Psych: Nervous System

12/17/15 CP Psychology

central nervous system

brain & spinal chord

occipital lobe

controls eyes

peripheral nervous system

all neurons not in the central nervous system are in here.

function of the nervous system

send messages to and from the brain

dendrites

short thin fibers, receive messages from other neurons

cell body

integrates signals from other cells & contain DNA

axon

reaches distant area of nervous system; makes impulses

axon terminals

release neurotransmitters to stimulate dendrites of the next neuron

synapse

space between individual nerve cells

somatic nervous system

voluntary acts

autonomic nervous system

involuntary acts

sympathetic

prepares body for activity

parasympathetic

repairs body from activity

hindbrain

rear base of skill; basic processes of life

midbrain

arouses brain; integrates sensory info; relays it upward

forebrain

covers brain central core; sensory & motor control; thinking & language

CT scans

pinpoint injuries/degeneration; 3D view of the brain

PET scan

see what parts of the brain are being activating while preforming tasks

MRI

measuring tool; studies brain activity

endocrine system

chemical communication, messages sent through the bloodstream

nature

characteristics a person inherits

nurture

environmental factors

genes

produced & passed along from parent to child

identical twins

develop from a single fertilized egg; same hereditary

fraternal twins

come from two diff eggs

pituitary gland

center of control for endocrine sys; secrets a large number of hormones

thyroid gland

one of largest endocrine glands in body

EEG

records large portions of the brain

adrenal gland

type of gland activates when someone is angry or sad (adrenaline)