Biological Psych

• Central Nervous System (CNS)


  The brain and spinal cord; receives and processes information from the rest of the body, and generates responses to it
• The Somatic Nervous System (SNS)


  A division of the PNS that controls voluntary responses
• The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)


  A division of the PNS that controls involuntary responses
• The Sympathetic Nervous System


  A division of the ANS that stimulates arousal and activity levels
• The Parasympathetic Nervous System


  A division of the ANS that calms and lowers arousal levels
• Neuron


  Individual nerve cells, these send messages to one another
• Dendrite


  Branch-like structures, protruding out of the Soma. Dendrites are first to receive incoming messages, but only receive one message at a time
• Soma


  The body of the neuron, containing the Nucleus which is responsible for keeping the cell alive and functioning
• Axon


  A thin fibre, which is the long stem-like part of the neuron. Carries information away from the cell body, to the brain and the nervous system
• Myelin Sheath


  The layer of fatty tissue that protects the axon, its important for the speed of transmission of neural impulses
• Axon Terminals


  Branches at the end of the axon, they release chemical substances to enable communication between neurons
• Synapse


  A chemical connection that bridges the gap between two neurons
• Neurotransmitters


  Carry chemical messages across the synapse to the dendrite of a receiver neuron
• Sensory Neurons


  Detect specific forms of external energy and internal stimulation from the body's muscles, organs, and glands
• Afferent Information/Neurons


  Sensory information traveling towards the CNS
• Motor Neurons


  Carry motor information from the CNS to the PNS for a response to be initiated
• Efferent Information/Neurons


  Information moving away from the brain and CNS
• Interneurons


  Located in the CNS, they form a direct connection between motor neurons and sensory neurons. Coordinates the reflex arc which is activated when sensory neurons receive an intense sensation
• Direction of Neural Transmission

  Dendrites, Soma, Axon, Axon terminal, Synapse
• Electro-Chemical Signal


  The way in which neurons communicate
• Hindbrain


  A.k.a the 'Brain stem'. Located at the base of the brain, near the back of the skull. The hindbrain coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord. Contains the Medulla, and the Cerebellum
• Medulla (Hindbrain)


  Located at the base of the brain stem, above the spinal cord. Controls breathing, regulates reflexes, maintains upright posture
• Cerebellum (Hindbrain)


  Located at the back of the skull, behind the brain stem. Coordinates voluntary movements
• Midbrain


  Connects Hindbrain and Forebrain, it's below Cerebral cortex, at the top of Hindbrain. Helps regulate movement and process visual and auditory information
• Reticular Formation (Midbrain)


  Network of neurons which receives data from sensory systems. It coordinates functions of the brain system
• Peripheral nervous system (PNS)


  All of the nerves outside the CNS; the PNS conveys sensory information to the CNS. PNS transmits motor commands from the CNS to the rest of the body