Learning Targets

• LT 1.3-1 Describe neurons, and explain how they transmit

information.
• LT 1.3-2 Explain how nerve cells communicate with other nerve
cells.
• LT 1.3-3 Explain how neurotransmitters influence behavior, and
explain how drugs and other chemicals affect
neurotransmission.

• LT 1.3-4 Explain how the endocrine system transmits information

and interacts with the nervous system.
Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers

LT 1.3-1 Describe neurons, and explain how they transmit LT 1.3-1 Describe neurons, and explain how they transmit
information. information.
• Neuron: a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system. • Neurons are the building blocks of the nervous system, and all have
similar structure.
• Cell body: the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell’s
• Each neuron has a cell body with a nucleus as its powerful processing
life support center.
center.
• Dendrites: a neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that receive • Dendrites, the protruding branches, receive information and pass it to the
and integrate messages, conducting impulses towards the cell body. soma or cell body.
• Axon: the segmented neuron extension that passes messages • As the cell body makes decisions about the incoming information it creates
through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands. a message which is transmitted down the axon of the neuron.
• Myelin sheath: a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of • Axons encased in myelin sheath can transmit the information at a much
greater speed; however, after the age of 25, myelin starts to degenerate
some neurons; it enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural
leading to slower reaction time. Multiple sclerosis has been linked to
impulses hop from one node to the next. extreme deterioration.
Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers

LT 1.3-1 Describe neurons, and explain how they transmit LT 1.3-1 Describe neurons, and explain how they transmit
information. information.
• Glial cells: cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and
protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and
memory.
• Glial cells provide support and protection for neurons.
• Glial cells serve neurons by feeding them, creating myelin for insulation,
guiding connections, and cleaning up the environment in which neurons
live.

Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers
LT 1.3-1 Describe neurons, and explain how they transmit LT 1.3-1 Describe neurons, and explain how they transmit
information. information.
• Action potential: a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that • Electrochemical messages called action potentials are the means of
travels down an axon. communication between neurons.
• Threshold: the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural • A brief electrical charge, which is much slower than you’d imagine, is
created down the axon by opening a series of gates allowing positive ions
impulse. to rush in and create depolarization.
• Refractory period: in neural processing, a brief resting pause that • Neural impulses are mostly excitatory, telling the next neuron what its
occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot feeling, but some can be inhibitory. If the excitatory impulses outnumber
occur until the axon returns to its resting state. the inhibitory ones, reaching a certain threshold, the neuron will fire the
action potential.
• All or none response: a neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a • The firing is regulated on an all or none principle; they either fire or don’t.
full-strength response) or not firing. • After firing, neurons must rest during a refractory period before doing it all
over again.

Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e ©BFW Publishers Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers

LT 1.3-2 Explain how nerve cells communicate with other nerve

cells.
• Synapse: the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron
and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at
this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.
• Neurotransmitters: chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap
between neurons. When released by the sending neuron,
neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites
on the receiving neurons, thereby influencing whether the neuron
will generate a neural impulse.
• Reuptake: a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron.

Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers

LT 1.3-2 Explain how nerve cells communicate with other nerve

cells.
• Much activity occurs in the synaptic gap between neurons.
• Santiago Ramon y Cajal compared the close but not touching space between
neurons to “protoplasmic kisses”.
• Neurotransmitters, chemical messengers, are released into the synapse just prior
to the arrival of the action potential. They travel across and bind to receptor
sites, either stimulating activity or blocking it in the receiving neuron.
• After unlocking the receiving sites on the dendrites, excess neurotransmitters
are reabsorbed into the sending neuron in a process called reuptake.

Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers
 LT 1.3-3 Explain how neurotransmitters influence behavior, and
explain how drugs and other chemicals affect neurotransmission.

• Endorphins: “morphine within”; natural opioid-like neurotransmitters

linked to pain control and pleasure.

Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers

LT 1.3-3 Explain how neurotransmitters influence behavior, and LT 1.3-3 Explain how neurotransmitters influence behavior, and
explain how drugs and other chemicals affect neurotransmission. explain how drugs and other chemicals affect neurotransmission.

• Neurotransmitters affect behaviors • Agonist: a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s actions.

and mental processes like emotions.
• Acetylcholine (ACh) is best known to • Antagonist: a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s
influence learning, memory and muscle actions.
action.
• Endorphins are linked to pain control in
the body and resemble opioid drugs like
morphine. They are also released when
we partake in vigorous exercise.
• The table here shows the functions of
other neurotransmitters.

Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers

LT 1.3-3 Explain how neurotransmitters influence behavior, and

explain how drugs and other chemicals affect neurotransmission.
• Neurotransmitters are produced inside the
body, but drugs and other chemicals from
outside the body can influence
neurotransmission.
• Agonists are substances that can mimic a
neurotransmitter, block reuptake, or increase
production. For example, morphine or heroin are
agonists for endorphins.
• Drugs or chemicals that block receptor sites,
decrease production, and release of
neurotransmitters are known as antagonists.
Curare, a poison, blocks ACh and causes paralysis.

Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers
LT 1.3-4 Explain how the endocrine system transmits information LT 1.3-4 Explain how the endocrine system transmits information
and interacts with the nervous system. and interacts with the nervous system.
• The body’s second system of communication is the endocrine system, which uses
• Endocrine system: the body’s “slow” chemical communication glands, tissues, and the bloodstream to do its work.
system; a set of glands and fat tissue that secrete hormones into the
• The endocrine system uses hormones instead of neurotransmitters to influence
bloodstream. behavior and emotions such as hunger, sexual behavior, and aggression.
• Hormones: chemical messengers that are manufactured by the • Some hormones are identical to neurotransmitters, but travel through the
endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other bloodstream at a slower but steady pace.
tissues. • The autonomic nervous system orders the adrenal glands to release epinephrine
and adrenaline to prepare the body for fight or flight.
• The pituitary gland is in the brain might be the most important, as it is the master
gland, controlling all others.

Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers

Myers/DeWall/Yost Hammer, Myers’ Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e © BFW Publishers