Psychology 101: Neuroscience

WHAT IS BIOPSYCHOLOGY?

• A branch of psychology and science concerned with the links between biology (genetics, biochemistry) and behaviour
• a.k.a. behavioural neuroscience; cognitive neuroscience; neuropsychology; behavioural genetics; physiological psychology

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Composed of the CNS and PNS, interconnected systems that help run the body and its behaviours

THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

• network of sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the body
• divided into the autonomic and somatic systems
• NEURONS:

• information processing and information transmitting element of the nervous system

• contain dendrites (receive), axon (signal/info), cell body, myelin sheath (insulation), terminal junctions + buttons (transmission)

• SENSORY NEURONS:

• “afferent”
• activated by sensory input from the environment (physical or chemical)

• INTERNEURONS:

• connect the spinal cord to motor and sensory neurons
• form circuitry and transfer signals and communicate

• MOTOR NEURONS:

• “efferent”
• motor neurons of the spinal cord are part of the CNS, connect to muscles, glands and other organs throughout the body
• transmit impulses from the spinal cord to skeletal and smooth muscles to directly control muscle movement
• notably large dendrites

• REFLEXES:

• simple spinal reflex involves a single sensory neuron and a single motor neuron that communicate via interneuron; automatic response that occurs before sensation even registers in the brain

• GLIAL CELLS:

• non-neuronal cells that support neurons
• e.g. support, nutrients, cleaning, regulation
• include:

• ASTROGLIA: star-shaped, physical and nutritional support, break down debris, digest dead neuron parts, regulate extracellular space
• MICROGLIA: digest parts of dead neurons
• OLIGODENDROGLIA: provide myelin to neurons in CNS
• SATELLITE CELLS: provide support to neurons in PNS
• SCHWANN CELLS: provide myelin to neurons in PNS

• ACTION POTENTIAL:

• neuron communication