Psychology 3: The Chemical Mind Flashcards
What are the building blocks of our nervous system?
Neurons or Nerve Cells are the building blocks that make up our nervous system
How many types of neurons can you name?
There are several types of neurons in our bodies. Bipolar (interneuron), Unipolar(sesnory neuron), Multipolar(motor neuron), Pyramid Cell
What are the three basic parts of a neuron?
The three basic parts of a neuron are the soma (cell body), axon and dendrites
What are the basic properties of the soma (cell body)?
Soma (Cell Body)
The neurons life support containing the nucleus, DNA, mitochondria, ribosomes and such
What are the basic properties of the dendrites?
Dendrites
Bushy, Branch like
Receive messages from other cells
The Listeners
What are the basic properties of the axon?
The Axon
The Talker
Transmits electrical signals out to other neurons or glands or muscles
Sometimes covered in myelin sheath
What is the Myelin Sheath?
The myelin sheath is a plasma membrane wrapped around the axons of neurons that assist in the transmission of action potentials
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis -
A chronic, typically progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal chord
When do neurons transmit signals?
Neurons transmot signals when stimulated by sensory input or triggered by neighbouring neurons
Explain in short the process of a neuron passing a signal
Dendrites pick up the signal and activate the neurons action potential which shoots an electrical impulse (neural impulse) towards terminal branches of axon and out to neighbouring neurons
What are the contact points between neurons called?
Contact points between neurons are called synapses. Dendrites are decorated with synapse that almost touch other neurons, however neurons do not quite touch one another. The microscopic cleft is called the synaptic gap
Where does an axon potential run?
Action potential runs down the axon reaching the axon terminal activating the chemical messenger that jump the synaptic gap. these chemical messengers are call neurotransmitters.
What is reuptake?
Neurotransmitters are briefly bonded to post-synaptic terminals then released and reabsorbed by presynatpic neuron in a process called reuptake
What are Endorphins?
Endorphins are natural, opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
How many types of neurons are there?
There are over 100 different kinds of naturally occurring neurotransmitters reminding us that everything psychological we do is also biological
What do excitatory neurotransmitters do?
Excitatory neurotransmitters rev up neurons increasing chances of the neuron firing off an action potential
Name two common excitatory neurotransmitters
Norepinephrine - helps control alertness and arousal
Glutamate - involved in memory, over supply can cause seizures and migranes. This is why some people are sensitive to MSG or Monosodium Glutamate in their Noodles
What do inhibitory neurotransmitters do?
Inhibitory neurotransmitters chill neurons out decreasing their chance of firing an action potential
Name two common inhibitory neurotransmitters
GABA (Gamma-AminoButyric Acid) - a major inhibitory neurotransmitter
Serotonin - effects mood, hunger and sleep
What does Acetylcholine (ACh) contribute to?
Enables muscles action, learning and memory
What does Dopamine contribute to?
Influences movement, learning, attention and emotion
What do Acetylcholine and Dopamine have in common?
They play both sides and can both excite or inhibit neurons depending on what type of receptors they encounter
What is Alzheimers?
Progressive neurological deterioration that can occur in middle or old age, due to generalised degeneration of the brain
What have excessive amounts of dopamine been linked to?
Excessive amounts of dopamine have been linked to Schizophrenia - a long term psychiatric disorder of a type involving breakdown in the relation between, thought, emotion and behaviour
What is the endocrine system?
The endocrine system is the body’s “ slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
What do hormones act upon?
Like neurotransmitters hormones act on the brain
What are hormones?
hormones are chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues. Some hormones are chemically identical to some neurotransmitters.
What do hormones affect?
Hormones affect moods, arousel, cercadium rhythm, moderate our immune system, affect metabolism, signal growth and help with sexual reproduction.
Hormones affect attraction, appetite and aggression
What glands does the endocrine system consist of?
adrenal glands, pancreas, thyroid, parathyroid, testes, ovaries and the all powerful pituitary gland
Describe Adrenal Glands
Snuggled up against the kidney
Inner part helps trigger fight or flight response
Releases Adrenaline
Describe the pancreas
Right next adrenal gland
regulates level of sugar in the bloodstream
Oozes insolin and glucagon
Describe Thyroid and parathyroid glands
Thyroid
Base of throat
Affect Metabolism
Parathyroid
Base of throat
Helps regulate level of calcium in blood
Describe Pituitary gland
One gland rules them all and in the darkness binds them!
Secretes many different hormones some of which affect other glands
Pea sized nugget in brain
Releases vital growth hormone a hormone which stimulates growth in animal or plant cells
Releases the love hormone oxytocin which promotes warm fuzzy feelings
What system is a feedback loop?
The nervous system directs your endocrine system which direct your nervous system
Brain-gland-hormone-brain
Which brain region controls the pituitary gland?
The Hypothalamus
