NERVOUS SYSTEM MCGONIGLE Intro to Psychology

Nervous System  Made up of the spinal cord and the brain  Neurons : Nerve cell – the neurons transmit messages to the spinal cord and to the brain. ( knee reflex)  3 types of neurons.

Types of Neurons  Sensory Neurons  Motor Neurons  Interneurons – found between other neurons.

Dendrite  Branches that extend from the cell body to most neurons.  Receive information and transmit impulses toward the cell body. (hot stove/step on a nail)

Cell Body of Nucleus  Cell Body: Contains nucleus, control center of the cell.  Regulates production of protein within the cell.  Neurons – limited ability to repair damaged cells. (Pat’s story)

Axons  Long tubelike structure attached to a neuron  Transmits impulses away from cell body + toward another neuron, muscle cell or gland.

Spinal Cord  Long column of nerve tissue about as thick as your index finger.  Generally speaking – 18” long (c shaped)  Vertebra - bones that make up back (6 C)  Connective tissue- spinal meninge – help protect spinal cord.

Brain  Cerebrum: largest and most complex part of the brain.  Billions of neurons– conscious thought, learning, memory ( long + short)  Brain cells – do not reproduce

Left Hemisphere  Right side of the body  Language  Thinking  Reasoning  Analyzing

Right Hemisphere  Music Talents ( singing/ playing instruments)  Art ( painting/ drawing)  Spatial Relationships ( Maps/ Graphs)

4 Lobes of the Brain  Frontal Lobe  Parietal Lobe  Occipital Lobe  Temporal Lobe

Frontal Lobe  All voluntary movements ( hand/eye coordination)  Use of language – foreign languages.

Parietal Lobe  Sensory Information :  Heat  Cold  Pain  Touch

Occipital Lobe  Vision – eyes-  Optic nerve  Do we see w/ our eyes or brain?

Temporal Lobe  Hearing + Smell (connected- memory)  Memory  Thought  Judgment

Cerebellum  2 nd largest part of the brain.  Coordinates movement of skeletal muscles (jock/nerd)  Receives messages from sensory neurons in the inner ear.  Maintains body posture + balance.

Brain Stem  3” stalk of nerve cells and fibers that connect spinal cord to the rest of the brain.  Incoming and outgoing messages pass through the brain stem.

Medulla Oblongata  Lowest part of the brain stem  Regulates heartbeat + respiratory rates  Reflexes: coughing, sneezing, vomiting

Pons  1” in length  Above the medulla  Pathway- connects nerve impulses to other parts of the brain.  Helps regulate breathing.

Midbrain  Highest part of the brain stem  Controls eyeball movement and pupil size  Turning your head at an unexpected noise

Thalamus  Page 60 in textbook  Important Relay center for incoming impulses ( nail/ hot stove)  Receive info from eyes and ears.  Above the hypothalamus..

Hypothalamus  Controls and balances body processes to regulate: ( means under the thalamus)  Body temp (sweat)  Appetite  Regulate Sleep  Pituitary Glands

Hypothalamus controls  Metabolism (discuss disturbances)  Sexual Development (behavior)  Emotional Responses (aggression)

Peripheral Nervous System  Consists of all nerves that are not part of the Central Nervous System  Carries messages between CNS and the rest of the body  2 Parts: Autonomic + Somatic

Autonomic Nervous System  Consists of Network of nerves divided into 2 smaller networks.  “Fight/Flight responses”  Reflex- spontaneous response of body to stimulus.

Somatic Nervous System  Sensory Neurons  Relay messages from receptors to:  Eyes  Ears  Nose  Tongue  Skin

Parasympathetic Nervous System  During rest and relaxation  Opposes actions of sympathetic system  Slows down body functions: heartbeat, lowers blood pressure, opens blood vessels.

Vocab Quiz on Thursday  From Central Nervous System to the Pons  Terms 1-15