PY 105 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Central Nervous System, Peripheral Nervous System, Chemical Synapse

• School: University of Alabama
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PY 105
• Professor: Scrivner- Limbaugh

Document Summary

Technology advanced- scientists have created tools to explore the biological bases of who we are: learn who we are by brain activity. Brian imaging has enabled psychologists to understand the different brain regions: predicting development in specific disorders, genetic makeup, how certain diseases are passed, functions of different genes. Neurons- basic units of the system, nerve cells: receive, integrate and transmit info in the nervous system, they communicate selectively with other neurons to from circuits. Neural networks- the circuits that neurons make. Central nervous system (cns): consists of the brain and spinal cord: organizes and evaluates the info from the pns and directs the pns to perform a specific task, includes the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. Peripheral nervous system (pns): consist of all other nerve cells in the rest of the body: transmits a variety of info to the cns. Neurons are specialized for communication with other neurons.