brain cells that transmit electrical signals

function: to receive and send electrical signals to/from other neurons

take info from world, allow it to be trasmitted to the brain

carry info from sensory organs (eyes, ears, mouth, nose, tongue and skin) 

output, take info from brain, transmit to muscles

carry messages out from central nervous system, through nerves, to operate muscles and glands 

processing; send info from one neuron to antoher, does "hard work"

makes sense of input, initiate and coordinate all behavioral actions 

thin branch like extensions, usually befinning of neuron

function: receives signals from other neurons, increase surface area of the cell 

1. sending neuron "fires" action potential (all or none electrical signal that travels to the axon)

2. action potential arives at axon terminal of the sending neurons

3. Axon terminal releases neurotransmitters (special chemical that affects activity of nuerons-muscles-) into the synpase

4. neurotransmitter floats across synapse to dendrites of receiveing neuron

5. once receiving neuron receives enough neurotransmitter, it fires its own action potential 

analyze sensory data, create mental experiences and control movements in adaptive ways

spinal nerves: nerves between spinal cord and individual parts of body, 31 pairs

cranial nerves: between brain and different parts of head and internal organs, 12 pairs 

2 functions: input and output (motor functions on PNS)

2 types of motor neurons:

1. skeletal motor neurons (act on skeletal muscle)

2. Autonomic motor neurons (act on visceral muscle and glands) 

changes in ongoing activity, 2 different modes of operation

1. active mode: sympathetic nervous system

2. quiet mode: parasympathetic nervous system 

1. transmit info from spinal nerves to/from brain

2.organize some simple rhythmic skeletal muscle activity (pattern generators -like walking-)

2.  organizes some simple reflexes for flexion reflex

midbrain (simple survival skills, locomotion)

pons

medulla (simple autonomic functions)

(above thre posual refelxes and metabolic reflexes)(sleep, level of arousal)

thalamus: relay station of the brain ("hub") (almost all sensory info enters thalamus before enters rest of brain, almost all motor info goes into thalamus before going to muscles) 

anatomical regions on the cortex separated by fissures

4: frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital

input: first receives signals from sense organs through thalamus

-visual : occipital (first thalamus then this area )

-auditory: temporal (first thalamus then this area )

-somatosensory: skin sense: parietal ( first thalamus then this area ) 

processing, sends signals to/from primary sensory/motor areas and subcortical structures

involved in thought. decision making, memroy, language, etc 

association cortex cortical organization of hemispheres

which hemisphere primarily responsible for what? 

generally carries out different functions

language mostly in left

spatial abilities: mostly in right 

corpus collusum severed, left visual field seen/processed by right hemisphere, right visual field seen/processed by left hemisphere

Images not transferred with split brain!

info trapped in left side of brain so left hand cannot pick up pencil, because info not processed by right hemisphere 

poor spatial perception, spatial abilities in the right

still function normally, unilateral presentation is unusual