Psychology 2

nervous system

The body’s electrochemical communication circuitry

characteristics of nervous system

-cells connect with 10000 other nerve cells
-cells work together to react to a situation

brain plasticity

allows the us to react to new situations

afferent nerves (sensory nerves)

Nerves that send information about the external environment to the brain and spinal cord via sensory receptors

efferent nerves (motor nerves)

Nerves that send information out of the brain and spinal cords to other part of the body

How does afferent and efferent nerves work together?

Neural networks in the brain process the information brought by the afferent nerves, then send messages back to the parts of the body via the efferent nerves

Nervous system division

central nervous system
peripheral nervous system

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord. Includes 99 percent of all nerves cells

peripheral nervous system

Nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

Parts of peripheral nervous system

Somatic Nervous System and Autonomic Nervous System

Somatic Nervous System

Sensory nerves send message to the CNS, then motor nerves tells muscles what to do

automatic nervous system

Takes messages to and from internal organs to do unconscious things (breathing, heart rate, digestions, etc.)

Parts of automatic system

Sympathetic Nervous System - mobilizes your body for action when stressed
Parasympathetic Nervous System - Calms your body when stressed

Flight or Fight responses

our natural response to stress

Acute stress

stress related to a particular event or moment in time, and will go away when the moment is over

Chronic Stress

stress that consistently wears at you and doesn’t ever seem to go away

Neurons

Nerve cells that handle information and process it for a responds

Glial Cells

Nerve cells that support the neurons with nutrients and non-processing support

Parts of a neuron

Cell body, Dendrites, Axons, Myelin sheath

Cell Body

Cell body - contains the nucleus, which power the cell

Dendrites

Receive information from other neurons via axons and sends the information to the cell body

Axons

Axons - send information away from the cell body to other neurons and dendrites

Myelin sheath

A layer of fat surrounding axons, the insulated axons move information more quickly and efficiently

Neural Impulses

Information is sent via neurons by neural impulses
This is positive (sodium and potassium) and negative (chlorine) ions carrying information via tiny electrical impulses

communication

Neurons communicate via electrochemical transmission. The neural impulses is the electro side of things (another component is chemical)

Synapses and gaps

Synapses - tiny gaps between neurons

Terminal Button

the end of an axons where impulses are converted into chemical signals to go to the synaptic gaps

Synaptic vesicles (sacs)

hold neurotransmitter that send chemicals ver the gap to the next neuron

Brain

1.)Hindbrain 2.) midbrain 3.)forebrain

Hindbrain

most simplistic, evolved from the brain stem

Brain Stem

controls breathing and other necessary functions for survival (medulla oblongata)

Pons

controls sleep and arousal

cerebellum

controls motor coordination and movement

Midbrain

locates at the top of brain stem, mostly sends information from ears and eyes to rest of brain

reticular formation

deals with walking sleeping and reactions to noises

Forebrain

largest part of the brain

Limbic System

Important in memory and emotion, although they do not originate in the limbic system (most basic part of the forebrain)

3 parts of the limbic system

Amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus

amygdala

works to identify appropriate food, mates and social rivals
Important to fear and rage

Hippocampus

helps process memories in the cerebral cortex

Thalamus

located at the top of the brain stem, relays information to the appropriate spots in the cerebral cortex

Basal Ganglia

neurons that coordinate communication between the cerebellum and cerebral cortex for voluntary movements

hypothalamus

monitors pleasurable activities, stress, rewards, integral in the endocrine system and monitoring blood condition

Cerebral Cortex

divided into 2 hemispheres with 4 lobes each

Occipital Lobe

Lobe that deals with visual stimuli, located in the back of the brain, Processes color, shape, size, and motion

Temporal Lobe

Located in front of the occipital lobe, just above the ears. Involved in hearing, language processing, and memory
Connect to limbic system and long term memory storage

Frontal Lobe

Located behind the forehead, involved in personality, intelligent and control of voluntary muscles

Prefrontal cortex

which is involved in planning, reasoning, and self control
More intelligent have bigger ones but all have frontal lobe

Parietal lobes

Located at the top and rear of the head, involved in spatial location, attention, and motor control

Somatosensory Cortex

processes body sensations and is next to the parietal lobes. Input from body

Motor Cortex

Processes information formation about voluntary movements, like the frontal lobes, which are next to. Output to body

Endocrine System

A series of glands that regulates some organs by releasing chemicals into the bloodstream

Parts of endocrine system

Consist of the pituitary gland, pineal gland, adrenal gland, pancreas, thyroid and parathyroid gland, and ovaries or testes
Works in conjunction with the autonomic nervous system to produce rage and fear

pituitary glands

Located in the brain controls growth and regulates other glands

Adrenal Gland

Located at the top of each kidney, regulates mood, energy levels and dealing with stress
Secretes epinephrine (adrenalin) and norepinephrine to quickly deal with stress and emergencies

pancreas

Locates under the stomach, releases both digestive and endocrine chemicals
Produces insulin to manage glucose levels, which relate to energy and metabolism

pineal gland

Pineal - Located near the thalamus, releases melatonin to regulate sleep

Ovaries and Testes

Sex related endocrine glands that produce hormones involved in sexual development and reproduction

Brain Lesioning

Permanent disruption of brain tissue which can be removed and studied

EEU

Measures brain wave activity to assess possible brain damage or abnormal brain electrical surges/activity. Used for sleep studies

Single Unit Recording

Using a probe (microelectrode) into the brain to analyze a single neuron in the brain

x-ray

Static 2D images

CAT/CT Scan

static 3D image from Xray

PET Scan

Uses dyed glucose to see usage in brain in live time

MRI Scan

Static 3D Image using magnetic force

fMRI Scan

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging - creating a live time image of the brain in action

TMS

Using magnetic pulses to temporarily disrupt brain activity in a part of the brain

Collateral Sprouting

Adjacent nerves grow new axons to make new connections

Substitution of Function

A different region of the brain takes over the damaged region

Neurogenesis

New neurons are created

Brain Implants

adding brain tissue (usually the fetal stage of development) these neurons are more likely to grow and make new connections
can also be done with stem cells from blastocyst embryonic stage (after conception)
stem calls might also be used to regrow other neurons

How much chromosome do we have?

23 pairs (46 chromosome in total) one in each pair from each parent

DNA

molecules that carry genetic information

Genes

short parts of chromosome that are made up of DNA

Dominant and Recessive

some gene pair have a dominant and recessive component (ex: eye color, hair color)

Polygenic Inheritance

Personality and intelligence might also have dominant and recessive, but spread over gene pairs

Gene Therapy

Process of analyzing specific genes and turning them "off" and "on"
Can help prevent hereditary diseases, both physical and mental

genotype

your genetic make up

phenotype

your observable characteristics