PSYC 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Peripheral Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System, Central Nervous System
Document Summary
Psyc 1 lecture 2 part 3: the biology of mind. Parts of the neuron (nerve cells): dendrites, axon, myelin sheath (fatty outer covering on axons of some neurons; speeds up action potential of nerve impulses) Glial cells (glia): supporting, insulation, nerve cell. Refractory period: brief moment after the neuron is fired that it can"t fire again: building up negative charge. Threshold: if it is met, the neuron will fire. All-or-none response: there is enough stimulation for the neuron to fire, or there is not enough stimulation and it does not fire. Parts of the nervous system (body"s communication network): cns: central nervous system; brain and spinal cord, pns: peripheral nervous system; everything else. Sympathetic nervous system: arouses the body; increased heart rate, blood pressure, size of pupils, slows down digestion. Parasympathetic nervous system: calms the body; decreases heart rate, blood pressure, facilitates digestion.
