This summary focuses on the Biology of Behaviour. It contains: terminology, communication in the nervous systems, neurons, glia, neural impulse, action potentials, synapse, neurotransmitters, characteristics and organisation of the nervous system, peripheral nervous system, central nervous system,...
Neurons: Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate and transmit information
The nervous system is a complex communication network which signals are constantly being
received, integrated and transmitted.
Soma/Cell body: contains the cell nucleus and most other structures common to most cells
Dendrites: are the part of a neuron that are specialized to receive information
Axon: is a long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons or to
muscles or glands
Myelin Sheath: is a white, fatty substance (insulating material) that encases some axons
It aids in accelerating transmission of signals along axon
Terminal Buttons: (end of Axon) are small knobs that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Synapse: is a junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another
Glia: Cells found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support neurons
Resting potential of a neuron: is its stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive
Action potential: is a very brief shift in a neuron’s electrical charge that travels along an axon.
Absolute refractory period: is the minimum length of time after an action potential, during which
another action potential cannot begin.
Synaptic cleft: a microscopic gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the cell
membrane of another neuron.
Presynaptic neuron: A neuron sending a signal.
Postsynaptic neuron: A neuron receiving a signal.
Neurotransmitters: chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another.
Synaptic vesicles: sacs in which neurotransmitters are stored.
Receptor sites: sites which are specifically tuned to recognize and respond to some
neurotransmitters and not to others.
Postsynaptic potential: a voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane.
Reuptake: a process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by
presynaptic membranes.
Agonist: a chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.
Antagonist: a chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter.
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, Peripheral Nervous System: is made up of all those nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal
cord.
Nerves: bundles of neuron fibres (axons) that are routed together in the peripheral nervous
system
Somatic Nervous System (SNS): made up of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles
and to sensory receptors
Afferent nerve fibres: are axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from
periphery of body
Efferent nerve fibres: are axons that carry information outward from the central nervous system
to the periphery of the body
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): made up of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels,
smooth muscles and glands
Sympathetic division: is the branch of the ANS that mobilizes the body’s resources for
emergencies
Parasympathetic division: is the branch of the ANS that conserves bodily resources
Broca’s Aphasia: communication disorder resulting from damage to the language centres of the
brain
Split-brain surgery: the bundle of fibres that connects the cerebral hemispheres (corpus
callosum) is cut to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures
Communication in the Nervous System
Nervous Tissue: The Basic Hardware
The brain is the origin of the cognitive and psychological dimensions of human behaviour
Nervous system = living tissue composed of cells
Two components: Gila and Neurons
Neurons
Definition: Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate and transmit
information
Types of neurons: sensory and motor, but most are interneurons
Some neurons communicate with other neurons – interneurons
Some receive signals from outside the nervous system (sensory organs) and relay it to
the brain – sensory (afferent)
Carry messages from the nervous system via spinal cord to the muscles that move the
body – motor (efferent) – results in the movement/stimulation of muscles/glands
Soma/Cell body contains the cell nucleus and most other structures common to most cells
Rest of the neuron Devoted to dendrites (individual branches)
Dendrites are the part of a neuron that are specialized to receive information
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