PSYC 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Peripheral Nervous System, Central Nervous System, Hindbrain

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: A.George Alder

Document Summary

Divisions of the nervous system: nervous system is composed of central and peripheral nervous system, central nervous system cns. Composed of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that connect to both. Sends commands to the skeletal and muscular systems: peripheral nervous system pns. Sympathetic: set of nerves that prepare the body for action in threatening situations pupil dilation, sweat glands, increase heart rate + respiration: parasympathetic: helps the body return to a normal resting state constrict. The spinal cord does simple tasks, such as breathing, responding to pain, and moving muscles. For basic behaviors, the spinal cord does not need input from the brain. Spinal reflexes: simple pathways in the cns that rapidly generate muscle contractions. Motor neurons cue the muscles to act involuntarily. Sensory neurons that register pain send input directly into the spinal cord. Interneurons relay this via synaptic connections to motor neurons: more elaborate tasks require the collaboration of the spinal cord and brain.