Nervous system and neurons

Psychology, Unit 3, AOS1

human nervous system

Its three main functions is to receive, process, and respond to information. It receives sensory info and then processes it and stores it appropriately, then creates a motor response from that info.

Central nervous system

Receives sensory information from the PNS and transfers motor information back to the PNS.

Brain

Responsible for everything we feel, do and think. Has a big role in planning, thoughts, and decision making.

Spinal cord

A long cable of nerve fibers that passes sensory information to the brain and transmits motor information from the brain to the body.

Autonomic nervous system

Detects incoming internal information

, such as heart beating faster, and sends that to the CNS. Control involuntary responces

Peripheral nervous system

Sends sensory information to the CNS and receives motor information from the CNS.

Somatic nervous system

Detects incoming external sensory information from eyes, ears, and nose such as a bug being on us and transmits it to the

CNS; initiates voluntary movements.

Sympathetic nervous system

Prepares the body for action during potential threats; activates the fight/flight/freeze response.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Counterbalances the sympathetic nervous system, returning the body to its normal functioning levels.

Enteric nervous system

Controls communication between the gut and brain and regulates the digestive tract.

Spinal reflex

Involves the somatic nervous system, occurs in the spinal cord, where sensory neurons communicate with interneurons to activate motor neurons, bypassing the brain.

Conscious response

A deliberate and voluntary response controlled by the brain.

Unconscious response

An involuntary response that bypasses the brain and occurs without awareness.

Sensory neurons

Sensory (afferent) neurons detect incoming stimuli and send info the the cns for processing

Motor neurons

Motor (efferent) neurons carry information from the CNS to
skeletal muscles that carry out voluntary motor movements

Interneurons

Neurons that connect sensory and motor neurons, facilitating communication between them.

Dopamine

A neuromodulator associated with pleasure and happiness that can exert both inhibitory and excitatory effects on neurons. Too much = Mental health issues, addiction from reward pathway. Too little = depression

Excitatory effect

When a post-synaptic neuron is more likely to fire an action potential due to neurotransmitter action.

GABA

The main inhibitory neurotransmitter and has a role in calming down yourself. Too much = Tiredness, too little = anxiety and stress

Glutamate

The main excitatory neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory. Too much = anxiety, too little = low energy, poor concentration

Inhibitory effect

When a post-synaptic neuron is less likely to fire an action potential due to neurotransmitter action.

Neuromodulator

affect multiple post-synaptic neurons, they’re slower, and two of them are dopmaine and serotnin.

Neurotransmitter

Connects one neuron to another, they are quick, and they include GABA and glumtamate

Serotonin

An inhibitory neuromodulator that helps to balance mood and regulate the sleep-wake cycle by counteracting excessive excitatory effects. Too much = serotinin syndrome, too little = depression and anxiety

Synaptic gap

The space where neurotransmitters cross from the terminal buttons of the pre-synaptic neuron to the dendrites of the post-synaptic neuron.

Synaptic vesicle

Structures that contain and release neurotransmitters, located in the axon terminal.

Long term depression

A relatively permanent weakening of synaptic connections due to low levels of activation.

Long term potentiation

A relatively permanent strengthening of synaptic connections due to high levels of activation.

Pruning

The elimination of weak and unused synaptic connections and pathways, optimizing neural efficiency.

Rerouting

The creation of alternative neural pathways due to damage or loss of neurons, ensuring continued communication.

Sprouting

The development of new dendrites on neurons to enhance connectivity with other neurons.

Synaptic plasticity

The ability of synaptic connections to change in response to experience, facilitating learning.

Synaptogenesis

The process of forming new synaptic connections between neurons, similar to sprouting

Afferent neurons

Help to detect stimuli from the environment, and carries signals from the PNS to the CNS

Efferent neuron

Also known as motor neurons, that carry, transmit, and send motor impulses away from the CNS and PNS and cause a response, and makes muscle movement.

Neuron

They are nerve cells in the brain and body that receive, process, and transmit information.

receptor sites

They are located on the end of a dendrite, and they either make a post-synaptic neuron more likely/ less likely to fire an action potential.

synapse

Is the communication between two neurons, where signal are transmittered

reward pathways

a system in the brain that makes us feel motivation when we do something enjoyable because dopamine is released, and then by getting a reward it makes us want to repeat the activitie