Biopsychology Flashcards
(12 cards)
What different sub sections make up the human nervous system?
Central Nervous System (CNS) - Brain and Spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) - Autonomic and somatic nervous systems
What is the role of the Autonomic Nervous System
To relay messages from the CNS (and back) to internal bodily organs (i.e. controlling heartbeat) and is made up of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
What is the role of the Somatic Nervous System
To send messages to and from the CNS to sensory organs (i.e. eyes, ears, nose, skin)
Explain the process of the fight or flight response
- Detect danger using sensory organs, transmitted to CNS through Somatic Nervous System.
- Hypothalamus triggers the sympathetic state (inhibit digestion and saliva production, rectum contracts, pupils dilate, breathing and heart rate increase.)
- Pituitary gland activates the adrenal medulla which secretes adrenaline which produces physiological changes.
- Escape danger and triggers the parasympathetic state which is the antithesis of the sympathetic state, relaxing the body.
What are the three types of neuron?
Motor, sensory and relay.
What are the functions of the three different neuron types?
Sensory neurons connect the PNS to the CNS (detect stimuli)
Relay neurons act as a connector between other neurons
Motor neurons transmit signals from the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands.
What are the main components of a neuron?
Axons, Dendrites, Myelin sheath, Nodes of Ranvier, Cell Body (contains nucleus).
What are the purpose of axons and dendrites?
axons carry impulses away from the cell body down the length of the neuron.
Dendrites carry nerve impulses from neighbouring neurons towards the cell body.
What is action potential?
When the inside of a neuron becomes positively charged and fires an electrical impulse that travels down the axon towards the end of the neuron.
At which point of the neuron does synaptic transmission occur?
Where the neuron meets a neighbouring neuron, presynaptic nerve terminals are found at the end of the axon and postsynaptic nerve terminals are found at the tip of the dendrites (typically).
What components make up a synaptic terminal?
Synaptic vesicles (filled with neurotransmitters), synaptic gap (or cleft) post synaptic receptor sites, presynaptic axon and post synaptic dendrite.
What causes the postsynaptic neuron to fire / reach its action potential?
The sum of all the excitations and inhibitions in that area of the neuron.
