The document provides an overview of the structure and function of the nervous system. It discusses how neurons are the basic building blocks and how they communicate via electrical and chemical signals. It describes the main parts of the nervous system including the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), peripheral nervous system, and autonomic nervous system. It also provides details on the major structures of the brain like the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem, as well as specific areas involved in functions like memory, emotion, movement, and language.

1. AP Psychology
NCVPS

2. AP Psychology
NCVPS

3. • 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

4. • Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous
system, a nerve cell.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuron.svg

5. • The Cell Body, or Soma, contains the nucleus and other
parts that keep the cell viable.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuron.svg

6. • 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

7. • 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

8. • 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

9. • 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

10. • 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

11. • Different
neurotransmitters affect
behavior in different
ways.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-
Zi63tXYCG8I/T1CXcGt1YDI/AA
AAAAAAAOA/ALVMw3a-
GGs/s1600/neurotransmitters.gif

12. • 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/

13. http://www.docstoc.com/?doc_id=2240369&download=1

14. • 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

15. • 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

16.  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

17.  Receptor cells
http://ruccs.rutgers.edu/~ikovacs/SandP/prepI_2.html

18.  Sensory neurons
(afferent neurons)
carry information
from the receptors
cells to the spinal
cord and brain.
http://leavingbio.net/THE%20NERVOUS%20SYSTEM_files/THE
%20NERVOUS%20SYSTEM_files/image005.jpg

19.  Interneurons
process information
in the brain and
spinal cord.
http://img.tfd.com/dorland/thumbs/interneuron.jpg

20.  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
%20NERVOUS%20SYSTEM_files/image005.jpg

21. AP Psychology
NCVPS

22. • 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

23. • 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://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Page_214_Nervous_System.jpg

24. http://www.neurosciencerus.org/wyDiagramNervousSystem.jpg

25. • 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

26. • 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

27. • The Peripheral Nervous System
http://lmtorbust.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/somatic-autonomic-venn-diagram.jpg

28. • 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
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/P/PNS.html

29. • 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

30. AP Psychology
NCVPS

31. 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

32.  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

33.  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/

34. ◦ 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

35.  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

36.  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

37.  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

38.  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

39.  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

40.  Part of the Limbic
system
 Controls emotional
responses such as fear
and anger
http://brainconnection.positscience.com/topics/?main=fa/fear-conditioning2

41.  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

42.  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

43.  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

44.  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/

45.  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-lobe-
development

46.  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

47.  Located at the rear of the
cerebral cortex
 Contains the primary
visual processing center
of the brain.
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/genpsycerebrum.html

48.  Located roughly above
the ears
 Contains the auditory
processing areas of the
brain
http://introspectional.com/section2/page3.php

49.  Involved in all bodily
movement, both gross
and fine.
 Much is devoted to fine
motor control.
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/genpsycerebrum.html

50. Involved in all bodily
sensations.
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/genpsycerebrum.html

51. AP Psychology
NCVPS

52.  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
Click here for a quick test of
right/left brain abilities!

53.  Both sides
communicate
through the corpus
callosum, except in
those with split
brains*.
 *For more about split brain
surgeries, see
http://nawrot.psych.ndsu.nodak.e
du/courses/465projects05/splitbr
ain/splitbrain4.htm
http://nawrot.psych.ndsu.nodak.edu/courses/465projects05/splitbrain/splitbrain4.htm

54. http://www.thecomeupfoundation.com/2012_02_01_archive.html
 Contains the brain’s
spatial abilities
 Allows organizing things
in a given space, judging
distances, etc.
 Helps make connections
between words

55. http://www.thecomeupfoundation.com/2012_02_01_archive.html
 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.

56.  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 speechhttp://faculty.vassar.edu/abbaird/resources/brain_science/images/brocas_area.jpg

57.  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
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/second.html