AP Psychology
NCVPS
AP Psychology
NCVPS
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Page_214_Nervous_System.jpg
• The electrochemical
communication system of the
body
• Two way communications:
• from the brain to the body for
movement
• to the brain from the senses
• Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous
system, a nerve cell.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuron.svg
• The Cell Body, or Soma, contains the nucleus and other
parts that keep the cell viable.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuron.svg
• Dendrites are the receiving extensions of a neuron.
Electrical impulses are received and moved toward the
cell body.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuron.svg
• Axons are the sending extensions of a neuron. Electrical
impulses are received and moved away from the cell
body toward the axon terminals.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuron.svg
• The myelin sheath acts like insulation, covering the
axon and increasing the speed of the neural impulses.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuron.svg
• A neural impulse moves from the dendrites, through the
cell body, and through the axon before reaching the axon
terminal.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuron.svg
• Between neurons is a tiny
gap known as the synapse,
synaptic gap, or synaptic
cleft.
• Chemical messengers called
neurotransmitters carry
signals across this fluid filled
space from one cell’s axons
to another’s dendrites.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chemical_synapse_schema_crop
ped.jpg
• Different
neurotransmitters affect
behavior in different
ways.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/Zi63tXYCG8I/T1CXcGt1YDI/AA
AAAAAAAOA/ALVMw3aGGs/s1600/neurotransmitters.gif
• Some neurotransmitters
have an excitatory effect,
making it more likely
that the next neuron will
“fire.”
• Others have an
inhibitory effect, making
it less likely the next
neuron will respond.
http://stoppullinghairout.com/blo
g/
http://www.docstoc.com/?doc_id=2240369&download=1
• Therapeutic drugs have
been devised to help with
specific behavior issues.
• Agonists mimic a
specific neurotransmitter.
• Antagonists block a
neurotransmitter’s effects.
• Others prevent reuptake
or re-absorption.
http://www.neurosurgical.com/Images/07_Med_Info/7.14%20Medication
%20Function%20550.jpg
• Some neurons have
specialized functions.
• Receptor cells
• Sensory Neurons
• Interneurons
• Motor Neurons
http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/nerv
e%20cell.jpg
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Receptor cells are
cells in the sensory
systems of the body
that can turn other
kinds of energy into
neural impulses that
the brain can
process.
http://ruccs.rutgers.edu/~ikovacs/SandP/prepI_2.html
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Receptor cells
http://ruccs.rutgers.edu/~ikovacs/SandP/prepI_2.html
Sensory neurons
(afferent neurons)
carry information
from the receptors
cells to the spinal
cord and brain.
http://leavingbio.net/THE%20NERVOUS%20SYSTEM_files/THE%20NE
RVOUS%20SYSTEM_files/image005.jpg
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Interneurons
process information
in the brain and
spinal cord.
http://img.tfd.com/dorland/thumbs/interneuron.jpg
Motor neurons
(efferent neurons)
carry information
from the brain and
spinal cord to the
muscles and glands
http://leavingbio.net/THE%20NERVOUS%20SYSTEM_files/THE%20NE
RVOUS%20SYSTEM_files/image005.jpg
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AP Psychology
NCVPS
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Page_214_Nervous_System.jpg
• Remember, the Nervous System
is:
• The electrochemical
communication system of the
body
• Two way communications:
• from the brain to the body for
movement
• to the brain from the senses
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Page_214_Nervous_System.jpg
• The nervous system has
multiple divisions.
• The Central Nervous System
• The Peripheral Nervous System
• The Somatic Nervous System
• The Autonomic Nervous System
• The Sympathetic Nervous System
• The Parasympathetic Nervous System
http://www.neurosciencerus.org/wyDiagramNervousSystem.jpg
• The Central Nervous System
• Consists of the brain and the
spinal cord
• Most information processing
occurs in the brain.
• The spinal cord is the main
pathway to and from the brain.
http://www.umm.edu/imagepages/19588.htm
• The Peripheral Nervous System
• The system that connects the brain
and the spinal cord to the rest of
the body.
• It is subdivided into the somatic
and autonomic nervous systems.
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Images/Cancerinfo/Longdescriptions/Cancertypes/
Nervoussystem_2011_large.jpg
• The Peripheral Nervous System
http://lmtorbust.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/somatic-autonomic-venn-diagram.jpg
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/P/PNS.html
• The Peripheral Nervous
System
• The Autonomic Nervous
System
• The Sympathetic
Nervous System
• The part of the
autonomic nervous
system that arouses
the body
• Fight or flight
response
• The Peripheral Nervous
System
• The Autonomic Nervous
System
• The Parasympathetic
Nervous System
• The part of the
autonomic nervous
system that calms the
body
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/P/PNS.html
AP Psychology
NCVPS
The Brain is the most
complex organ of the
human body and is
responsible for
processing all of neural
impulses generated by
the Nervous System.
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/brain_structures_000334.htm
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The most primitive part
of our brain.
Contains the hindbrain
and the midbrain
From an evolutionary
perspective, it controls
survival functions of the
body.
http://fultoncountybraininjurysupportgroup.health.officelive.com/stem.aspx
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Sometimes referred to as
the medulla oblongata.
Located at the base of the
brainstem
Controls life-supporting
functions like heartbeat
and breathing
Damage to this area can
lead to death.
http://www.interactive-biology.com/107/what-parts-of-the-brain-control-respiration/
◦ The “Little Brain”
◦ Processing center for
reflexes involved in
balance
◦ Also in those used in
gross motor
coordination
http://www.umm.edu/imagepages/18008.htm
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Located in the midbrain
Involved with sleep, arousal,
and sustained attention
Damage to this area can cause
a coma
Not fully developed in
children (i.e. the shorter
attention span of younger
children)
https://ewwgrosser.wikispaces.com/Reticular+Activating+System+-+Period+9
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Located where the
brainstem and the
reticular formation end.
Serves as a
communications relay
for sensory input
Also involved in sleep
and arousal
http://biology.about.com/od/anatomy/p/thalamus.htm
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A system of structures
closely link with the
hypothalamus.
Includes the hypothalamus,
hippocampus, and amygdala
Plays a role in regulating
eating, drinking, and sexual
activity.
Also linked with aggression
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Brain_limbicsystem.jpg
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Part of the Limbic
system
Located below the
thalamus
Linked to hunger, thirst,
sexual activity, and
emotionality
Also connected to stress
reactions
http://www.kidport.com/reflib/science/HumanBody/NervousSystem/Hypothalamus.htm
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Part of the Limbic
system
Plays a role in memory,
especially short term
memory and memory of
recent events.
http://www.memorylossonline.com/glossary/hippocampus.html
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Part of the Limbic
system
Controls emotional
responses such as fear
and anger
http://brainconnection.positscience.com/topics/?main=fa/fear-conditioning2
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The most developed
structure in the human
brain.
Consists of two layers,
the outer of which is
known as the cerebral
cortex.
http://www.memorylossonline.com/glossary/hippocampus.html
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The outer layer of the
cerebrum.
Divided into two
hemispheres
Each hemisphere is
divided into four lobes,
each with a different
function.
http://morphonix.com/software/education/science/brain/game/specimens/cerebr
al_cortex_lobes.html
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A wide band of neurons
that connect the right
and left hemispheres of
the cerebral cortex
Allows communication
between the two portions.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/8753.htm
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The long crevice that
divides the cerebral
cortex into left and right
hemispheres
This and other fissures in
the brain create major
divisions in the brain
called lobes
http://minuscript.wordpress.com/2011/07/14/a-headache/
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Located behind the
forehead.
Involved in planning and
judgment
Contains the motor
cortex and is involved in
all bodily movements.
http://contemporaryhealthnutritionfitness.com/contemporary/?tag=frontal-lobedevelopment
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Located on the top of the
head and toward the rear
Includes the somatosensory
cortex and general
association areas used in
processing information,
including general
processing and
mathematical reasoning
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/abios/asp/bparietal.asp
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Located at the rear of the
cerebral cortex
Contains the primary
visual processing center
of the brain.
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/genpsycerebrum.html
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Located roughly above
the ears
Contains the auditory
processing areas of the
brain
http://introspectional.com/section2/page3.php
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Involved in all bodily
movement, both gross
and fine.
Much is devoted to fine
motor control.
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/genpsycerebrum.html
Involved in all bodily
sensations.
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/genpsycerebrum.html
AP Psychology
NCVPS
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The concept of being
“left-brained” or
“right-brained” is no
longer given much
credit.
The brain is divided
into two hemispheres
but the two parts work
together
http://www.mindfulnet.org/page25.htm
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Click here for a quick test of
right/left brain abilities!
http://nawrot.psych.ndsu.nodak.edu/courses/465projects05/splitbrain/splitbrain4.htm
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Both sides
communicate
through the corpus
callosum, except in
those with split
brains*.
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*For more about split brain
surgeries, see
http://nawrot.psych.ndsu.nodak.e
du/courses/465projects05/splitbr
ain/splitbrain4.htm
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Contains the brain’s
spatial abilities
Allows organizing things
in a given space, judging
distances, etc.
Helps make connections
between words
http://www.thecomeupfoundation.com/2012_02_01_archive.html
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Language functions are
in the left hemisphere
for the majority of the
population
For a small percentage
of people, language
functions are in the right
hemisphere.
http://www.thecomeupfoundation.com/2012_02_01_archive.html
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http://faculty.vassar.edu/abbaird/resources/brain_science/images/brocas_area.jpg
The brain area of the left
frontal lobe
Directs the muscle
movements involve in
speech
If damaged the person can
form the ideas but cannot
express them as speech
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http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/second.html
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A brain area of the left
temporal lobe
Involved in language
comprehension and
expression
Our ability to understand
what is said to us
Usually in the left temporal
lobe