PSYCH101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3.3: Basal Ganglia, White Matter, Primary Motor Cortex

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH101
• Professor: Richard Ennis

Document Summary

3. 3 structure and organization of the nervous system. Central nervous system (cns) - the brain and the spinal cord. Brain - interprets and stores information and communicates with muscles, glands, and organs. Spinal cord - pathway connecting the brain and the peripheral nervous system. Peripheral nervous system (pns) - division of nervous system that transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body and is divided into two subcomponents, the somatic system and the autonomic system. Somatic nervous system - consist of nerves that control skeletal muscles, which are responsible for voluntary and reflexive movement, also consists of nerves that receive sensory input from the body. Autonomic nervous system - the portion of the peripheral nervous system responsible for regulating the activity of organs and glands. Sympathetic nervous system - responsible for the fight-or-flight response of an increase heart rate, dilated pupils, and decreased salivary flow; responses that prepare the body for action.