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Biopsychology - AS (The Structure and Function of Neurons (The process of…
Biopsychology - AS
The Structure and Function of Neurons
The function of neurons is to receive information and transmit it to other cells. The cellular structure is the same in all neurons and the
dendrite/receptor cell
recieves the singal which then travels through the neuron to the
pre-synaptic
terminal.
Sensory Neuron:
Tells the rest of the brain about the external and internal environment by processing information from 1 of 5 senses (PNS).
Relay Neuron (inter neuron):
- Impulses between one part of the CNS to the other. They connect motor and sensory neurons (CNS).
Motor Neuron:
- Carries signals from the CNS which helps both organs, including glands, and muscles function (PNS).
The process of synaptic transmission:
Synaptic transmission is the process of transmitting messages from one neuron to another.
The synapse
is a specialised gap between neurons through which the
electrical impulse is transmitted chemically.
The electrical nerve impulse travels down the neuron and prompts the
release of neurotransmitters
at the
presynaptic terminal
. These are then released into the
synaptic fluid (or synaptic cleft) in the synapse
, the adjacent neuron quickly takes up the neurotransmitters through its
receptors
and converts them back into an
electrical impulse
to travel down to the next neuron.
Yamamoto and Kitazawa
found that if you are touched n two different places at the same time it will feel as though they were touched at different times, and if you are touched in two places with a slight delayed interval in between you will not be able to feel which one was first. This is due to the inability of the nervous system to transmit the information accurately as the
distance from the bran for the neurons is different
.
Excitatory and Inhibition
Excitatory potentials:
make it more likely for the neuron to fire and so if a synapse is more likely to cause the post-synaptic neuron to fire so it is called a excitatory synapse - like the
accelerator of a car
Inhibitory potentials:
make it less likely to fire and if the message is likely to be stopped at the post synaptic neuron, t is called an inhibitory synapse - like the
break of a car
The Diversions of the Nervous System
The Central Nervous system:
The master control unit
Made up of the spinal cord, brain and brain stem (which connects the other two together)
The spinal cord
facilitates the transfer of messages to and from the
PNS
The Peripheral Nervous System:
The bodies link to the outside world
Made up of the
Autonomic NS
, which regulates involuntary bodily processes (including heart rate, breathing, digestion etc.) and operates automatically (without conscious thought), and the
Somatic NS
, which caries sensory information from sensory organs to the CNS and relays motor commands to muscles (controls voluntary movement.
The Autonomic NS
is then made up of two more subsections, the
Sympathetic NS
, which controls
fight or flight
mode, and the
Parasympathetic NS
, which clams the body down and helps to conserve energy.
The Function of the Endocrine System
The endocrine system has
series of glands
which
release chemicals (hormones)
throughout the body via blood and other bodily fluids.They work in a very similar way to neurons to
communicate messages to the body
.
Glands:
Pituitary
- some of the hormones released are important for regulating the endocrine system, this is why it is nickname 'the
master
gland'
Adrenal:
An important part of the first
fight-or-flight
response as it facilitate the release of Adrenalin
Ovaries:
Facilitate the release of oestrogen and progesterone (female)
Testes:
Facilitate the release of testosterone
Kosfeld et al:
found that high levels of Oxycontin encourage strong bonding between couples and mother and infant
The Fight or Flight response
Generated by the
ANS
, specifically from the
sympathetic branch
The process of the fight or flight:
The
hypothalamus
recognises that there is a threat and it sends a message to the
Adrenal gland
(specifically the
adrenal medulla
)
This triggers the release of
adrenaline
to the endocrine system and
nor-adrenaline
in the brain
This promotes the following
physical changes
:
Faster
breathing rate
Muscle tension
to speed up reaction time
Increased
heart rate
to speed up blood flow to vital organs
Reduced
functioning of digestive system
to save energy for prioritised functions