PSYC10003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Reflex Arc, Autoimmune Disease, Paraplegia
12 Jun 2018
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Lecture 2, Thursday 3 March 2016
PSYC10003 - MIND, BRAIN & BEHAVIOUR 1
NEURONS, GLIA & MECHANISMS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE
NEURON
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
•Begins with visual problems, numbness, weakness of the limbs.
•Ultimately leads to paraplegia, slurred speech, problems with vision and eye movements.
•Frequent ‘attacks’ followed by quiescence or remission.
•Autoimmune disorder that affects the myelin covering nerve cells.
WITHDRAWAL REFLEX
•The spine can initiate simple reflex responses independently of the brain in response to certain
stimuli:
‣The reflex arc is a process by which the response to an incoming stimulus is automatically
reflected back from the spinal cord with no input from the brain. The message is still sent to
the brain, which is why we often feel pain after movement.
‣Different levels of intensity can have different reactions; some really hot things can still be held
with the conscious thought ‘I don’t want to drop this’, whereas some really hot things are so
hot that they can actually stop the motor neuron from firing properly, therefore dropping the
dish.
Lecture 2, Thursday 3 March 2016
PSYC10003 - MIND, BRAIN & BEHAVIOUR 1
Cortex
Cerebellum
Thalamus
Spinal cord
Skin
Document Summary
Neurons, glia & mechanisms of communication with the. Multiple sclerosis: begins with visual problems, numbness, weakness of the limbs, ultimately leads to paraplegia, slurred speech, problems with vision and eye movements, frequent attacks" followed by quiescence or remission, autoimmune disorder that affects the myelin covering nerve cells. Supporting cells: glial cells, provide support, assist with chemical transport to and from neurons, provide insulation, destroy and remove neurons that have died from injury or old age (phagocytosis) Membrane potential; a balance of two forces: diffusion, high low concentration, electrostatic pressure, cations (+) anions (-, + and + repel, - and repel, + and - attract. Axon membrane: diffusion, electrostatic pressure, ions, na, cl, k, a- sodium chloride potassium proteins. Sodium - potassium transporters: sodium-potassium pump, protein molecules in cell membrane pump na+ ions out of the axon, 3 na+/2 k, energy (atp) supplied by mitochondria. The action potential ion exchange across the axon.
