Unit 3 Psychology : Unit 3 Psychology Outcome 1 : The Nervous System
The Nervous System : The Nervous System Humans have a more sophisticated NS to perform complex activities ie. Problem solving, creative thinking, talking, driving
The Nervous System : The Nervous System The three main functions of the nervous system:
Receive information
Process information
Coordinate a response to information
Receiving of information : Receiving of information Information is received from external environment through nerve cells called receptor cells. The NS also receives info from the internal environment
Processing of and coordinating a response to information : Processing of and coordinating a response to information Once info has been received the NS processes it and coordinates a response. This is done by sending messages to the muscles, glands and other internal organs. This will therefore enable muscles to move.
Slide 6 :
The Central Nervous System : The Central Nervous System CNS: is a network of nerves and neurons that make up the brain and spinal cord. Its main role is to process information provided by the sensory systems and other parts of the body
Consists of the brain and spinal cord.
CNS: The Brain : CNS: The Brain Consists of an intricate network of nerve tissues (clusters of neurons) that play a vital role in processing information.
CNS: The Spinal Cord : CNS: The Spinal Cord Is a long column of nerve tissue that extends from the base of the brain and is encased in the spinal column.
Functions: to pass sensory information from the PNS to the brain for processing AND to pass motor (movement) information from the brain to the PNS
The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) : The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) Is the entire network of nerves that transmits information to and from the CNS from the sense organs, muscles and glands.
The PNS includes all parts of the nervous system outside the CNS
Divided into two sections: Somatic Nervous System and Autonomic Nervous System.
Somatic Nervous System : Somatic Nervous System Is a network of sensory nerves (or afferent nerves) which carry information received at sensory receptor sites in the body to the CNS.
Also allow motor nerves (or efferent nerves) to carry information from the CNS to the muscles that control movements of the body.
The SNS is also called the skeletal nervous system because it connects the skeletal muscles with the CNS.
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) : Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) This is a network of nerves that carries messages between the CNS and the heart, lungs and other internal organs and glands.
It regulates or controls the functions of internal organs automatically.
It is divided into two sections, the Sympathetic Nervous System and the Parasympathetic Nervous System.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM : AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM Fight or flight response is the physiological changes to the body that occur in response to a perceived threat
The sympathetic nervous system is the ‘on’ button
The parasympathetic nervous system is the ‘off’ button
Sympathetic Nervous System : Sympathetic Nervous System Arouses the body when we experience extreme emotions or feel threatened.
Is the ‘ON’ button – it acts very quickly
To do this it changes:
Heart rate (increased)
Pupils Contract
Adrenalin is released
This is know as the fight or flight response
Parasympathetic Nervous System : Parasympathetic Nervous System Calms or restores the body to the normal state of functioning (known as homeostasis) after extreme emotion or threat has passed
It is the ‘OFF’ button
Slows heart rate
Noradrenalin is released
Pupils dialate
Slide 16 :
Structure of a neuron : Structure of a neuron Neuron: is an individual nerve cell that transmits information within the body, combining it with information from other sources.
Structure of the Neuron - Soma : Structure of the Neuron - Soma Soma: (cell body) is the structure that determines whether the neuron will be activated (transmit messages). Within the Soma is the Nucleus which contains the biochemical information of the neuron.
Structure of a neuron - Dendrite : Structure of a neuron - Dendrite Dendrite: receives incoming information and transmits the information to the Soma.
Structure of a neuron - Axon : Structure of a neuron - Axon Axon: transmits messages from the Soma to other cells in the body.
Structure of a Neuron – Axon Terminals : Structure of a Neuron – Axon Terminals Axon terminals: located at the end of each axon and contains the Synaptic Button.
Slide 22 : STRUCTURE OF A NEURON – MYELIN SHEATH Myelin Sheath: helps insulate the axon from axons of other neurons (to prevent interference).
Slide 23 : STRUCTURE OF A NEURON – SYNAPTIC BUTTON Synaptic Button: holds neurotransmitters which stimulate or block the transmission of neural information from one neuron to another.