VCE Psychology Units 3/4 Chapter 2 Nervous System Functioning Rated A

VCE Psychology Units 3/4 Chapter 2 Nervous System Functioning Rated A Autonomic nervous system A self regulating subdivision of the PNS that connects the CNS to internal organs, glands and visceral muscles providing feedback to the brain about their activities Axon A single, tube-like, extension that carries neural information away from the neuron, towards the Axon terminals Axon terminals The end part of an axon collateral where terminal buttons that store and secrete neurotransmitter are located Central nervous system The brain and spinal chord; processes information received from internal and external environments and activates responses (Receive, Process, Coordinate Response) Conscious response A reaction to a sensory stimulus that involves awareness Dendrite An extension of the neuron that detects and receives information from other neurons Excitatory effect When a neurotransmitter stimulates a postsynaptic neuron to perform it's functions Gamma-amino butyric acid The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system Glutamate The primary excitatory neurotransmitter for information transmission throughout the brain; plays crucial roles in the growth and strengthening of synaptic connections during learning and memory formation Inhibitory effect When a neurotransmitter blocks or prevents a postsynaptic neuron from firing and therefore performing its functions Lock-and-key process Describes chemical neurotransmission as involving neurotransmitter with a distinctive shape that precisely matches the shape of a receptor site on the postsynaptic neuron where it will bind or attach to its receptors Myelin White, fatty substance covering and insulating the axon Neuron Individual nerve cell Neurotransmitter A chemical substance produced by a neuron that carries a message to other neuron cells in muscles, organs, glands or other tissue Parasympathetic nervous system A sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that helps to maintain the internal body environment in a steady, balanced state Parkinson's disease A CNS neurodegenerative disorder characterised by both motor and non-motor symptoms, such as tremor, muscle rigidity, postural instability and problems with cognitive function Peripheral nervous system Carries sensory info to the CNS and motor messages from the CNS to muscles, organs and glands. Somatic nervous system a sub-division of the PNS that carries info to the CNS and motor info from the CNS Spinal cord The long, thin bundle of nerve tissue that extends from the base of the brain to the lower back; links the brain and the parts of the body below the neck (CNS to the PNS) Spinal reflex An unconscious, involuntary and automatically occurring response to certain stimuli, sourced within the spinal cord and without any involvement of the brain Sympathetic nervous system A sub-division of the ANS that arouses the body for vigorous activity or to deal with stressful or threatening situations Synapse The site of communication between adjacent neurons Synaptic gap The tiny space between the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron and the dendrite of a