Psych

dendrites

receive signals

cell body (soma)

processes info

axon

sends signals

myelin sheath

speeds transmission

axon terminals

release neurotransmitters

synapse

gap between neurons where communication occurs

brain process

electrical signals travel down axon, neurotransmitters released, bind to receptors on next neuron

action potential

• a rapid electrical impulse

• triggered when threshold is reached

• all or none principle: fires fully or not at all

• starts negative

• includes

  • depolarization (Na+ in)

  • depolarization (K+ out)

dopamine

reward, movement

serotonin

mood, sleep

acetylcholine

muscle movement, memory

norepinephrine

alertness

GABA

inhibitory (calming)

glutamate

excitatory

central nervous system (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

somatic and automatic

somatic

voluntary movement

autonomic

involuntary

• sympathetic -“fight or flight”

• parasympathetic - “rest and digest”

left side of brain

language and logic

right side of brain

spatial and creativity

10% myth

we use ALL PARTS of the brain, not just 10%

hippocampus

memory formation

amygdala

emotion (especially fear)

frontal lobe

decision making, personality, motor

parietal lobe

touch, spatial awareness

temporal lobe

hearing, memory

occipital lobe

vision

brain development

develops from inside to outward

lower brain

basic survival - develops first

cortex

higher thinking - develops later

brain development order

survival then emotion then reasoning

sensory adaption

reduced sensitivity (biological)

habituation

reduced attention (psychological)

absolute threshold

minimun stimulus detected 50% of time