AP psych difficult terms

How do we taste

Chewing mixes it with saliva, it goes to Fungiform papille (which has 3-5 taste buds each, Then, this into goes to Cranial Nerve 7 (and other ones). Cranial nerve 7 releases action potential into the neurons into the thalamus, which release neurotransmitters into the gustatory cortex.

How do we smell

Odor molecules go to the hair cells in the nose which release action potential. This action potential goes to neurons in the olfactory bulb, which releases neurotransmitters into the hippocampus

How do we feel touch?

Somatosensory receptors fire, which are extensions to afferent neurons. The Afferent neurons fire, releasing neurotransmitters into the spinal chord. Neurotransmitters then go to the Thalamus, then somatosensory cortex, then the homonculus, then they finally release substance P

How do we balance

Fluid moves in the semicircular sacs which are located in the inner ear. This fluid then pushes hair cells, which send neurotransmitters to the vestibular nerve

How does the eye fire?

Light is bent by the cornea, and it enters the pupil. The Iris controls the size of the pupil based on light. Then, the light goes through the lens, which focuses it on the retina. The retina contains rods and cones (photoreceptor cells), which take this light and convert it into neurotransmitters, which fire into bipolar cells. The bipolar cells pass these neurotransmitters on to the ganglion cells, which make up the optic nerve. Then, the impulses from the optic nerve enter the thalamus.

How do we hear things?

Sound is focused on the eardrum by the Cochlea. This sound vibrates the eardrum, which vibrates the tiny bones in the ear (the malleus, incus and stapes). The Stapes (last of these bones) taps on the Cochlea, creating vibrations in it. The hair cells (cillia) in the cochlea vibrate, sending neurotransmitters to the auditory nerve. Then, the auditory nerve sends these neurotransmitters to the thalamus, which then sends them to the auditory cortex.