Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards

What are nerves?

bundled axons of many neurons that form neural cables connecting

the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

What are the three types of neurons?

sensory (afferent), motor(efferent) and interneurons.

sensory neurons

contain afferent nerve fibers, carry information from the sense organs to the CNS

motor neurons

contain efferent neurons, carry messages from the CNS to the muscles and glands

What is the Central Nervous System (CNS) and what does it do?

The CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The CNS is the decision maker… it is responsible for coordinating incoming

sensory messages and outgoing motor messages.

What is the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) and what does it do?

The PNS is made up of sensory and motor neurons. The PNS connects the body to the CNS by gathering information from the senses and transmitting messages from the CNS.

What are the two parts of the peripheral nervous system?

somatic and autonomic

function of the autonomic

controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

(such as the heart) operates automatically

function of the somatic

controls the body’s skeletal muscles also called the skeletal

nervous system

How is the autonomic division further broken down? 

→ sympathetic nervous system: arouses the body, mobilizing its energy; fight or flight response

→ parasympathetic nervous system: calms the body, conserving its energy; rest or digest

functions of the sympathetic nervous system

accelerates heartbeat, raise blood pressure, slows digestion,

raises blood sugar, and cools the body

functions of the parasympathetic nervous system

decelerates heartbeat, lowers blood pressure, stimulates digestion,

processes waste, and calms the body

How do the two parts of the central nervous system function?

The Brain: Comprised of the cortex and subcortical structures

carrying out various functions. Nerves arranged into neural networks.

Spinal Cord: 2-way connection between PNS and brain. Oversees the sensory and motor pathways of reflexes.

How does a reflex occur?

Step 1: Sense receptors in the skin send signals up

through the spinal cord via sensory (afferent) neurons.

Step 2: Interneurons in the spinal cord receive the information from the sensory neurons and send signals back through motor neurons.

Step 3: Motor (efferent) neurons connect to muscles in the body and direct movement.