Ch. 2 Biopsychology Flashcards
(54 cards)
Nervous System
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Central Nervous System (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord
Spinal Cord
a two-way info highway connecting the PNS and the brain
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
he sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
Reflex
a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus (ex: knee jerk response)
Somatic Nervous System
division of the PNS that controls the body’s skeletal muscles (also called skeletal nervous system)
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
the part of the PNS that controls self-regulated action of glands and muscles of the internal organs (ex. Heart)
(sympathetic and parasympathetic)
Sympathetic Nervous System
division of the ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
Parasympathetic Nervous System
division of the ANS that calms the body, conserving it energy
Neurons
the nerve cells; basic building block of the nervous system
Endocrine System
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
Dendrites
connect to synapse of previous neuron; A neuron’s branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon
the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Myelin Sheath
a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next
Terminal Branches
end of neuron, connect to another neuron’s dendrites
How neurons work
look at paper
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Learning and memory, muscle movement
Alzheimers disease= Ach-producing neurons deteriorate
Endorphins
“morphine within”; lessen pain; resembles opiates in structure & effects
(Oversupply with opiate drugs can suppress the body’s natural endorphin supply)
Dopamine
movement, learning, attention, and emotion
(Decreased levels= Parkinson’s
Excess= Schizophrenia)
Serotonin
regulation of mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
-Decreased levels= depression (Prozac & other antidepressants increase serotonin levels)
Norepinephrine
affects alertness and arousal
Decreased levels= depressed mood
4 lobes of the brain
occipital
parietal
temporal
frontal
Occipital lobe: (visual cortex)
vision (at the back of head)
