PSY 2012 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Twin Study, Endocrine System, Basal Ganglia

• School: University of Florida
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 2012
• Professor: Rachel Heatherly

Document Summary

Neurons, nerve cells that are specialized for communication with each other, 85 billion on average in each human brain, estimated 160 trillion connections between neurons in the human brain. The neurotransmitters are then picked up by dendrites of other neurons: dendrite, branchlike extensions that receive information from other neurons and pass them on to the cell body. Glutamate excites the nervous system, a glutamate antagonist would block the receptor from receiving glutamate. Spatial learning strengthens neurons related to spatial- related tasks: ex. Neuroplasticity (natural development: 4 steps and replace damaged cells, growth (dendrites/axons actually develop, synaptogenesis, the structures form new synapses, ex. New communication: pruning, excess connections are cut down (streamline, as many as 70% of neurons die off, myelination, what"s left is sealed or insulated. Most actions, functions, and thoughts use multiple parts of the brain at once. The left side of our brains controls the right side of our bodies, and vice versa.