psychology topic 1

Nervous system

a structure made up of neurons that send signals throughout the body through neurotransmitters

neurotransmitters

chemical signals

axons

what make up nerves

cerntral nervous system

brain and spine

sensory neurons

detects senses from receptors. acknowledges stimuli

motor neurons

controls movement of body

interneurons

processes intermediate functions between the sensory and motor neurons

Brain

thinks and processes thoughts and emotions through a system of neurons known as neural networks

Peripheral nervous system

parts that transmit chemical signals: somatic systems and the autonomic nervous system

somatic systems

reacts to exernal stimuli

autonomic nervous system

operate internal automatic/unconscious function: sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system

sympathetic nervous system

triggers active reaction through increased heart rate, sweat, higher bp, and slower digestion

parasympathetic nervous system

calms the body to retain homeostasis.

threshold

the intensity of a stimuli needed to fire neurotransmitters between neurons

action potential

an electrical charge

resting potential

the state of a cell when the inside is more negatively charged than the outside

resting period

the time when a cells at resting potential

refractory period

a portion of time when axons recharge

synapse or synaptic cleft

the space between neurons where chemical signals are transferred

reuptake

the reabsorption of remaining neurotransmitters by the sending neuron

excitatory neurotransmitters

trigger the firing of neurons

inhibitory neurotransmitters

stop neurons from firing