The chemical mind. Intro to BIOPSYCh (crashcourse)

What is the basic building block of the nervous system?

The neuron, a specialized cell that transmits information through electrical and chemical signals.

What are the three main parts of a neuron?

Dendrites, cell body (soma), and axon.

What is the function of dendrites?

They receive incoming signals from other neurons.

What does the axon do?

It carries electrical impulses away from the cell body toward other neurons or muscles.

What is the myelin sheath?

A fatty layer that insulates the axon and speeds up neural transmission.

What is the synapse?

The tiny gap between neurons where chemical communication occurs.

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemical messengers that cross the synapse to transmit signals between neurons.

What is reuptake?

The process where neurotransmitters are reabsorbed back into the sending neuron.

What do excitatory neurotransmitters do?

They increase the likelihood that the receiving neuron will fire.

What do inhibitory neurotransmitters do?

They decrease the likelihood that the receiving neuron will fire.

What is dopamine associated with?

Reward, motivation, movement, and pleasure.

What is serotonin associated with?

Mood regulation, sleep, and appetite.

What is acetylcholine responsible for?

Muscle movement, learning, and memory.

What is norepinephrine involved in?

Alertness, arousal, and the fight-or-flight response.

What is GABA?

The main inhibitory neurotransmitter that calms neural activity.

What is glutamate?

The main excitatory neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory.

What are hormones?

Chemical messengers released into the bloodstream by endocrine glands.

How do hormones differ from neurotransmitters?

Hormones travel through the bloodstream and act slower but last longer.

What is the endocrine system?

The body's chemical communication system made of glands that release hormones.

What is the pituitary gland known as?

The "master gland" because it controls other endocrine glands.

How do the nervous and endocrine systems work together?

The brain (especially the hypothalamus) directs hormone release to coordinate body responses.