PSYC1003 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Cornea, Myelin, Work Song
Test 2: Material Overview
Chapter 3: The Biological Bases of Behaviour
Organization of the Nervous System
Central nervous system (CNS) – brain and spinal cord
afferent pathways = toward the CNS
efferent pathways = away from the CNS
Peripheral nervous system (PNS) – nerves that lie outside the central nervous system
Somatic Nervous System: voluntary muscles and sensory receptors
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): controls automatic, involuntary functions
Sympathetic System: recruit bodily resources (fight-or-flight)
Parasympathetic System: conserve bodily resources
Central Nervous System: The Basic Hardware
Neurons: receive, integrate, and transmit information
Glia: cells that help support and insulate neurons; some communication
Peripheral
Nervous System
Autonomic
System
Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Somatic System
Key Terms:
Soma – cell body
Dendrites – receive information
Axon – transmit information away
Myelin sheath – speeds up transmission
Terminal button – end of axon; secretes neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters – chemical messengers
Synapse – point at which neurons communicate
The Neural Impulse
Electrochemical Reaction: fluids inside and outside neuron filled with electrically charged particles (ions)
Resting Potential: stable negative charge
Action Potential:
- stimulation causes cell membrane to open briefly
- positively charged sodium ions flow in
- shift in electrical charge travels along neuron
- All-or-None Law
The Synapse: Where Neurons Meet
Synaptic Cleft: microscopic space between neurons
Presynaptic Neuron: contains synaptic vesicles; neurotransmitters
Postsynaptic Neuron: contains receptor sites for neurotransmitters
Receiving Signals: The Postsynaptic Potential
Postsynaptic potential (PSP): voltage change at receptor cite
- NOT all-or-none
- changes the probability of the postsynaptic neuron firing
Positive voltage shift = excitatory PSP
Negative voltage shift = inhibitory PSP
Document Summary
Central nervous system (cns) brain and spinal cord. Efferent pathways = away from the cns. Peripheral nervous system (pns) nerves that lie outside the central nervous system. Somatic nervous system: voluntary muscles and sensory receptors. Autonomic nervous system (ans): controls automatic, involuntary functions. Glia: cells that help support and insulate neurons; some communication. Terminal button end of axon; secretes neurotransmitters. Electrochemical reaction: fluids inside and outside neuron filled with electrically charged particles (ions) Action potential: stimulation causes cell membrane to open briefly. Positively charged sodium ions flow in shift in electrical charge travels along neuron. Postsynaptic potential (psp): voltage change at receptor cite. Not all-or-none changes the probability of the postsynaptic neuron firing. Post synaptic potentials add up, balance out. Balance between inhibitory psps and excitatory psps. Patterns of neural activity interconnected neurons that fire together or sequentially. Neurotransmitters: chemical messengers in nervous system specific neurotransmitters work at specific synapses lock-and-key mechanism. Adrenaline: contributes to the fight or flight response.
