Unit 3 AOS1 Nervous System Functioning Psychology

Neuron

nerve cell

Sensory Information

Information from the environment which is collected from your five senses.

Motor Information

Information regarding instructions from the brain regarding movement.

Sensory neuron

Nerve cells that send messages towards the central nervous system (located in the peripheral nervous system)

Motor neuron

Nerve cells that send messages away from the central nervous system (located in the peripheral nervous system)

Interneuron

neurons within the central nervous system that communicate information between sensory and motor neurons

Dendrite

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information from other neurons.

Axon Terminal

Found at the end of the axon branch. Stimulates the release of neurochemicals from the terminal buttons

Synapse

Communication site made up of the axon terminals buttons of the presynaptic neuron, synaptic gap and dendrites of the postsynaptic neuron

synaptic gap

Tiny space between the axon terminal buttons of the pre-synaptic neuron and the dendrites of the post synaptic neuron.

Central Nervous System

includes the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

made up of every neuron (nerve cells) in the body outside of the CNS

Somatic Nervous System

Responsible for controlling all voluntary movements

Autonomic Nervous System

responsible for initiating the responses of the body's visceral muscles (found in organs) and glands

Sympathetic Nervous System

Activates the body to deal with stressors (e.g. exercise, a threat)

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Restores the body to normal following sympathetic nervous system activation.

Spinal Reflex

Is automatic, unconscious and involuntary response to sensory stimuli that is initiated at the spinal cord, with no involvement of the brain.

presynaptic neuron

sending neuron

postsynaptic neuron

receiving neuron

conscious response

Voluntary or intentional reaction

unconscious response

Involuntary or unintentional reaction