psych Flashcards
what is a neuron
a nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system
What are the primary components of a neuron?
Cellbody, axon, dendrites
What are the different types of neurons? How do they differ in terms of their function
sensory, motor, interneurons
Myelin sheath
Myelin is an insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves
Synapse
a junction between two nerve cells
Sensory Neuron
nerve cells within the nervous system responsible for converting external stimuli from the organism’s environment into internal electrical impulses
motor neurons
a nerve cell forming part of a pathway along which impulses pass from the brain or spinal cord to a muscle or gland.
resting potential
the electrical potential of a neuron or other excitable cell relative to its surroundings when not stimulated or involved in the passage of an impulse.
Action Potential
the changes in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell.
Neurotransmitters
a chemical substance that is released at the end of a nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse and, by diffusing across the synapse or junction, causes the transfer of the impulse to another nerve fiber, a muscle fiber, or some other structure.
Agonists
drug that increases the action of a neurotransmitter
Antagonists
drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter
Nervous System
NS
cylindrical bundles of fibers (the axons of neurons), that emanate from the brain and spinal cord,
Central NS
the part of the nervous system that is composed of the brain and spinal cord
peripheral NS
the part of the nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the bodys organs and muscles
somatic nervous system
a set of nerves that conveys information between voluntary muscles and the central ns
sympathetic NS
a set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations
parasympathetic nervous system
a set of nerves that help the body return to the normal resting state
Hindbrain
the area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord
medulla
an extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord
cerebellum
a large structure in the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills
cerebral cortex
the outermost layer of the brain
subcortical structures
areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the very center of the brain
thalamus
a subcortical structure that relays and fliters information from the senses and transmits the information to the cerebral cortex
