Mr. Sinn unit 2 ultimate study guide Ap psycology

Topic 2.3- Overview of the Nervous System and the Neuron

1. What is the difference between the central and peripheral nervous system? The CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord, it sends out orders to the body. The PNS consists of the different nerves that branch off from the brain and spine

2. Describe the different parts of the peripheral nervous system. (Sensory & Motor) The sensory division is made of afferent neurons that pick up sensory information from outside stimuli and send impulses to the brain about that information. The motor division uses efferent neurons to send impulses from the brain to the muscles and glands of the body to tell them to move

3. How do afferent neurons differ from efferent neurons? Afferent neurons are sending impulses to the brain from the body and outside stimuli, while efferent neurons send impulses from the brain to the rest of the body to control movement and more

4. Explain the difference between the somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system includes voluntary movements in your skeletal muscles and five senses. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary actions, this is what keeps you breathing and digesting food

5. Identify the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic division & parasympathetic division

6. What is the function of the two different autonomic nervous systems? The sympathetic division mobilizes your body, it makes your heart beat faster, your eyes dilate, and your breathing increases. The parasympathetic division relaxes your body, it slows your heart rate, increases your digestion, and focuses on saving and storing energy

7. What is a glial cell? A cell that provides support to the nervous system, providing neurons with nutrients. They are the most abundant cell in the nervous system

Topic 2.4- Neural Firing

• What is action potential? This is when a neuron fires an electrical impulse down the axon

1. What must happen for an action potential to occur? An outside stimulus must cause a neuron to cross a specific threshold (typically 55 -55mV), this causes the neuron to depolarize as positive ions enter the neuron which causes an electrical signal to be sent down the axon

2. What does permeability mean? This is the ability for some ions to cross the membrane more easily than others

3. Complete the table below.

When there is more positive ions outside the membrane of the neuron, here the neuron

When the strong negative charge of the inside of the cell has enough positive ions enter so that the charge changes from around - 70mV to at least -55mV. This will trigger the

The process in which the neuron goes back to its resting potential, channels will open

A time when the neuron can not fire, the neuron is waiting for repolarization to occur.

Topic 2.4- Neural Firing (Continued)

1. Describe the synapse. A small pocket of space between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of the next neuron, less than 1 millionth of an inch

2. What is the difference between an electrical synapse and chemical synapse? Electrical synapses are used for messages that need to be sent quickly and immediately, one neuron is typically connected to another. Chemical synapses use neurotransmitters to deliver messages across a synaptic gap, which takes more time than an electrical synapse

3. What is a neurotransmitter? A chemical messenger sent by a neuron, normally categorized as excitatory or inhibitory

4. Define the synaptic gap. A narrow space between two neurons, specifically the presynaptic terminal of one neuron and the postsynaptic terminal of the next neuron

5. Describe the difference between the presynaptic terminal and postsynaptic terminal. The ends of neurons that are connected by a synapse. The presynaptic terminal bud contains neurotransmitters to be released. The postsynaptic receives the neurotransmitters from the synapse

6. What does reuptake mean? This is when the sending neuron at the presynaptic terminal, reabsorbs neurotransmitters from the synapse

7. Explain how an excitatory neurotransmitter and inhibitory neurotransmitter impact a neuron. Excitatory neurotransmitters will increase the likelihood that a neuron will fire an action potential, while inhibitory neurotransmitters will decrease the likelihood that a neuron will fire an action potential

8. What is hyperpolarization? This is when the inside of a neuron becomes more negative which moves it farther away from its threshold or intensity needed for an action potential

9. Complete the table below.

Topic 2.5- Influence of Drugs on Neural Firing

1. Describe the difference between agonists and antagonists drugs. Agonist drugs will increase the effects of a certain neurotransmitter, while agonist drugs will minimize the effects of a neurotransmitter or stop them completely

2. Explain how agonist drugs impact receptors in the synapse. Agonist drugs work by either binding to receptors that are made for a certain neurotransmitter so that the body will act as though there are more of that neurotransmitter or will block the normal reuptake so that there are more of that neurotransmitter that will stay in the synapse available to be used

3. Explain how antagonist drugs impact receptors in the synapse. Antagonist drugs will either block the receptors on the postsynaptic neuron so that the neurotransmitters are not able to bind to them or will block the release of the neurotransmitter from the presynaptic axon terminal

4. Identify an example of an agonist substance and describe its impact on the body. Examples include; 1)

Anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax, which increases the neurotransmitter GABA, which calms the person down. 2) Prozac, which delays the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin, making it more available and helping elevate or stabilize the person's mood. 3) Opioids, which act like the neurotransmitter endorphins, which will help relieve pain and boost happiness. 4) Alcohol, which will bind to GABA receptors, which is why a person can get tired/relaxed from drinking

5. Identify an example of an antagonist substance and describe its impact on the body. Examples include; 1) Schizophrenia medication, which blocks the receptors for dopamine because the person is thought to have an excess amount and will reduce their symptoms. 2) Alcohol, which will block the release of glutamate, which slows down the body's neural activity, such as slurred speech.

Topic 2.6- The Brain (Continued)

1. What are the three major regions of the brain and their locations? 1) Hindbrain, located at the bottom of the brain 2) Midbrain up from the base of the brain and is surrounded by the forebrain 3) Forebrain is the top of the brain and is what most people visualize about the brain

2. Explain what brain lateralization is. This is the differing functions between the right and left hemispheres of the brain

3. Describe what roles the left and right brain are better at due to hemispheric specialization. An individual is not right or left brained. The left hemisphere is generally better at recognizing words, letters, interpreting language, and the right hemisphere is generally better at spatial concepts, facial recognition, and discerning direction Topic 2.7- Tools for Examining Brain Structures and Function

1. Explain what happened to Phineas Gage. He was a railroad worker who was injured by an explosion where a rod shot clean through his head. He was able to walk and suffered no cognitive defects, but had a severe personality change. This was because his limbic system was severed and his frontal lobe was damaged

2. What are Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga known for? Split-brain research

3. Why would someone have a split brain procedure done? To treat severe epilepsy

4. Describe what happens to an individual when the corpus callosum is cut. The right and left hemisphere can no longer communicate. There is no loss of intelligence or change in a person's personality

5. What happened to a split-brain patient when shown a word in their right visual field? The patient would be able to say the word, because the word would be processed by the left hemisphere of the brain, which processes language

6. Explain when lesion studies would be used. This is when doctors or researchers will destroy specific parts of the brain, with the goal of treating a disorder, or gaining insight into different functions of the brain because they can isolate a specific area at a time to research

7. Identify two benefits to performing an autopsy on an individual's brain. 1) Helps understand the extent of a disease 2) Provides information for an individual's next of kin 3) Helps understand cause of death

Topic 2.8- The Adaptable Brain

1. What is neuroplasticity? The ability for the brain to change, modify itself, or repair itself

2. Identify three ways in which the brain can be damaged. 1) Tumors 2) Infections 3) A Stroke 4) Neurotoxins 5) |

Genetic factors 6) Head injuries

1. What happens when you learn new information or practice old skills? The brain creates neural pathways and the more you practice a skill or study information the more developed the path becomes

2. What is an individual's consciousness? When an individual is awake and aware of their exteral stimuli and their own mental activity

Topic 2.8- The Adaptable Brain

1. What is neuroplasticity? The ability for the brain to change, modify itself, or repair itself

2. Identify three ways in which the brain can be damaged. 1) Tumors 2) Infections 3) A Stroke 4) Neurotoxins 5) |

Genetic factors 6) Head injuries

1. What happens when you learn new information or practice old skills? The brain creates neural pathways and the more you practice a skill or study information the more developed the path becomes

2. What is an individual's consciousness? When an individual is awake and aware of their exteral stimuli and their own mental activity

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Topic 2.8- The Adaptable Brain (Continued)

5. Explain how Sigmund Frued and William James viewed consciousness. James argued our consciousness was a

Topic 2.9- Sleep and Dreaming

1. What is the circadian rhythm? The body's biological clock, that involves changing blood pressure, internal temperature, hormones, and regulates the sleep-wake cycle. (repeats every 24 hours) |

2. Complete the table below.
   Why Do We Sieep?
   Restoration Theory

We get tired from daily activities and we sleep to restore our energy and resources

Adaptive Theory

Sleep allows us to conserve energy so we can save it for when we will need it most.

Focuses on the evolutionary aspects of sleep and how it protects us

Information processing theory

Focuses on how sleep allows us to restore and build memories

1. What type of neuroimaging technique can be used to visualize the sleep cycle? EEG

2. Describe the difference between alpha waves and beta waves. Alpha waves are high in amplitude and slower, these occur when you are feeling relaxed. Beta waves are low in amplitude and are the fastest brain waves, they occur when you are engaged in mental activities

3. Describe the difference between theta waves and delta waves. Theta waves are greater in amplitude compared to beta/alpha waves and even slower in frequency, they are strong during mediation, and periods of relaxation.

Delta waves have the greatest amplitude and slowest frequency, and occur when you are the most relaxed, oftentimes during your deepest levels of sleep

6. Complete the table below.

Stages of Sleep

Description

Brain Waves

NREM Stage 1

Very light sleep that only lasts between 5-10 minutes. Here your body will start to relax and your mind starts to slow

Alpha waves

NREM Stage 2

Transitional stage. Normally it only lasts 10-20 minutes. Characterized by k-complexes and sleep spindles