General Psychology Chapters 3 & 4

Neuron’s Structure

Semi-permeable membrane allows smaller molecules or molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it and stops the larger or highly charged ones. Incoming electric signals from other neurons are received by the dendrites which then send the signal down the axon.

Dendrites: fingers, axons: arms, cell body: torso.

Neuron Definition

A specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.

Neurotransmitter Definition

A chemical substance that is the messenger of the nervous system

Action Potential

An electric signal that acts on an all-or-none principle - the incoming signal is either sufficient to reach the threshold of excitation or it is not.

Central Nervous System

Brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic: touch, hearing, muscles that move body

Autonomic: internal senses and smooth muscles in gut

Sympathetic: emergency, fight or flight

Parasympathetic: rest and restore, day to day

What connects both hemispheres in the brain?

The Corpus Callosum