PSY 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Cerebellum, Axon Terminal, Hypothalamus
Document Summary
Two components: central nervous system (cns; brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system (pns; nerves throughout body; connect to cns) Neuron communication: transfer of info from one neuron to the next; presynaptic neuron- sends signals across synaptic gap; postsynaptic neuron- receives signal, terminal button use, dendrites in use. Chemicals that transmit info between neurons; synaptic vesicles- small sacs within the terminal button which store neurotransmitters. Release and reuptake: synthesis and storage : of neurotransmitters in a synaptic vesicle, release : of neurotransmitters into synaptic gap, binding : of neurotransmitters at receptor sites on postsynaptic neuron. Or inactivation (by enzyme), removal (drifting away of neurotransmitter), reuptake (of neurotransmitter by the presynaptic neuron. The brainstem is the oldest of all the parts of the brain. Pons: helps coordinate movement in mouth, eyes, and ears. Thalamus: technically it"s not part of the brainstem; message center between senses (except smell) and cerebral cortex.
