PSYC104 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Occipital Lobe, Somatic Nervous System, Parietal Lobe
23 May 2018
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PSYC104
REVEL READING
WEEK 11 and 12
Nerve cells: Communication portals
3.1 Distinguish the parts of neurons and what they do
− Neuron has a cell body, contains a nucleus
− Where proteins that make up our cells are manufactured
− Dendrites: long extensions that receive messages from other neurons
− Axon: extends from the cell body of each neuron and is responsible for sending messages
3.2 Describe electrical responses of neurons and what makes them possible
− Neurons exhibit excitatory and inhibitory responses to inputs from other neurons
− Excitation is strong enough, neurons generates an action potential
− Travels all the way down the axon to the axon terminal
− Charged particles crossing the neuronal membrane are responsible for these events
3.3 Explain how neurons use neurotransmitters to communicate with each other
− Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that neurons use to communicate with each
other or to cause muscle contraction
− Axon terminal releases neurotransmitters at the synapse
− Produces excitatory or inhibitory responses in the receiving neuron
3.4 Describe how the brain changes as a result of development, learning and injury
− Brain changes the most before birth and during early development
− Brain demonstrates some degree of plasticity: plays a role in learning and memory
− Healthy brain plasticity decreases and neurons can show signs of degeneration
The brain – behaviour network
3.5 Identify what roles different parts of the Central Nervous System play in behaviour
− Cerebral cortex consists of the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes
− Cortex involved with vision lies in the occipital lobe
− Cortex involved with hearing in the temporal lobe
− Cortex involved with touch in the parietal lobe
− Association areas throughout the cortex analyse and reanalyse sensory inputs to build up our
perceptions
− Motor cortex in the frontal lobe, the basal ganglia and the spinal cord work together with the
somatic nervous system to bring about movement and action
− Somatic nervous system has a sensory as well as a motor component – enables touch and
feedback from the muscles to guide our actions
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
3. 1 distinguish the parts of neurons and what they do. Neuron has a cell body, contains a nucleus. Where proteins that make up our cells are manufactured. Dendrites: long extensions that receive messages from other neurons. Axon: extends from the cell body of each neuron and is responsible for sending messages. 3. 2 describe electrical responses of neurons and what makes them possible. Neurons exhibit excitatory and inhibitory responses to inputs from other neurons. Excitation is strong enough, neurons generates an action potential. Travels all the way down the axon to the axon terminal. Charged particles crossing the neuronal membrane are responsible for these events. 3. 3 explain how neurons use neurotransmitters to communicate with each other. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that neurons use to communicate with each other or to cause muscle contraction. Axon terminal releases neurotransmitters at the synapse. Produces excitatory or inhibitory responses in the receiving neuron.
