PSY 201 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Psychological Science, Semipermeable Membrane, Central Nervous System
8 Feb 2018
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Nervous system responsible for what people think, feel or do. Neurons: basic units of this system, nerve cells. Neurons communicate in circuits called neural networks. Central nervous system (cns): brain and the spinal cord. Organizes and evaluates info from pns, tells what to do. Peripheral nervous system (pns): all other nerve cells. Sends information to cns, directed by cns. Sensory neurons: detect info from physical word, and pass that info on to the brain. Somatosensory nerves: provide info from skin and muscle. Motor neurons: tell muscles to contract or relax. Interneurons: communicate within local or short-distance circuits. Integrate neural activity within a single area. Dendrites: short, branch-like appendages that detect chemical signals. Cell body: soma, information received via dendrites. Axon: long narrow outgrowth that transmits electrical impulses. Terminal buttons: knoblike structures at the end of the axon. Synapse: site where chemical communication occurs between neurons. Neuron is covered by a semipermeable membrane.
