The Nervous System

Biology within psychology

The central nervous system TCNS

consists of the brain and spinal cord

The peripheral nervous system

The nerves outside of your brain and spinal cord. Is further divided into the somatic and autonomic nervous system's.

Somatic nervous system

Muscle control and sensation. A division of the peripheral nervous system.

Autonomic nervous system

Regulation of the unconscious parts of the body, such as heart rate, bladder control, and pupil dilation. This can be divided into the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system. Which work together to achieve homeostasis

Sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations. Fight/flight.

Parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

The neuron

\n The basic unit of processing in the nervous system. Has a special structure. Electrochemical system.

Dendrites

receive messages from other cells

Cell body (soma)

the part of a neuron that coordinates information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive

Axon

A threadlike extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.

Axon terminals (terminal buttons)

Located at the end of the axons to form synapses with the dendrites and cell bodies of other neurons.

Resting state

The state in which the sum of charges is more negative inside the neuron than outside. There is a negative electrical charge of about -70 millivolts within a neuron

Membrane potential of a neuron

\-70mV

Action Potential

When it goes active, pump switch off an ion channels open so that the neuron fells with sodium and becomes positive. This causes a wave of positivity that ripples down the axon.

The synapse

A very narrow gap, where communication between axon and dendrite of different neurons is achieved through molecules that drift across the gap.

Presynaptic neuron

The neuron releasing a neurotransmitter

Postsynaptic neuron

The neuron detecting a neurotransmitter

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with sleep, mood, and learning. It increases pleasure and suppresses appetite.

The cerebral cortex

The outer layer of the brain. Is the seat of higher cognitive functions.

Corpus callosum

A mode of communication between the two hemispheres of the cortex

The left hemisphere

the right hemisphere

* Left hemisphere Controls language, local, small detail
* Right hemisphere Creativity, big picture thinking

1. Frontal Lobe
2. Temporal Lobe
3. Parietal lobe
4. Occipital Lobe

* Associated with higher mental functions and planning of movement. contains the prefrontal cortex, association areas, and primary motor area.
* Mostly for processing sound making it important in language.
* Mostly control sensation, and integrates with the frontal lobe.
* Controls vision.

Cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

Hypothalamus

Regulates emotional behaviours and basic biological functions

Hippocampus

Responsible for memory

Medulla

part of the brain that involuntarily controls the heart and breathing

pons

part of the brain that controls movement and is perched above the medulla

thalamus

takes in sensory information and processes it

amygdala

clusters of neurons involved in memory consolidation and emotion

glial cells

surround, insulate and nourish the cerebral neurons

somatosensory cortex

incoming sensations and a reactionary response from the motor cortex