PSY-1200 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Cogito Ergo Sum, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Peripheral Nervous System
Document Summary
Complex network of cells that allow an organism to know what"s going on outside and inside the body, and to respond appropriately. Three most basic (reductionist!) functions of the cns (central nervous. Neuron: the nerve cell which is the fundamental unit of the nervous system. Axon: the fibers in the neuron that carry signals from the cell body out to where communication with neurons occurs. Dendrite: the part of the neuron that receives signals from other neurons and carries them to the cell body. The sequence in more detail (from the beginning) Step 1: stimulation of a sensory receptor. Step 2: neuron responds and sends a message to the next neuron. + and - charged ions exchange, inside and outside & vice-versa (depolarization) This causes gates to open and close creating an electrical impulse or. Speed depends on diameter of the axon (larger one are faster) and presence of myelin (between 0. 2m per second-120m per second)
