Ap Psychology Chapter 3

1. Describe the functional anatomy of the spinal cord using the following terms: white matter, gray matter, tracts, roots, and spinal nerves.

b. What phenomena must take place for the small postsynaptic potentials to reach threshold and produce action potentials?

1) Exceeding threshold depolarization does not change the likelihood of an action potential being produced, Due to the need for a refractory period this is (all or nothing) In the experiment from 6V-8V in the axon hillock the difference in amplitude went from 30.2 to 30.9 (not a remarkable increase)

Describe the anatomy of the neuron and the ways that neurons communicate with each other.

Midterm Essay ExaminationMidterm Essay Examination1.Describe the basic functioning of a neuron beginning with receiving signals from other neurons or sense organs and ending with the transmission of a signal to another neuron. Explain how a pattern of neuron firing is related to behavior.

Discuss the mechanisms of neural communication and explain the impact that different drugs can have on this communication.

To send a message, a neuron will send a ripple of electrical energy down its axon. This ripple is called "action potential." The way it works is by changing the chemical makeup of the axon's negatively charged interior. Positively charged sodium ions move into the cell and negatively charged potassium ions move out, then the ions move to their original positions. This produces a wave of positively charged

Discussion Questions: (Hint: Read the discussion of sensory and motor PATHWAYS in Chapter 15 and pay careful attention to where they cross over from right side to left side)

1b. List and describe briefly the major structures of the brain, as presented in your textbook, including the function of those elements that are most related to psychoactive drug reaction.

1. Explain why increasing extracellular K_ reduces the net diffusion of K_ out of the neuron through the K_ leak channels.

2. Think about whether or not everyone 's synapses develop the same because of genetics (nature) or the environment (nurture). Please explain the role that genetics (nature) and the environment (nurture) play in the development of the six (6) major components of the synapse. Do this by listing and providing a brief summary of the six (6) major components. Then, describe how genetics (nature) and the environment (nurture) might affect the development of the six (6) major components as a whole.

Once in the synapses, the impulses triggers the release of chemical messages called neurotransmitters; which then bind to receptors on the receiving cell as the transmission of the impulse repeated again. The message or impulse continues traveling from one neuron to the next throughout the body until it reaches its destination as it relays a signal. All of this activity happens in less than a split second and without conscious thought. At the end of this process, the brain has the task of interpreting the message and making the decision as to what to do with this new information. (Carlson, 2011.Pg.45-52)

As the message arrives at the end of the nerves, the message is transmitted to the muscles. Before the message is transmitted to the muscles it has to pass the space between the end of the nerve and the muscle, and that space is called neuromuscular junction. The message is transmitted from the brain to the end of the nerve and from the nerve to the neuromuscular junction, and when the message arrives the chemical called neurotransmitters are released.

Depolarization in membrane potential triggers an action potential because nearby axonal membranes will be depolarized to values near or above threshold voltage.

The electrical event that projects the signal along these distances is known as an action potential. The action potential runs from the axon hillock to the end of the axon where more synaptic contacts are made. Target cells of neurons include nerve cells in your brain, spinal cord, cells of your muscles and various glands.