L2 - The Nervous System Flashcards
what is neuropsychology
study of brain damage
electrical activity of the brain - EEG
activity when it happens from moment to moment
neuroimaging:
PET
where activity happens - not too precise
neuroimaging:
fMRI
where activity happens - increasingly more precise
neuroimaging:
MEG
where and when activity happens
neuroimaging:
TMS
stimulation (increase/decrease) of brain activity in specific region of brain
neuropsychology
CT scans show location of lesion (damage)
E.g. Phineas Gage - rod went through skull & survived = behaviour changed
EEG
measures electrical activity of brain
helps establish when activity occurs
EEG during sleep
different types of brain activity associated with different sleep stages
Even Related Potentials (ERPs)
used in neurobiological research investigating psychological functions
measure activity in response to specific stimulus
neural structures
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
neuroanatomy: identifies different regions of brain & nervous system
neural functions
functional magnetic response imaging (fMRI)
measures blood flow in brain during mental activity
establishes role of different brain regions in psychological functioning
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
stimulates brain activity
establishes role of different brain regions in psychological functioning
Nervous system:
structure
CNS - central NS
PNS - peripheral NS
SNS - somatic NS
ENS - enteric NS
PNS - autonomic NS (internal organs - heart, lungs)
sympathetic NS
parasympathetic NS
SNS
enables interaction between us & environment
SNS:
afferent pathways
connects brain to sensory organs to receive incoming info
SNS:
efferent pathways
connects brain to muscles to produce movement
SNS consists of:
12 pairs of cranial nerves
31 pairs of spinal nerves
ANS
regulates internal organs - autonomous = voluntary control
ANS:
sympathetic NS
fight or flight: prepares body for action - increased HR & BP
ANS:
parasympathetic NS
rest & digest: helps body relax - decreased HR & BP
ENS
regulates digestion
helps control nutrient & waste elimination
The neuron
structure: building blocks of NS
function: basic info - processing unit
neuron:
function
neurons = functional units of NS
interactions between neurons enable behaviour
neurons transmit info from one another via synapases
sensory neuron
carry info from body - spinal cord & brain
motor neuron
carry info from NS - muscles & internal organs
interneurons
receive info from neurons & pass it to other neurons
multipolar
many dendrites
single axon
bipolar
one dendrite
one axon
unipolar
single axon branching 2 directions
synapse
function: info processing unit
neurotransmitters:
key role
communicating info between neurons
influencing chain of biochemical reactions that allows neurons to pass info - activate eachother
different types - excitatory & inhibitory
supporting different anatomical networks in NS
neurotransmitters:
supporting different brain networks & functions
ACh: cholinergic networks
attention, learning, memory
neurotransmitters:
supporting different brain networks & functions
Da: dopaminergic networks
movement & motor control
reward & reinforcement
neurotransmitters:
supporting different brain networks & functions
serotonin: serotonergic networks
mood, sexual behaviour, anxiety
Glia: support cells
astrocytes
nutrition - link between neurons & blood vessels - edema when injured
Glia: support cells
microglia
‘clean up crew’ - remove debris from damaged cells - not Alzheimers
Glia: support cells
olygodendrocytes
myelination in CNS
Glia: support cells
schwann cells
myelination in PNS
Glia: support cells
myelin sheath thickness
speed of electrical conductance (thicker = faster)
