PSYC 101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Myelin, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuron
26 Sep 2016
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Biological psychology -> the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes. Scientists study relatively simple animals to discover how human neural systems operate b/c both follow the same principles. Neurons -> a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system. Consist of a cell body and its branching fibers. Dendrite -> a neuron"s bushy, branching extension that receives messages and conducts impulses toward the cell body (listens) Axon -> the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands (speaks) Encased by myelin sheath (a fatty tissue that insulates them and speeds their impulses) Multiple sclerosis results from the degeneration of the myelin sheath. Glial cells glue cells -> cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking. Action potential -> a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.
