Overview of nervous system: Nervous system: network of cells that carries info from all parts of the body

(print page 46) Neuroscience: branch of life sciences that deals with the structure and function of neurons, nerves, and nervous tissue. Biological psychology or behavioral neuroscience: branch of neuroscience that focuses on biological bases of psychological processes, behavior, and learning. Neuron: basic cell that makes up the nervous system and that receives and send messages within the system. (10% of the cells); nervous systems building block

Structure of neuron: Dendrites: receivers; branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons Soma: cell body of neuron responsible for maintaining life of the cell Axon: senders tubelike structure that carries the neural message to other cells Myelin: protection; fatty substances produced by glial cells that coat the axons of neurons to insulate, protect and speed up neural impulse Synaptic knob: contains synaptic vesicles; next to it is a dendrite, but between them there is a synapse - excitatory (on), turns the neighboring neuron on - inhibitory (off), does not fire, turns the neighboring neuron off Synaptic Vesicles: contained in the synaptic knob

Glial cells: 90% of the brain; cells that provide support for the neurons to grow on and around, deliver nutrients to neurons, produce myelin to coat axons, clean up waste products and dead neurons, influence information processing and influence generation of new neurons Nerves: axons coated in myelin that travel together throughout the body Myelin: produced by the glial cells oligodendrocytes (central nervous) and Schwann cells (peripheral nervous).

Generating the message within the neuron: The neural impulse Neuron at rest: electrically charged. Inside the cell, there is a semiliquid solution with ions (potassium +, protein -) Outside the cell, theres semiliquid solution with ions (sodium +, chloride -) *resting potential Action potential: electrical charge reversal, when sodium floods in the cells. (50 millivolts); wave of communication *All or none, the neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all

Neurotransmitters: Messengers of the Network Antagonist: the blockers; reduces effect of neurotransmitters Agonists: the enhancers, enhances effect of neurotransmitters

*Major Neurotransmitters

1. Acetylcholine excitatory or inhibitory, involves arousal, attention, memory, and controls muscle contractions 2. Seratonin excitatory or inhibitory, mood, sleep, apetite 3. GABA( Gamma-aminobutyric acid) major inhibitory neurotransmitter, sleep and inhibits movement 4. Glutamate major excitatory neurotransmitter; learning, memory formation, nervous system development, and synaptic plasticity 5. Norepinephrine mainly excitatory, arousal and mood 6. Dopamine excitatory or inhibitory; control of movement and sensations of pleasure 7. Endorphins inhibitory neural regulators, pain relief Cleaning up the Synapse: Reuptake and Enzymes Reuptake: neurotransmitters taken back into synaptic vesicles Enzymatic degradation: neurotransmitters are broken into the synaptic gap, faster than reuptake

The Central Nervous System: The Central Processing Unit Brain: commander Spinal Cord: messenger - The reflex arc: - afferent neurons: sensory - efferent neurons: motor - interneurons: connect afferent and efferent

The Peripheral Nervous System: Nerves on the Edge 1. Somatic Senses and motor; voluntary muscles, 2. Automatic involuntary. - Sympathetic: fight or flight; gets body ready to deal with stress - Parasympathetic rest and digest Distant Connections: The Endocrine Glands Endocrine glands secrete hormones in the bloodstream 1. Pituitary gland (brain): master gland, human growth hormone, communicates with other endocrine glands 2. Pineal gland (brain): melatonin (tracks day length) 3. Thyroid gland (neck): metabolism (thyroxin) 4. Pancreas: sugar level 5. Gonads (ovaries, testes): sexual development and behavior 6. Adrenal glands (kidney): adrenaline; over 30 hormones released

Looking Inside the Living Brain

Deep lesioning: destruction of brain cells using electric current Shallow lesioning: cells on the surface or just below it are destroyed Electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB): stimulate neural activity using mild electrical current Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) invasive