PSYC 106 Chapter 2: PSYC 106 Chapter 2
Document Summary
Neurons are anatomically separate from one another. Leg flexion reflex sensory neuron excite second neuron excite motor neuron excites a muscle. Reflex arc: circuit from sensory neuron to muscle response. Spinal cord controlled flexion and extension reflexes. Movements were more consistent after separation of spinal cord from brain. Reflexes are slower than conduction along axon. Several weak stimuli present at nearby places or times produce stronger reflex than one stimulus alone does. One set of muscles becomes excited diff set becomes relaxed. Speed of reflex and delayed transmission at synapse. Delay impulse had to travel up axon from skin receptor to spinal cord impulse travel from spinal cord back down leg to muscle. Temporal summation: summation over time; repeated stimuli w/in brief time have cumulative effect. Rapid succession of pinches each add effect to what remained from previous ones until combination exceed threshold of postsynaptic neuron action potential.
