The Nervous System

• What is the main function of the nervous system?

  Controls the mind and body
• How does the nervous system transmit information?

  Through neurons
• What types of functions does the nervous system coordinate?

  Conscious and unconscious functions
• What are the two parts of the nervous system?

  Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
• What are the components of the central nervous system?

  • Brain
  • Spinal cord
• What is one of the brain's functions besides thinking?

  Regulating bodily processes
• What connects the brain with the peripheral nervous system?

  The spinal cord
• What does the peripheral nervous system connect?

  Central nervous system with the rest of the body
• What are the two parts of the peripheral nervous system?

  • Somatic nervous system
  • Autonomic nervous system
• What is the role of the somatic nervous system?

  Responsible for voluntary movement
• What does the autonomic nervous system connect?

  Central nervous system with internal organs
• What are the two categories of the autonomic nervous system?

  • Sympathetic
  • Parasympathetic
• What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?

  Increases bodily activity for action
• What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?

  Decreases bodily activity to conserve energy
• What are the main components of a neuron?

  • Dendrite
  • Cell body
  • Axon
  • Axon terminal
• How do neurons transmit signals?

  Electrically within neurons, chemically between neurons
• What is synaptic transmission?

  The process of sending information between neurons
• What is the synaptic cleft?

  The gap between two neurons
• What happens when neurotransmitters bind to receptors?

  They convert back to an electrical signal
• What are the effects of neurotransmitters?

  • Excitatory: Increase likelihood of neuron firing
  • Inhibitory: Decrease likelihood of neuron firing
• What is an example of an excitatory neurotransmitter?

  Glutamate
• What is an example of an inhibitory neurotransmitter?

  Serotonin
• What are the three main types of neurons?

  • Sensory neurons
  • Motor neurons
  • Relay neurons
• What do sensory neurons do?

  Transmit information from senses to CNS
• What do motor neurons do?

  Transmit information between CNS and muscles
• What do relay neurons do?

  Connect neurons to other neurons
• What is the endocrine system responsible for?

  Release of hormones
• What is the role of the pituitary gland?

  Master gland linked to the nervous system
• How do hormones communicate information in the body?

  By binding to specialized receptors in cells
• What is the fight or flight response?

  Activation of the sympathetic nervous system
• What triggers the release of adrenaline?

  The hypothalamus senses a threat
• What are some effects of adrenaline on the body?

  Increases heart rate and dilates bronchioles
• What happens after the threat has passed?

  The parasympathetic nervous system reduces activities
• What are the areas of the brain that students need to know about?

  • Different areas responsible for different functions
  • Neuroplasticity
  • Ways of studying the brain
• What is hemispheric lateralization?

  • Division of the brain into left and right hemispheres
  • Each hemisphere has different functions
• What is the role of the left hemisphere?

  More involved in language processing
• What is the role of the right hemisphere?

  More involved in processing spatial relationships
• What is contralateral processing in the brain?

  Left side of body processed by right hemisphere
• What is split-brain research?

  • Involves cutting the corpus callosum
  • Studies effects on functioning
• What happens when split-brain patients see an image in their right visual field?

  They can describe what they saw