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Year 12 Psychology 2025 > Nervous System > Flashcards

Nervous System Flashcards

To 'master' U3AoS1 - Nervous System

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1
Q

Adrenaline

A

(also known as epinephrine) a neurohormone that increases physiological arousal and contributes to the consolidation of emotionally arousing memories

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2
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

branch of the PNS responsible for connecting the CNS and the body’s visceral (non-skeletal) organs, muscles and glands like the heart and liver

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3
Q

Axon

A

the long strand-like part of a neuron that transmits a message from one end of the neuron to the other

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4
Q

Axon terminals

A

the ends of a neuron that release a message into the synapse

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5
Q

Brain

A

CNS- the body’s information centre, responsible for initiating and processing actions, thoughts and behaviour

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6
Q

Central nervous system- components and function

A

**the brain and the spinal cord, responsible for transmitting neural messages to and receiving and processing neural messages from the PNS

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7
Q

Cerebellum

A

a brain structure which encodes and stores implicit procedural memories

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8
Q

Cerebral cortex/ Neocortex

A

an outer brain structure (outermost layer) where long-term memories are stored.

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9
Q

Dendrites

A

the bushy spines of a neuron that receive neurotransmitters

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10
Q

Dopamine

Remember: HAT

A

a neuromodulator primarily responsible for Hunger and eating, Addiction, Thirst and drinking

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11
Q

Excitatory effect

A

when a neurotransmitter causes the postsynaptic neuron to become more likely to fire an action potential

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12
Q

GABA

A

the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter- key role in reducing anxiety/stress response

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13
Q

Glutamate

A

the primary excitatory neurotransmitter- key roles in learning and memory

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14
Q

Inhibitory effect

A

when a neurotransmitter causes the postsynaptic neuron to become less likely to fire an action potential

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15
Q

Interneurons

A

CNS neurons (brain and spinal cord only) that transfer impulses between sensory and motor neurons as part of the reflex arc

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16
Q

Lock-and-key process

A

an analogy used to describe the role and functions of neurotransmitters and receptor sites in the process of neural transmission

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17
Q

Long-term depression

A

Long-lasting weakening of synaptic connections due to low frequency stimulation/activation of synaptic pathway.

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18
Q

Long-term potentiation

A

Long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections due to high frequency stimulation/activation of synaptic pathway.

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19
Q

Motor neurons

A

neurons that transmit information (motor neural messages) about voluntary movement from the CNS to the PNS

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20
Q

Myelin

A

the fatty protein substance that surrounds and insulates the axon of a neuron

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21
Q

Neural plasticity

A

the ability of the brain to physically change in response to experience

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22
Q

Neural reception

A

the process in which a neuron accepts, or receives, a message

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23
Q

Neural transmission

A

the process in which a neuron sends a message

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24
Q

Neurochemical

A

a chemical substance that transmits neural information within the nervous system

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25
Q

Neurohormone

A

a chemical substance sent from neurons into the bloodstream

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26
Q

Neuron

A

a nerve cell responsible for transmitting, receiving and processing information

27
Q

Neuromodulator

A

a chemical molecule that has an effect on multiple postsynaptic neurons

28
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

a chemical substance that carries information between neurons

29
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

a branch of the ANS responsible for returning and maintaining the body’s visceral organs, muscles and glands at optimal and balanced functioning

30
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

all nerves outside the CNS, responsible for transmitting information to and from the CNS

31
Q

Postsynaptic neuron

A

the neuron that receives a message from the synapse

32
Q

Presynaptic neuron

A

the neuron that releases a message into the synapse

33
Q

Pruning

A

the elimination of synaptic connections that are not adequately activated

34
Q

Receptor sites

A

protein molecules located on the dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron, responsible for receiving neurotransmitters

35
Q

Rerouting

A

the ability of a neuron that is connected to a damaged neuron to create an alternative synaptic connection with an undamaged neuron

36
Q

Sensory neurons

A

neurons that transmit information (sensory neural messages) about the body’s sensations from the PNS to the CNS

37
Q

Sensory receptor

A

a nerve ending that detects sensations in the environment and body

38
Q

Sensory stimuli

A

anything in the environment or body that is detected by the body’s senses

39
Q

Serotonin

Remember: SAM

A

neuromodulator primarily responsible for Sleep, Aggression and impulsivity, and Mood

40
Q

Skeletal muscles

A

muscles connected to the skeleton that are involved in conscious, voluntary movement- link to SOMATIC NS

41
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

the branch of the PNS responsible for sending motor information from the CNS to the body’s skeletal muscle, and bringing sensory information from the body to the CNS in order to formulate voluntary responses

42
Q

Spinal cord

A

a long cable of nerve tissue (neurons) connecting the brain to the peripheral nervous system, responsible for sending motor information from the brain, and sensory information from the body

43
Q

Spinal reflex

A

an unconscious response to sensory stimuli that is initiated at the spinal cord, not involving the brain

44
Q

Spinal sensory-motor circuit (reflex arc)

A

the path that neural messages take as part of the spinal reflex response, involving sensory messages to the spinal cord which are immediately relayed from the spinal cord as motor messages

45
Q

Sprouting

A

the ability of dendrites or axons to develop new extensions or branches

46
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

a branch of the ANS responsible for activating the body?s visceral organs, muscles, and glands for increased activity or when under threat

47
Q

Synapse

A

the area in which neuronal transmission occurs between two neurons, including the sending end of the presynaptic neuron, the gap between two neurons, and receiving end of the postsynaptic neuron

48
Q

Synaptic gap

A

the space in between two neurons into which a message is sent

49
Q

Synaptic buttons

A

(also known as synaptic knobs, terminal buttons) the end of the presynaptic neuron?s axon terminals that release neurotransmitters

50
Q

Synaptic plasticity

A

a type of neural plasticity that refers to the ability of synaptic connections to form, weaken or strengthen in response to activity and experience

51
Q

Visceral muscles (organs or glands)

A

the body?s non-skeletal muscles, organs and glands that are largely self-regulating and don’t require conscious control. These are controlled by the ANS

52
Q

Afferent

A

conducting or conducted inwards or towards something

53
Q

Conscious response

A

a reaction to a sensory stimulus that involves awareness; usually **voluntary, goal-directed **and with some degree of control over it

54
Q

Efferent

A

conducted or conducting outwards or away from something

55
Q

Neural pathway

A

a route based on interconnected neurons that form a communication network within the brain and between the brain and other parts of the nervous system and body

56
Q

Changes to synapse after LTD

A

As a result of LTD, less neurotransmitter (i.e., Glutamate) will be released from the pre-synaptic neuron, and there will be a reduction in the number of receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron (reduction of dendritic spines).

57
Q

Changes to synapse after LTP

A

As a result of LTP, more neurotransmitter (i.e., Glutamate) will be released from the pre-synaptic neuron, and there will be an increase in the number of receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron (increased sprouting of dendritic spines).The post-synaptic neurons become more and more responsive to the pre-synaptic neurons.

58
Q

Unconscious response

A

a** reaction to a sensory stimulus** that does not involve awareness; involuntary, unintentional, automatic and we cannot ordinarily control its occurrence

59
Q

Enteric Nervous System

A

a sub-division of the autonomic nervous system embedded within the walls of the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract and dedicated to its functioning

60
Q

Vagus Nerve

A

a peripheral nerve which connects the brain (in CNS) with key structures including the heart and the GI tract- pathway for brain to enteric NS and vice versa

61
Q

Synaptogenesis

A

formation of additional synapses where the dendritic spines (post-synaptic neuron) and filigree appendages (pre-synaptic neuron) meet

62
Q

Filigree appendages

A

**Axon ‘sprouts’ **(called filigree appendages) on the axon terminal of the pre-synaptic neuron (part of synaptogenesis)

63
Q

Rerouting

neural plasticity

A

A result of adapting our behaviours (i.e., learning more efficient ways of doing things).
Rerouting involves new connections formed between neurons to establish alternative neural pathways

64
Q

Synaptic pruning

A

Excess neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated in order to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmissions.
Inefficient pathways are pruned/eliminated, prioritising more direct and efficient pathways.

Year 12 Psychology 2025 (10 decks)

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