Week 3 - Biological Bases: Neural Processes

consists of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

[The nervous system consists] of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

[______] carry sensory information from sensory receptors to the CNS

[Afferent/sensory neurons] carry sensory information from sensory receptors to the CNS

[___] [___] transmit commands from the brain to the glands and muscles of the body

[Efferent/motor neurons] transmit commands from the brain to the glands and muscles of the body

[_____] connect neurons with one another

[Interneurons] connect neurons with one another

When a neuron is at rest (its [____]), it is [___], with a [___] inside the [____] and a [_______] outside.

When a neuron is at rest (its [resting potential]), it is [polarised], with a [ - negative charge - ] inside the [cell membrane] and a [ + positive charge + ] outside.

[___.___] are the spreading voltage changes along the cell membrane that occur as the neuron is [___.___.___.___]

[Graded potentials] are the spreading voltage changes along the cell membrane that occur as the neuron is [excited by other neurons]

An [____.____] is the ‘firing’ of the neuron or a [____] impulse

An [action potential] is the ‘firing’ of the neuron or a [nerve] impulse

The [_____.____] is a collection of glands that control various bodily functions through the selection of [___]

The [endocrine system] is a collection of glands that control various bodily functions through the selection of [hormones]

The CNS is like a control center, mainly controlling the [___] and [___]

The CNS is like a control center, mainly controlling the [brain] and [spinal cord]

The PNS receives information, mainly acting in the [___] and [____]

The PNS receives information, mainly acting in the [nerves] and [ganglia]

Sensory neurons are otherwise known as…

afferent neurons

Motor neurons are otherwise known as…

efferent neurons

Fill in the blanks

1. Outside of the cell there is a high concentration of [___] charged [___] ions.

2. Inside the cell there are fewer [___] charged [___] ions as well as large [____] charged proteins.

3. This means that the [___] of the cell is positively charged whereas the [___] of the cell is negatively charged.

1. Outside of the cell there is a high concentration of [positively] charged [sodium] ions.

2. Inside the cell there are fewer [positively] charged [potassium] ions as well as large [negatively] charged proteins.

3. This means that the [outside] of the cell is positively charged whereas the [inside] of the cell is negatively charged.

4. The resting potential of the cell membrane is equal to a net charge of [____].

4. The resting potential of the cell membrane is equal to a net charge of [-70mV].

Which of the following is serotonin responsible for regulating?

A. mood

b. appetite
c. circadian rhythm

d. sleep

e. all of the above

e

a neurotransmitter that
triggers your fight or flight response

increases heart rate

primes muscle

norepinephrine

Which neurotransmitter

influences emotion

makes you feel good

dopamine

Which neurotransmitters decrease and increase neural firing from the following:

Inhibitory
excitatory

excitatory increases
(grease the wheels of neural communication)

inhibitory decreases
applies the breaks

The threshold for the action potential is ___

-55 mV

Summation occurs at the [____]

axon hillock

What are the two subdivisions of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

The somatic nervous system (SNS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Name 6 excitatory neurotransmitters

• Glutamate – The most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, important for learning and memory.

• Acetylcholine (ACh) – Excitatory in many areas (e.g., muscle contractions, cognitive functions).

• Dopamine (sometimes) – Involved in reward, motivation, and movement (can be both excitatory and inhibitory).

• Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline) – Increases alertness, arousal, and attention (part of the fight-or-flight response).

• Epinephrine (Adrenaline) – Plays a role in energy and emergency responses.

• Histamine – Involved in wakefulness and immune responses.