Hular, Diane S.

Physiological Psychology
Reaction Paper on Nervous system The nervous system is the most complex part of the body, as they govern our thoughts, feelings, and bodily functions. The nervous system is very important because it relays all messages from the brain, which is the control center of the body, to the rest of the organs in the body. It is the control system for all our actions, thinking and behaviour. The nervous system is like a manager inside our body. Its job is to control and coordinate the parts of our body so that they work together, doing their job at the right time. It receives information from the surroundings, processes it, interprets it and then responds accordingly. It also passes information from one internal system to another. .The nervous system is made up of 2 parts, the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord and it coordinates all of your bodys actions. The brain is the control center of the nervous system and is divided into 3 main parts. The cerebrum, which is divided into 2 halves called hemispheres connected by bundles of nerves and controls all conscious activity such as memory, language, and intelligence. The cerebellum, located on the back of the brain, controls balance, coordination, and posture. The last part of the brain is the brain stem. It is made up of the medulla oblongata, the pons, and the midbrain. The medulla oblongata controls involuntary actions such as breathing and heart rate. The peripheral nervous system is also divided into 2 sections, the somatic and the autonomic. The somatic is made up of 12 pairs of cranial nerves from the brain, 31 pairs of spinal nerves from the spinal cord and all their branches. The somatic relays information between the central nervous system and skeletal muscles. The autonomic nervous system carries impulses from the central nervous system to internal organs. The autonomic nervous system is also made up of 2 parts, the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system controls internal function during times of stress. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system controls many of the bodys internal functions when the body is not at rest. The basic unit of structure and function of all the nervous systems is called a neuron. Neurons are shaped differently de ending on where they are in the body and what role they play. All neurons have finger-like projections called dendrites and a long fibre called an axon. In many cases, the axon is coated by a specialised membrane called a myelin sheath. The axon feathers out and has a number of bumps on it. Each bump sits near to a dendrite from another neurone. The space between the bump and the dendrite is called a synapse. Messages jump the synapse from one neurone to the next, using special chemicals called neurotransmitters. Unlike other cells in the body, neurones arent easily replaced if they die or are damaged by infection or injury. Form our discussion I've learned that if you can figure out how the mind and nervous system work we can help figure out why we as people do the things we do. Studying the nervous system helps explain our reactions, emotions, and studying the parts of the brain helps us to know how we control our speech, motor skills, and many other things. It is important for psychologists to appreciate how the nervous system is organized because the nervous system is the biological site of human psychology.

Hular, Diane S. Physiological Psychology

Development of the brain Most people believe that at age five children are just starting to learn. In fact, the brain absorbs more from birth to age five rather than from age five on. Parents and family can do many things to aid in the development of a babys brain, ultimately assisting in their learning. The sequence and rate at which the brain develops predicts the optimal times for a baby to learn. Sequence and rate is measured by milestones that a baby may reach by a certain age. Experiences are one thing that helps promote brain development. Our five senses give us these experiences. The brain is influenced in many different ways. The most important factors in brain development start with genetics, nutrition, and responsiveness from parents, daily experiences, and physical interactions. Parents need to know that children are learning and accepting more information that a fully grown adult. Children need positive and sensitive feedback from family.People used to think that human brain is biologically determined. This means that the brain would develop genetically through family, but I disagree as leading technology and science proved that the brain is not predetermined genetically by family. The brain matures through the five senses: smell, touch, vision, taste, and hearing. The experiences that the five senses bring are very crucial to help build the connections that guide brain development.