AP Psych Unit 1: 10-41

Central nervous system

consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Perhipheral nervous system

All the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that connect the CNS to the body.

Somatic nervous system

Voluntary control of the skeletal muscles.

Efferent neurons (motor)

Carries messages from the CNS and delivers them to cells in other parts of the body. (actions)

Afferent neurons (sensory)

Carry messages from the body to the CNS (signals)

Autonomic nervous system

Functions operate without conscious effort. (Involuntary)

Sympathetic nervous system

Directs the body to spend energy; activated by a perceived threat in the environment.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Conserves energy and calms the body after an aroused state occurred.

Glial cells

support cells in the nervous system that nourish, protect, and insulate neurons.

Neurons

specialized to respond rapidly to signals and send signals (action potentials) over long distances.

Reflex arc

a simple neural pathway that controls automatic responses by bypassing the brain for a faster reaction.

Multiple Sclerosis

a disease where the myellin sheath disintegrates, causing slower/blocked neural communication.

Mysathenia Gravis

a disorder where the body’s immune system blocks acetylcholine receptor sites, causing muscle weakness.

Interneurons

• these relay messages between neurons in the central nervous system

• middlemen of neural communication

Neural Transmission

the process of sending signals between neurons through electrical impulses and neural transmitters.