AP Psych Neurons

Sensory neurons

Incoming info from sensory receptors to brain and spinal chord

Motor neurons

Outgoing info from brain and spinal chord to muscles and glands

Interneurons

Communicate internally-sensory inputs and motor inputs

Afferent

Body to brain

Efferent

Brain to body

Somatic

Skeletal muscles

Autonomic

Glands and muscles of internal organs

Sympathetic

Expends energy

Parasympathetic

Conserves energy

Neuron

Single nerve cell, send/transmit specialized information throughout the brain and body

Dentrites

Receive and send messages as impulses to the soma.

Cell body (Soma)

Houses nucleus and maintains cell function

Axon

Tail-like section, transmits neural impulses away from cell body to terminal branches

Myelin Sheath

fatty protective substance-speeds up transmission

Nodes of ranvier

Action potential regenerated

Axon hillock

Connects soma to axon

Terminal buttons

Once received, neurotransmitters released. Message sent from one neuron to the next

Synapse

Space between neurons

Action potential

Neural impulse travel activity

Absolute refractory period

1st dip below resting state—moment in time where neuron won’t be able to fire at all

Relative refractory period

2nd dip—neuron can fire in response to a stronger stimulus

Neurotransmitters (NTs) Excitatory

Causing action in next neuron

Neurotransmitters (NTs) Inhibitory

Inhibits action in next neuron

Neurotransmitters (NTs)

Neuron communication, chemical messengers

Acetylcholine (Ach)

Activates muscles action & memory formation

Dopamine (Da)

Influences movement, learning, attention, emotion. Pleasure systems. Neurotransmitter balance

Serotonin (5-HT)

Influences mood, sleep, arousal, focus, and hunger

Norepinephrine (NE)

Controls alertness, fight or flight response

Gamma-amnibutyric Acid (GABA)

Inhibitory neurotransmitter that acts like a break system. Slow and calm electrical activity of the brain

Glutamate

Exitatory neurotransmitter, involved in memory and thinking tasks, oversupply-migraines or seizures

Agonist

Mimics neurotransmitter and opens receptor site

Antagonist

Blocks NT from opening receptor site