PSY 1101 - Chapter 03: Biology & Neuroscience (Pt. 1) Flashcards
What are the two main divisions of the Nervous System?
- Central nervous system: Brain & spinal cord
- Peripheral nervous system: All the nerves in the body outside of the central nervous system
What is the Nervous system?
A communication network that receives information from the external world as well as from within your body to then analyze, organize, and interpret it in a meaningful way
Where is the information received from the nervous system sent to?
Information is sent to muscles and glands to induce a desirable behaviour
- conscious experiences are created along the way by the NS
What are the Cells of the NS?
- Neurons
- Glial Cells
What are Neurons?
- The basic communication unit in the nervous system
- The communication between the neurons are an electrochemical process
What are Glial Cells?
What is an Action Potential?
The communication of neurons is an electrochemical that creates an electrical / neural impulse known as an action potential.
- Leads to the release of neurotransmitters
What are Neurotransmitters?
Chemicals that neurons use to send messages to other neurons
What is the Basic Structure of Neurons?
Neurons come in many shapes and sizes but they have the same basic structure
- Cell body (soma)
- Dendrites
- Axon
- Axon branches / terminals
- Terminal Buttons
- Myelin Sheath
What are Cell Bodies of Neurons?
the nucleus that contains the DNA inside the soma (manufacture everything that the neuron does to survive and thrive)
What are Dendrites?
Dendrites are going to increase the surface area of the soma without taking up much space
- Receives messages from other neurons
*Think of them as antennas because they receive messages from neurons.
What are Axons?
when a neuron fires, the action potential is going to propagate (travel) down the axon
- the action potential is going to propagate until it reaches the terminal buttons
What are Terminal Buttons?
- little nobs at the end of axon branches
- They contain the neurotransmitters
- when the action potential reaches the terminal button they are gonna release the neurotransmitters
What is a Myelin Sheath?
- some axons are covered with myelin sheath
- Its a white fatty like substance that provides insulation for the axons
- Axons covered by the myelin sheath transfert information faster than those not covered by it (speeds up the transfer of the information)
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
The destruction of the myelin sheath
What is a Synapse?
Area where neurons meet to communicate
What is a Synaptic Cleft?
A very tiny space between two neurons at the synapse
What is the Pre and Post Synaptic Neuron?
- Presynaptic neuron is the neuron that sends out messages
- Presynaptic neuron is the neuron that sends out messages
What are Glial Cells?
For the longest time people thought the glial cells were the nannies of the neurons. They are called th nannies because they take care of the neurons
Why are Glial Cells considered the Nannies of Neuron cells?
They help neurons:
- develop
- nutrition
- protection
- Clean after them
- Remove dead neurons
What else are Glial Cells involved in?
involved in higher mental functioning such as learning memory possibly intelligence; they seem to be linked and associated with brain diseases including mental illness
What are Oligodendrocytes and Schwan Cells?
Oligodendrocytes and Schwan cells are both involved in the production, laying down, and repair of the myelin sheath
Where do Oligodendrocytes and Schwann Cells function?
What are Microglia?
Play a role in learning and memory: degeneration linked with Alzheimer’s disease
- Immune function
