Chapter 2 Flashcards
(59 cards)
Psychology is
interested in the relationship between biology and behavior/psychological functioning
Neurons
Individual cells that are the smallest
unit of the nervous system
Electrochemical process
Electrical process—generation of action
potentials (electrical, neural impulses)
Chemical process—release and action of
neurotransmitters (chemical messengers)
Resting potential
at rest there are more negative ions inside than there are outside. When a point on the semipermeable neural membrane is stimulated by an incoming message, the membrane then opens and positive charged ions come in
Action potential
Process repeated along the length of the membrane, creates a neural impulse that travels down the axon which causes the neuron to fire
Resting potential happen in a state of _____________, while action potential happens in a state of _____________.
Polarization; depolarization
Soma
cell body of a neuron contains the nucleus and other structures common to living cells
Dendrites
transmit messages from other neurons to the cell body
Axon
carries the message to a nearby neuron, muscle, or gland
Axon terminal
terminal buttons release neurotransmitters into the synaptic space which separates one neuron from another
Myelin sheath
provides insulation and increases the speed of the traveling message or impulse
Direction of neural impulse
dendrites to soma to axon to terminal buttons membrane, its permeability, and the role it plays in neurons firing role of positively and negatively charged ions moving in/out of the neuron resulting in the generation of action potentials/neural impulses states of polarization (resting potential) and depolarization (action potential)
Lock and Key analogy
For a neurotransmitter to be received by a receptor site and open the gate and produce effects, the particular neurotransmitter must “fit” the receptor site in the way a key must fit a lock to unlock it
All or none cell firing
If the threshold level needed for the cell to fire is reached and an actin potential/neural impulse is generated, the neural impulse will travel the entire length of the neuron. It will never stop or “die” at some midpoint along the axon
Refractory period
Time period (tiny fraction of a second)
after the cell fires during which it is incapable of firing again until it has “recharged it battery” and is ready to fire
again.
Synaptic vesicles
in the terminal buttons of a sending neuron release neurotransmitters into the synaptic space
Acetylcholine
Neurotransmitter responsible for arousal, attention, memory (Alzheimer’s
disease), motivation, movement.
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter responsible for Variety of behaviors and emotions (pleasure).
Schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.
Serotonin
Neurotransmitter responsible for Sleep, dreaming, mood (depression), eating,
pain, and aggressive behavior.
Norepinephrine
Neurotransmitter responsible for arousal, wakefulness, learning, memory,
and mood (e.g., depression)
Endorphins
Neurotransmitter responsible for inhibition (decrease) of pain.
Excitatory effects
(neurotransmitter increases the likelihood the receiving cell will fire) versus inhibitory effects (neurotransmitter decreases the likelihood the receiving cell will fire)
Neuroplasticity
the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections after injuries,
Neurogenesis
process which new neurons are formed in the brain
