PSYC 001 Chapter 3: Michael Gazzaniga
Document Summary
Two basic units: central nervous system: brain and spinal cord large amounts of neurons, peripheral nervous system: all nerve cells in the body that are not part of the central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system includes the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. Pns sends a variety of information to the cns. The cns organizes and evaluates that information and then directs the pns to perform specific behaviors or make bodily adjustments. 3. 1 neurons are the basic units of the nervous system. Neurons: the basic units of the nervous system; cells that receive, integrate, and transmit information in the nervous system. They operate through electrical impulses, communicate with other neurons through chemical signals, and form neural networks. Neural networks: networks develop through genetic influence, maturation and experience, and repeated firing. Pns includes the somatic and autonomic nervous systems: somatic component: voluntary behavior, autonomic component: fewer voluntary actions, such as controlling heart rate and other bodily functions.
