PSYC 3530H Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Behavioural Genetics, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Leg Before Wicket
29 Mar 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
The nervous system begins forming after conception when a group of cells called the neural plate thickens and forms the neural tube. Brain contains millions of multifunctional cells, the glial cells and neurons that are specialized to chemically transmit impulses within the nervous system. Nerve fibers become sheathed in myelin, a white substance that increases the efficiency of communication in the brain. The dev. of the brain results from both intrinsic biological programming and experience: pruning (unneeded cells and connections are eliminated) Central nervous system (brain & spinal cord: peripheral nervous system (the nerves outside the cns that transmit msgs to and from it) has 2 subsystems. Autonomic system (involuntary regulation of arousal and the emotions) Neurons have 3 major parts: cell body, dendrites, axon: communication btwn neurons occurs across a synapse, dendrites receive chemical msgs that result in a electric impulse being sent down the axon, releasing neurotransmitters.
