Unit 3: Biological Bases of Behavior and Unit 4: Sensation and Perception Flashcards
nervous system
contols and coordinates rapid body activities
neurons
nerve cells
parts of neuron
Dendrites: recieve signals
Soma: houses major organelles
Axon: long fiber carrying signal to other parts of the body
Myelin sheath: protective layer around axon
Axon terminals: branches at end of axon relaying signals to other neurons
How do neurons transfer information?
neurotransmitters released from axon terminals, travel across synapse, bind to neural receptors on other neurons
reuptake
excess neurotransmitters absorbed back into presynaptic cell to balance neurotransmitter usage
types of neurotransmitters
excitory: amplify signals
inhibitory: limit or slow signals
What are the main two branches of the nervous system?
peripheral: connects CNS to body
central: brain and spinal cord
nerves
neuron fibers conecting CNS to rest of body
types of nerves
cranial (brain to spinal cord) and spinal (rest of body to spinal cord)
sensory impulses
carry messages from env to CNS
motor impulses
carry messages from CNS to rest of body
2 parts of the peripheral nervous system
somatic nervous system: control voluntary movements of skeletal muscles
autonomic nervous system: control involuntary movements
2 parts of autonomic nervous system
sympathetic: arouses body
parasympathetic: calms body
endocrine system
long-term communication via chemicals
hypothalamus
region of brain controlling autonomic nervous system and endocrone system
homeostasis
internal state of balance in the body
hormone
chemical messenger of endocrine system
brain
control center of body
3 regions of the brain
forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain
forebrain
largest and moxt complex region of brain;
includes cerebrum, thalamus and hypothalamus
cerebrum
Largest part of forebrain that integrates sensory and neural functions;
Includes cerebral cortex: outer layer of brain for information processing