PSYC 1020H Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Peripheral Nervous System, Somatic Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System
3 May 2018
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The Biological Bases Of Behaviour
Communication in the Nervous System
● Neurons are the basic communication links in the nervous system. They normally
transmit a neural impulse ( an electric current) along an axon to a synapse with
another neuron. The neural impulse is a brief change in a neuron’s electrical
charge that moves along an axon. It is an all-or-none event.
● Action potentials trigger the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters that
diffuse across a synapse to communicate with other neurons. Transmitters bind
with receptors in the postsynaptic cell membrane, causing excitatory or inhibitory
PSPs. Most neurons are linked in neural pathways, circuits, and networks.
● ACh plays a key role in muscular movement. Disturbances in the activity of the
monoamine transmitters have been related to the development of depression
and schizophrenia. GABA is a widely distributed inhibitory transmitter.
Endorphins contribute to the relief of pain.
Organization of the Nervous System
● The nervous system can be divided into the central nervous system and the
peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and
spinal cord.
● The peripheral nervous system can be subdivided into the somatic nervous
system, which connects to muscles and sensory receptors, and the autonomic
nervous system, which connects to blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands.
Looking Inside the Brain: Research Methods
● The EEG can record broad patterns of electrical activity in the brain. Lesioning
involves destroying a piece of the brain. Another technique is electrical
stimulation of areas (eg, TMS) in the brain in order to activate them. In recent
years, new brain-imaging procedures have been developed, including CT scans,
PET scans, and fMRI scans.
The brain and Behaviour
● The brain has three major regions: the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain.
Structures in the hindbrain and midbrain handle essential functions. The
thalamus is primarily a relay station. The hypothalamus is involved in the
regulation of basic biological drives such as hunger and sex.
Document Summary
Neurons are the basic communication links in the nervous system. They normally transmit a neural impulse ( an electric current) along an axon to a synapse with another neuron. The neural impulse is a brief change in a neuron"s electrical charge that moves along an axon. Action potentials trigger the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters that diffuse across a synapse to communicate with other neurons. Transmitters bind with receptors in the postsynaptic cell membrane, causing excitatory or inhibitory. Most neurons are linked in neural pathways, circuits, and networks. Ach plays a key role in muscular movement. Disturbances in the activity of the monoamine transmitters have been related to the development of depression and schizophrenia. The nervous system can be divided into the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord.
