AP Psych Unit 3 - biology 1-64 Flashcards
(69 cards)
Human Biology/ Why are psychologist concerned with it
because it studies the links between our mental processes and biology (biological perspective)
Neurons
A nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system
Cell body/ Soma
The part of the neuron that contains the nucleus, The cells life support center
Dendrites
A bush, Branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, Conducting impulses toward the cell body.
Axon
attached to the stoma, The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.
Myelin sheath
The fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of the same neurons; increases transmissions speed and provides insulation. crucial to behavior, movement, and thought. ( the myelin sheath isn’t done developing unto age 25 and deterioration to such can lead to motor impairment.
Glial Cells
cells that support, nourish and protect neurons they also play a role in learning thinking and memory they provide nutrients and insulating myelin, guide neural connections and mop up ions and neurotransmitters (kinda like worker bees)
Terminal Branches
The Ends of axons containing terminal buttons which help synaptic vesicles that store neurotransmitters.
Action Potential
if the combined recieved chemical signals exceed a minimum threshold the neuron fires, transmitting an electrical impulse down its axons by means of a chemistry to electricity process.
Threshold
the levels of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Neurotransmitters
Your body’s chemical messengers. the neurotransmitters received by dendrites build up to initiate the action potential.
All or None Response
Neural firing happens at full response or nothing at all. more stimulants don’t produce a more intense neural transmissions.
Excitatory Signal
Like the gas pedal on a car. electrical currents that prompt neurons to share information with each other. signals trigger action, when the excitatory impulses outnumber the inhibitory impulses , the threshold has been reached an an action potential occurs.
Inhibitory Signals
Like the Brake Pedal, Inhibitory neurotransmitter signals depress action
Polarization/ Resting state
Prior to the beginning of action potential The Charge outside of the membrane is more positive while the charge inside is more negative then positive- This Creates a slightly negative charge and the neuron is in a resting state
First step in action potential
After the Threshold is met the semi-permeable axon opens and sodium ions flood in through the channels
Second step in action potential (depolarization)
Depolarization happens when the sodium ions try to balance the inside of the membrane (before the membrane gate opened the inside is more negative)
What happens after depolarization
The electrical charge is changed due to depolarization and the 2nd gate in the axon opens allowing more sodium ions to enter at the same time potassium ions flow out this then repolarizes that section
fourth step in action potential
the sodium potassium pump created continues to depolarize new sections and repolarize the previous ones
5th step of action potential
The impulse then moves down the axon as an electrical current an—-
The Refactory period
the neurons short breaks when the action potential moves to the end of the neuron and firing cant occur again till axons return to resting state
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that travels across the synapse and bind to receptors sites on the receiving neuron
Synapse
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of receiving neuron
Synaptic
the gap at the junction called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft
