VCE Psych Unit 3 AOS 1 - NS only

Central Nervous System

(CNS) brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous system

Body Nerves that connect to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Connects the central nervous system to the body's organs and limbs.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary bodily functions (not consciously controlled), such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes - (PNS)

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary bodily functions (consciously controlled), such as controlling skeletal muscles - (PNS)

Stimulus

Things that initiate nerve impulses (ex. hot room)

Motor Functions

Complex muscle-and-nerve acts that produce movement (walking, writing, typing running etc.)

"Electrochemical"

A nerve impulse is partially electric (change in polarity/charge) and partially chemical (neurotransmitters)

Synapse

Where the nerve impulse is sent (connection of 2 neurons) .

Action Potential changes the charge of the synapse (causes electricity) and Neurotransmitters are sent.

Myelin Sheath

Offers protection to the neuron, Speeds up nerve impulses.

Axon

The long threadlike part of a nerve cell that carry the nerve impulse

Dendrites

Branch like extensions on a neuron that GET signals and connect to the synapse

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another 'target' neuron

Sensory Neuron

Nerve cells that transmit sensory information (sight, smell, sound etc.)

Interneuron

Nerve cells that connect motor neurons and sensory neurons. Only found in the CNS.

Motor Neuron

Nerve cells responsible for making an action or movement happen.

Efferent Tracts

A nerve pathway that goes downwards from the brain toward the PNS carrying motor information

Afferent Tracts

A nerve pathway that goes upward from the spinal cord toward the brain carrying sensory information

Excitatory Neurtransmitters

Stimulates a post synaptic neuron to fire. Activates the brain.

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Stops a post synaptic neuron from firing. Calms the brain and helps create balance.

Adrenaline

a hormone that may affect memory consolidation of emotionally arousing experiences; also called epinephrine

Glutamate

an EXCITATORY neurotransmitter that plays crucial roles in the growth and strengthening of synaptic connections during learning and memory formation

GABA

An INHIBITORY neurotransmitter in the brain, which decreases the likelihood of the post-synaptic neuron firing

Long-term depression (LTD)

long-lasting and experience-dependent WEAKENING of synaptic connections between neurons that are NOT regularly co-activated

- enables forgetting/pruning of unused pathways

Long-term potentiation (LTP)

long-lasting and experience-dependent STRENGTHENING of synaptic connections that are regularly co-activated

- enables faster memory retrieval and/or performance of skills

Sprouting

the ability of dendrites or axons to develop new extensions or branches

Rerouting

the ability of a neuron that is connected to a damaged neuron to create an alternative synaptic connection with an undamaged neuron

Pruning

the elimination of synaptic connections that are not adequately activated