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