes sensory information and directing responses as it is the body’s control centre

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what does the PNS do

A

transmits nerve impulses from the CNS to the rest of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

where is the amygdala

A

near the base of the skull above the ear in the temporal lobe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what is the role of the amygdala

A

processes strong emotions and acts as an emotional alarm

right side= negative emotions
left side= positive emotions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

where is the hippocampus

A

middle of temporal lobe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what is the role of the hippocampus

A

converts STM into LTM by organising, storing and retrieving memories

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

where is the hypothalamus

A

in the mid brain, under the thalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

where is the corpus callosum

A

centre of the brain between the left and right hemispheres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is the role of the hypothalamus

A

controls vital functions like hunger, thirst and body temperature

essential for maintaining homeostasis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is the role of the corpus callosum

A

coordinates movements and processes complex information like language and spatial awareness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is the corpus callosum

A

connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

where is the limbic system

A

beneath the cerebral cortex and the brains outer layer but above the brainstem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what makes up the limbic system

A

hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is the role of the limbic system

A

to be involved in the formation of memories and how we experience emotions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what are the parts of a neurone

A

cell body, dendrites, myelin sheath, axon, axon terminal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what is a neurotransmitter

A

a chemical messenger that transmits signals between neurones across a synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what is the cell body(soma)

A

the central part of the neurone containing the nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is the function of the soma

A

maintain cell health and produce the necessary proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what are dendrites

A

branch like structures extending from the soma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what is the function of the dendrites

A

to receive chemical signals from other neurones and convert them into electrical impulses

22
Q

what is the axon

A

a long strand of projection from the cell body

23
Q

what is the function of the axon

A

to conduct electrical impulses away from the soma and toward other neurones, muscles or glands

24
Q

what is the axon hillock

A

a region where the axon connects to the soma

25
Q

what is the function of the axon hillock

A

to initiate nerve impulses (action impulses) if the signal is strong enough

26
Q

what is the myelin sheath

A

a layer of fatty substances acting as an insulator

27
Q

what is the function of the myelin sheath

A

to increase the speed of electrical impulse transmission along the axon

28
Q

what are the nodes of Ranvier

A

gaps in the myelin sheath along the axon

29
Q

what is the function of the nodes of Ranvier

A

to allow impulses to ‘jump’ from one node to the next to enable rapid signal transmission

30
Q

what are the axon terminals

A

branches at the end of the axon

31
Q

what is the function of the axon terminals

A

to release neurotransmitters into synapse to communicate with the next neurone or target cell

32
Q

what are the terminal buttons

A

small knobs at the end of the axon

33
Q

what is the function of terminal buttons

A

to release neurotransmitters

34
Q

what is dopamine used for

A

mood regulation, sleep, stress response, blood flow, motor movement, feelings of focus, motivation and alertness

part of the pleasure/reward system

35
Q

what can happen when someone has low levels of dopamine

A

lack of motivation, tiredness, unhappiness
ADHD, Parkinson’s and restless leg syndrome

36
Q

what can happen when someone has high levels of dopamine

A

euphoria, high sex drive, high energy, aggression, impulsion
obesity, mania, addiction

37
Q

what is associated with high and low levels of dopamine

A

schizophrenia

38
Q

where is serotonin projected from

A

the brain stem

39
Q

what is the role/function of serotonin

A

it affects behaviour, mood, sleep, physical health
acts as a natural mood stabiliser
stimulates the part of the brain that controls sleep
helps bone health, depression and helps heal wounds by blood clots

40
Q

what happens when someone has low serotonin

A

negative emotions, insomnia, impulsivity, poor appetite

41
Q

how can serotonin levels be increased

A

medication

42
Q

what does noradrenaline do

A

increases heart rate, gives you energy, maintains metabolism and biorhythms, ensures proper organ function

43
Q

when is noradrenaline released

A

all the time but production is the highest in the morning and the lowest in the evening

44
Q

what happens when someone has too much noradrenaline

A

anxiety, sleep problems, irritability and panic attacks

45
Q

what happens when someone has too little noradrenaline

A

depression, poor memory, lack of energy, ADHD

46
Q

what is the role of acetylcholine

A

plays a key role in motor control and muscle contractions
is necessary for memory and cognitive functions like alertness and attention

47
Q

what does acetylcholine do

A

expresses some emotions like anger and sexuality

48
Q

how does synaptic transmission begin

A

when an action potential reaches the axon terminal which triggers a release of neurotransmitters for synaptic vesicles from the synaptic cleft

49
Q

describe the process of neural communication

A

sensory nerves collect information from the body and sends it to the brain via the spinal cord

the brain processes information and sends messages back to the spinal cord via the body

the communication within the brain and spinal cord happens through neurones

50
Q

describe the process of synaptic transmission

A

the action potential reaches the axon terminal of the presynaptic neurone and triggers the release of neurotransmitters from vesicles

the chemicals diffuse across the synaptic cleft and binds to the receptors on the post synaptic neurone

if the neurotransmitters fit the receptor, the message is transmitted

the neurotransmitters are broken down by enzymes or reabsorbed by the presynaptic neurone(this is called uptake)

biological psychology (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions