Intro to Psych - Neuroscience Notes

PSYCH Ch. 3 Neurosystem

(Central Nervous System) CNS – Brain & Spinal Cord
(Peripheral) PNS
Soma – cell body, contains nucleus and much of chemical machinery common to most cells
Dendrite – part of neuron that is specialized to receive information
Axon – transmits information away from the soma to other neurons/muscles/glands
Action potential – brief period where channels open and it changes chemical reaction within cell
Absolute Refractory Period – minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin
All or None Law – either fires or doesn’t fire (activating or not)
Thicker axons -- more rapid than thinner
Two neurons never touch
Seizure – change in an electrical energy
ECT – electroshock therapy
Excitatory
Inhibitory

Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine
Alzeheimers
Voluntary muscles & Motor neurons
Attention, arousal, memory
Agonist – chemical that mimics action of neurotransmitter
Antagonist – opposes the action the of the neurotransmitter
Dopamine
Parkinsons’
Schizophrenia
Dopamine hypothesis – having too much causes abnormal activity
Amphetamines increase dopamine levels
Seratonin
Insomnia
Depression, bipolar
Anorexia, bulimia
Norepinephrine
Eating disorders, compulsive disorders
GABA
Anxiety disoreers
Glutamate
Learning and memory
Schizophrenia
Endorphins
Endogenous
Short term… language… visual processing

Hindbrain
Vital parts of the brain to function
Medulla – unconscious but vital functions – circulating blood, breathing, muscle tone, regulating reflexes
If damaged, causes death
Cerebellum – little brain
Coordination of movement
Balance, equilibrium
Drunk intereference
Pons – connects brain stem with cerebellum
Sleep and arousal
Midbrain – between hindbrain & forebrain
Sensory processes (vision hearing)
Reticular
Muscle functioning, pain, breathing
Regulation of sleep and arousal
Forebrain – largest part of the brain
Cerebrum – center