Unit 2 Psych Test Flashcards
increase the normal activity of a neurotransmitter
agonist
reduce the effects of a neurotransmitter
antagonist
consists of the brain and the spinal cord
central nervous system
compromises all the neurons that are not in the central nervous system
peripheral nervous system
somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
two branches of the PNS
bundle of neurons that allows communication between the brain and the peripheral nervous system
spinal cord
to receive information from the body and send to brain and to take information from the brain and send throughout the body
what are the two major responsibilities of the spinal cord
receive information about the environment from the sensory systems and send it to the brain
sensory neurons
carry information from the central nervous system to various parts of the body, causing muscles to contract and glands to release chemicals
motor neurons
(only in brain and spinal cord) act as bridges connecting sensory and motor neurons also involved in reflex
interneurons
the ultrafast response to a painful stimulus
reflex
when a stimulus causes an involuntary response
reflex arc
neurons that are bundled together
nerves
system that included sensory nerves and motor nerves; “somatic” means related to the body
somatic nervous system
gather information from sensory receptors in the skin and other tissues and send it to the central nervous system
sensory nerves
receive information from the central nervous system and relay it to the muscles
motor nerves
works behind the scenes regulating involuntary activity and processes tend to be outside of our awareness
autonomic nervous system
autonomic controls the automatic
remember
sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system
two divisions of autonomic nervous system
initiates the fight or flight; prepares the body to deal with a crisis
sympathetic nervous system
“rest and digest”; bring the body back to a non-crisis mode
parasympathetic nervous system
direct energy toward nurturing offspring and forging social bonds
“tend and befriend”
works alongside SNS, releasing stress hormones such as cortisol, uses glands, rather than neurons, to send messages
endocrine system
chemicals produced by the glands and released into the bloodstream
hormones