PSYO 1011 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Grey Matter, Myelin, Central Nervous System

• School: Dalhousie University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYO 1011
• Professor: Jennifer Stamp

Document Summary

The human genome contains an estimated 25000 to 35000 genes about half of which code for proteins expressed in the brain. Some of these genes are crucial to normal brain development and function. All voluntary actions and automatic processes of the body results from the activity of the nerve cells which are organized in a net of circuits far more complex than any electrical system you could imagine. 2 main parts of the nervous system are: central nervous system; brain and spinal cord, peripheral nervous system; all other nerve cells. Within the peripheral system there is the somatic system (voluntary movement) and autonomic system (involuntary movement) e. g. heart rate, blood pressure. The autonomic system consists of: sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Sympathetic; fight or flight response activates bodily system in times of emergency. Parasympathetic; rest and digest; returns body to restful state. Basic functional unit of the nervous system is the cell.