Tags: #notes
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Biopsychology CH. 3

Nervous system

• Composed of two types of cells, Glial cells (glia) and neurons. Glial cells are traditionally thought to play a supportive role to neurons. Glial provide "scaffolding" in which the NS is built and allow for intricate communication between them, and help transport nutrients and waste products.
• Axons range in length from a fraction if an inch to several feet
• Some axons have a fatty substance known as the myelin sheath formed from glial cells, which coats the axon and acts as an insulator to increase efficiency.
• Neuroplasticity makes recovery from brain injury possible. In refers to how the NS can change and adapt. NP doesn't just just occur because of traumatic events, but also personal experiences or developmental processes.
• NP can involve creating new synapses, pruning synapses, changes in Glial cells, and even the birth of new neurons.
• The thalamus is a sensory relay for the brain. All senses, except for smell, go through the thalamus before going to other areas of the brain for processing.
• The Limbic system processes both emotion and memory. The sense of smell goes directly to the limbic system, so smell can evoke emotional responses in ways other sensory modalities cannot.
• It is made of a variety of structures, but the three most important are the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the hypothalamus.
• The hippocampus is an essential structure for learning and memory
• The amygdala is involved in our perception of emotion and in tying emotional meaning to memories.
• The Hypothalamus regulates a few homeostatic processes including body temp, appetite, and blood pressure. It also serves as an interface between the NS and the endocrine system and in the regulation of sexual motivation and behavior.
• The reticular formation is important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity.
• The medulla controls the automatic processes of the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate.
• The cerebellum receives messages from muscles, tendons, joints, and structures in our ear to control balance, coordination, movement and motor skills. Also thought to process some types of memories.
• The endocrine system consists of a series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones.
• The pituitary gland descends from the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and acts in close association with it. The pituitary is often referred to as the “master gland” because its messenger hormones control all the other glands in the endocrine system, although it mostly carries out instructions from the hypothalamus.
• The thyroid gland releases hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite.
• The Adrenal Glands are atop our kidnesy and produce hormones involved in the stress response.
• The Pancreas is an internal organ that regulates blood sugar. Insulin lowers blood glucose levels and glucagon raises them. People suffering from diabetes do not produce enough insulin
• The gonads secrete sexual hormones, which are important in reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation and behavior.
• The female gonads are the ovaries; the male gonads are the
  testes. Ovaries secrete estrogens and progesterone, and the testes secrete androgens, such as testosterone.