Psych AOS 1 -- Nervous system Flashcards
Roles of Nervous system
Recieve Info
Process Info
Co-ordinate response
Define neurons
Uses electrical impulses and chemical signals to transmit information between different areas of the brain and the rest of the nervous system
Define sensory neuron
Recieve and carry sensory infor toward CNS
Enable us to sense the external world
Afferent neurons
Define interneurons
Join Sensory to Motorneurons
Enable complex functioning of the brain (decision-making, planning, interpretation)
Produces spinal reflex
Define Brain
Responsible for virtually eveything we think, feel and do
Define the central nervous system
Processes, receives and interpret information through the sensory systems and responds with appropriate actions
Define Motor neurons
Carry motor info away from CNS
To enable movement
Causes glands to secret and control internal organ function
Efferent neurons
Define spinal cord
Connects brain and PNS; intiates spinal reflexes
Define the Peripheral nervous system
Carries messages to and from the CNS
Autonomic nervous system
Connects CNS to internal organs and glands; self-regulating
Somatic nervous system
Carries messages from sensory receptors in the body to the CNS, and motor messages from the CNS to skeletal muscles
Sympathetic nervous system
Prepares/arouses body when it feels extreme emotion, threat for action (fight/flight/freeze)
Parasympathetic nervous system
Calms body after action (maintains internal body in a steady/balanced normal functioning (homeostasis)
Enteric nervous system
Dedicated to the functioning of the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract
Function of the spinal cord
Receive sensory info from the body
Receive motor info from the brain
Generate a spinal reflex
Physiological effects of fight/flight/freeze
Increase HR
Increase BR
Increase Blood pressure
Increase sugar/fat released into blood
Increase sweat production
Decrease digestion
Pupils dilate
Bladder relaxes
Define neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitter is a chemical substance produced by a neuron that carries a message to other neurons
Define excitatory neurotransmitters (Glutamate)
Cause a neuron to fire/increase the likelihood that the neuron will fire an action potential
Define Inhibitory neurotransmitters (GABA)
Reuptake
The neurotransmitter that does not bind to receptors in the postsynaptic neuron is absorbed back into the terminal buttons by the presynaptic neuron
Define neuromodulators
Subclass of neurotransmitters
Alter the overall effectiveness of neural transmission in entire regions of the brain
Define dopamine
A modulating neurotransmitter or neuromodulator with both excitatory and inhibitory effects
What CNS functions are dopamine involved in?
Pleasure
Behaviour
Movement
Attention
Motivation
Define Serotonin
An inhibitory neurotransmitter that acts as a neuromodulator
(90% produced in the gut)
