Download 3a handout

Mrs. Perl
AP Psychology
Unit 3a:The Nervous System and Biological Psychologists
I. Work with the person sitting 3 people down from you (move to your left) to explain what happens in
your nervous system in the following situations:
a. You pull your hand away from a hot stove.
b. You walk from your room to the kitchen.
c. You are on a hike, hear a noise, and you think a bear is behind you. After two minutes you realize that it was
just the wind.
II. The Nervous System
A. CNS and PNS
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B. Types of neurons: Neurons send “messages” through various types of neurons by releasing
neurotransmitters:
a. Afferent Neurons: Sensory Neurons-bring sensations from the outside world into the body
(PNS to CNS)
b. Efferent Neurons: Motor Neurons-bring messages from the brain to the muscles of the body
(CNS to PNS)
c. Interneurons: Neurons that send messages within the central nervous system (Neurons within
the CNS)
B. Reflex Arc
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C. Breakdown of PNS and CNS
Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous
System
Central Nervous System
Brain
Spinal Cord
Autonomic Nervous
System
Regulates glands,
muscles,internal organs
Sympathetic Nervous
System
(Mobilizes body for
action)
Somatic Nervous System
Controls skeletal muscles
Parasympathetic
Nervous System
(Conserves energy)
Fight of Flight Response:
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III. Neurons and Neurotransmitters-Psychsim activity, Human Brain CD, Action potential video
A. Explain the function of the Cell body, axon, dendrite, myelin sheath, and nodes of Ranvier
B. Explain how the action potential works within a neuron. How is it both electrical and chemical? What is the
threshhold at which it becomes excitatory? How is it an all-or-nothing response?
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C. What happens at the synapse of the neuron? (Synaptic gap, reuptake)
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D. Explain how agonists and antagonists are similar to neurotransmitters?
E. Explain the impact the various neurotransmitters have on the neural system?
Neurotransmitter
Function/Influence
Diagram
Dopamine
pathway
Serotonin pathway
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Acetylcholine (ACh)
pathway
Norepinephrine
pathway
GABA
Pathway
(GammaAminobutyric
acid)
Glutamate
pathway
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IV. The Endocrine System1. Compare and contrast the nervous system and the endocrine system.
2.Explain the following terms:
a. Hormones
b. Adrenal glands-Epinephrine/Norepinephrine or adrenaline/noradrenaline)
c. Pituitary gland (Hypothalamus, master gland. feedback system)
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