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Psychology Unit 3 & 4 > The nervous system functioning Chapter 2 > Flashcards

The nervous system functioning Chapter 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

The central NS consists of:

A

Brain and spinal cord

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2
Q

The Peripheral NS consists of:

A

Autonomic and somatic NS

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3
Q

The autonomic NS consists of:

A

Sympathetic and parasympathetic

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4
Q

Function of the CNS

A

-CNS receives and interprets sensory information sent from the PNS
-Transmits motor messages to the PNS

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5
Q

Function of the PNS

A

-The PNS transmits sensory information to the CNS
-Transmits motor messages from the spinal cord to appropriate body parts.

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6
Q

Brain

A

Coordinates all the nervous system activities

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7
Q

Spinal cord

A

-Receives sensory information from the PNS and transmits motor messages from the brain to the PNS.
-Responsible for the spinal Reflex.

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8
Q

Somatic NS

A
  • Transmits sensory information inwards towards the spinal cord.
  • Transmits motor messages outwards from the spinal cord to the appropriate body parts
  • Controls voluntary movements via its control of the skeletal muscles.
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9
Q

Autonomic NS

A
  • Regulates internal bodily functions.
  • Controls involuntary activity of internal muscles and glands.
    -BRANCHES: sympathetic and para sympathetic
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10
Q

Sympathetic NS

A
  • Automatically energises and arouses the body during times of stress or need for increased physical activity.
  • Activation triggers the fight-or-flight response.
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11
Q

Parasympathetic NS

A

Calms the body and returns internal system to normal levels of activity when the stressor or need for increased physical activity disappears.

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12
Q

neuron

A

A neuron is an individual nerve cell. The entire nervous system is comprised of neurons, organised into complex chains and networks that form neural pathways.

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13
Q

structure and function of a neuron

A

-dendrites
-soma
-axon
-myelin sheath
-Nodes of Ranvier
-axon terminals
-Neurotransmitters

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14
Q

Dendrites

A

Branch-like extensions of the neuron that receives (chemical) information from the other neurons and transmits it to the soma

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15
Q

Soma

A

The cell body that transfers information from the Dendrites to the Axon. The Soma also contains the nucleus, which keeps the neuron functioning.

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16
Q

axon

A

A long tube-like structure that transmits (electrical) information away from the Soma and to the next neuron in the neural pathway.

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17
Q

myelin sheath

A

A white, fatty substance that coats the Axon. insulating it and preventing the information from leaving the neuron too early. It also speeds up the neural transmission.

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18
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

the gaps formed between the myelin sheath where the axons are left uncovered. Because the myelin sheath is largely composed of an insulating fatty substance, the nodes of Ranvier allow the generation of a fast electrical impulse along the axon

19
Q

Axon terminals

A

Branches extend out from the axon and end in knob-like structures called terminal buttons. Each terminal button contains chemicals called neurotransmitters that transmit the information from the Axon to the next neuron in the neural pathway

20
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

The chemical form of a neural message is known as a neurotransmitter.
-a signalling molecule secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a synapse.

21
Q

Efferent

A

motor neurons: the nerve fibres responsible for carrying signals from the brain to the peripheral nervous system in order to initiate an action.

22
Q

afferent

A

sensory neurons: the nerve fibres responsible for bringing sensory information from the outside world into the brain

23
Q

Motor neurons

A
  • Sends information AWAY from the CNS to muscles, organs and glands.
  • Enable movements in the body via muscles, organs and glands.
24
Q

sensory neurons

A

Sends information from sensory receptors (e.g. in skin, eyes, nose, tongue, ears) TOWARDS the CNS

25
Q

Interneurons (relay)

A
  • Sends information BETWEEN sensory neurons and motor neurons
  • Transmits sensory information to the brain and motor messages from the brain to the body
  • Act as a link between CNS and PNS
  • Located in the spinal cord
26
Q

Synaptic transmission

A

-process by which one neuron communicates with another
-Information is passed down the axon as an electrical impulse (action potential)
- crosses over the synaptic gap between the presynaptic neuron and post-synaptic neuron
- At the end of the neuron (in the axon terminal) are the synaptic vesicles, which contain chemical messengers (neurotransmitters)
-When the electrical impulse (action potential) reaches these synaptic vesicles, they release their contents of neurotransmitters. -Neurotransmitters then carry the signal across the synaptic gap.
- They bind to receptor sites on the post-synaptic cell

27
Q

Spinal reflex

A
  1. Sensory neurons detect the stimuli and send the information to the spinal cord.
  2. The interneurons in the spinal cord receive the sensory information and connect with the motor neurons to initiate a response.
  3. The motor neurons carry the response back to the appropriate body part
  4. The reflex action occurs
  5. While the reflex is occurring the sensory information has travelled from the spinal cord to the brain for processing and the sensation is then “felt.”
28
Q

excitatory effect

A

consequently stimulate or activate postsynaptic neurons to perform their functions
-Glutamate

29
Q

inhibitory effect

A

block and prevent postsynaptic neurons from firing
-GABA

30
Q

Glutamate (Glu)

A

-Excitatory neurotransmitter
-Increases the likelihood of the postsynaptic neuron firing an action potential
-strongly associated with enhanced learning and memory
-too little or too less can result in damage due to overstimulation

31
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

-Inhibitory neurotransmitter
-Decreases the likelihood of the postsynaptic neuron firing an action potential
-maintains neurotransmission at an optimal level
-low levels cause seizures and anxiety

32
Q

neuromodulators

A

a chemical molecule that has an effect on multiple postsynaptic neurons
-involved in enhancing signal transmission
-chemical and released in the same way as neurotransmitters
-Dopamine, serotonin

33
Q

Dopamine

A

-drive, motivation, motor movement
-neuromodulator
-addictive behaviours
-reward base learning
-substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area
-excitatory and inhibitory effects on the postsynaptic neuron
-coordinating voluntary motor movements

34
Q

serotonin

A

-mood stabiliser
-digestion and metabolism
-lack of serotonin: mental health issues
-raphe nuclei
-inhibitory effect on post synaptic neuron
-sleep-wake cycle

35
Q

neural plasticity

A

the ability of the brains neural structure or functions to be changed by experience throughout the life span

36
Q

Sprouting

A

-ability of dendrites or axons to develop new extensions
-increases formation of synaptic connections

37
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

38
Q

coactivated

A

the activation of the same response at the same time by two different stimuli.

39
Q

synaptic plasticity

A

the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time, in response to increases or decreases in their activity.

40
Q

long term potentiation

A

long lasting and experience dependent strengthening of synaptic connections in response to frequent and repeated use during learning and memory

41
Q

increased synaptic connections involves:

A

increased number of receptor sights on dendrites, bushier dendrites

42
Q

Long term depression

A

the long-lasting and
experience-dependent
weakening of synaptic
connections between
neurons that are not
regularly coactivated

43
Q

decreased synaptic connections is a result of:

A

neural pathways that have been previously established during learning and memory are no longer regularly activated

Psychology Unit 3 & 4 (11 decks)

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