PYC1501_Basic Psychology
A-Z: Information modeling: Flow Charts
• A FLOW CHART is a diagram that shows a flow or stream of information belonging to a central theme.
• The chart should be well-formed, valid, relevant and comprehensive.
• A well-formed chart:
o The elements of the chart are used correctly.
o The rules of the chart are applied correctly.
• Elements are the symbols we use to build it
• Rules are prescriptions for ways in which elements are used and
combined ELEMENTS
• Symbols we use to build it:
o Rectangular-shaped boxes represents object and actions.
o Diamond-shaped boxes indicate decisions.
o Connecting lines are used to connect boxes.
o Arrows show the direction of the flow.
o Labels are used to name boxes
RULES
• First simple rules:
o Labels attached to rectangular or diamond shaped box should be placed INSIDE box.
With connecting line labels are placed NEXT to the line.
o Connecting line joins a rectangular box it can be from any four sides of the box.
o Connecting line joins diamond box. It can be from any four corners of the box.
,STEPS OF A FLOW DIAGRAM
1. Identify the starting point.
2. Identify the next point in process.
3. Identify the next point in process.
4. Complete the remaining points.
5. Create the connections and labels.
6. Create a title.
A-Z: Human Nervous System: The structure of a neuron
• A neuron (also called the nerve cell) is the basic building block.
• The nervous system is a communication network.
• 100 billion neuron
THE MAIN PARTS OF A NEURON
• Main parts are the dendrites, the cell body, the axon and axon terminals.
• A cell body has many dendrites, but only one axon.
• The function of a neuron is to convey a message. The message is transmitted from the
dendrites through the cell body and down the axon to the axon terminals.
• Dendrites
o The dendrites are extensions of the cell body.
2
, o All this branching has a significant effect - it allow the neuron to connect to a large number of
other neurons.
• The cell body (soma)
o The soma thus receives messages from other neurons through its dendrites and
sometimes directly through itself.
o The cell nucleus controls all metabolic activities in the cell. It is the control centre.
o The axon extends from the soma in a specialised area of the soma called the axon hillock.
• The axon
o The stimulation (messages) is summed in the axon hillock.
o When the stimulation reaches a particular level, the axon hillock initiates an impulse that
runs along the axon.
o In many cases, axons are enclosed in a white fatty sheath called myelin, which insulates the
axon.
o Myelin sheaths are separated by small gaps, called nodes of Ranvier.
o Axons insulated with myelin conduct impulses much faster because it jumps from node to node.
o The effect of not having properly myelinated axons is seen in disease multiple sclerosis,
which attacks the myelin.
• Axon terminals (telondendria)
o Axons ends in axon terminals called telondendria.
o The telondendron ends in a small knob, called a bouton terminal.
o Bouton terminals connects to dendrite branch of following neuron.
o Inside boutons are tiny containers, called vesicles, which are filled with neurotransmitters.
• Synapse
o Small gap between the bouton terminal and a dendrite, called a synaptic cleft.
o The bouton vesicles of the telondendron release their neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
TYPES OF NEURON
3
, 1. Sensory (afferent) neurons: Carry info detected by senses from environment to the spinal cord
and brain. Info come from outside and also organs.
2. Motor (efferent) neurons: Neurons conduct messages from the spinal cord and brain to the muscles
and glands.
a) Nerve tract: bundle is known as a nerve tract when it is in the spinal cord or the brain.
b) Nerve: bundle is called a nerve when it is in parts of the body that are not inside the brain
and spinal cord.
A-Z: Human Nervous System: Impulse conduction in the neuron
• Neurons are the building blocks of human nervous system. Neurons work together.
• All human behavior, such as thinking, learning, watching, feeling, planning or taking action, is based
on complicated interactions among neurons.
• Messages are relayed by sensory organs, the info (stimuli) is translated into energy that can be relayed
by the neurons.
• When the neuron is stimulated, it generates a nerve impulse.
• The process by which messages are relayed in neurons is called: impulse conduction.
• Impulse conduction made up of 2 main processes:
o Electrical: nerve impulse start at first segment of the axon and travels from axon to
terminals because of electrical events at the cell membrane.
o Chemical: passage of nerve impulse from one neuron to another is a chemical process.
ELECTRICAL PROCESS
1. The neuron is electrically changed
• Neurons are like small electric battery with two poles, positive and negative. The difference
between the positive and negative poles is called potential difference.
• There is fluid inside and outside the neuron. The membrane of the neuron forms a barrier. The fluid
contains various kinds of chemical particles, some of which are ions because they are electrically
charged.
• These positive and negative ions are unevenly distributed on either side of the cell membrane to create
a potential difference.
• When there is a potential difference, the neuron is electrically charged.
2. The resting membrane potential
4
A-Z: Information modeling: Flow Charts
• A FLOW CHART is a diagram that shows a flow or stream of information belonging to a central theme.
• The chart should be well-formed, valid, relevant and comprehensive.
• A well-formed chart:
o The elements of the chart are used correctly.
o The rules of the chart are applied correctly.
• Elements are the symbols we use to build it
• Rules are prescriptions for ways in which elements are used and
combined ELEMENTS
• Symbols we use to build it:
o Rectangular-shaped boxes represents object and actions.
o Diamond-shaped boxes indicate decisions.
o Connecting lines are used to connect boxes.
o Arrows show the direction of the flow.
o Labels are used to name boxes
RULES
• First simple rules:
o Labels attached to rectangular or diamond shaped box should be placed INSIDE box.
With connecting line labels are placed NEXT to the line.
o Connecting line joins a rectangular box it can be from any four sides of the box.
o Connecting line joins diamond box. It can be from any four corners of the box.
,STEPS OF A FLOW DIAGRAM
1. Identify the starting point.
2. Identify the next point in process.
3. Identify the next point in process.
4. Complete the remaining points.
5. Create the connections and labels.
6. Create a title.
A-Z: Human Nervous System: The structure of a neuron
• A neuron (also called the nerve cell) is the basic building block.
• The nervous system is a communication network.
• 100 billion neuron
THE MAIN PARTS OF A NEURON
• Main parts are the dendrites, the cell body, the axon and axon terminals.
• A cell body has many dendrites, but only one axon.
• The function of a neuron is to convey a message. The message is transmitted from the
dendrites through the cell body and down the axon to the axon terminals.
• Dendrites
o The dendrites are extensions of the cell body.
2
, o All this branching has a significant effect - it allow the neuron to connect to a large number of
other neurons.
• The cell body (soma)
o The soma thus receives messages from other neurons through its dendrites and
sometimes directly through itself.
o The cell nucleus controls all metabolic activities in the cell. It is the control centre.
o The axon extends from the soma in a specialised area of the soma called the axon hillock.
• The axon
o The stimulation (messages) is summed in the axon hillock.
o When the stimulation reaches a particular level, the axon hillock initiates an impulse that
runs along the axon.
o In many cases, axons are enclosed in a white fatty sheath called myelin, which insulates the
axon.
o Myelin sheaths are separated by small gaps, called nodes of Ranvier.
o Axons insulated with myelin conduct impulses much faster because it jumps from node to node.
o The effect of not having properly myelinated axons is seen in disease multiple sclerosis,
which attacks the myelin.
• Axon terminals (telondendria)
o Axons ends in axon terminals called telondendria.
o The telondendron ends in a small knob, called a bouton terminal.
o Bouton terminals connects to dendrite branch of following neuron.
o Inside boutons are tiny containers, called vesicles, which are filled with neurotransmitters.
• Synapse
o Small gap between the bouton terminal and a dendrite, called a synaptic cleft.
o The bouton vesicles of the telondendron release their neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
TYPES OF NEURON
3
, 1. Sensory (afferent) neurons: Carry info detected by senses from environment to the spinal cord
and brain. Info come from outside and also organs.
2. Motor (efferent) neurons: Neurons conduct messages from the spinal cord and brain to the muscles
and glands.
a) Nerve tract: bundle is known as a nerve tract when it is in the spinal cord or the brain.
b) Nerve: bundle is called a nerve when it is in parts of the body that are not inside the brain
and spinal cord.
A-Z: Human Nervous System: Impulse conduction in the neuron
• Neurons are the building blocks of human nervous system. Neurons work together.
• All human behavior, such as thinking, learning, watching, feeling, planning or taking action, is based
on complicated interactions among neurons.
• Messages are relayed by sensory organs, the info (stimuli) is translated into energy that can be relayed
by the neurons.
• When the neuron is stimulated, it generates a nerve impulse.
• The process by which messages are relayed in neurons is called: impulse conduction.
• Impulse conduction made up of 2 main processes:
o Electrical: nerve impulse start at first segment of the axon and travels from axon to
terminals because of electrical events at the cell membrane.
o Chemical: passage of nerve impulse from one neuron to another is a chemical process.
ELECTRICAL PROCESS
1. The neuron is electrically changed
• Neurons are like small electric battery with two poles, positive and negative. The difference
between the positive and negative poles is called potential difference.
• There is fluid inside and outside the neuron. The membrane of the neuron forms a barrier. The fluid
contains various kinds of chemical particles, some of which are ions because they are electrically
charged.
• These positive and negative ions are unevenly distributed on either side of the cell membrane to create
a potential difference.
• When there is a potential difference, the neuron is electrically charged.
2. The resting membrane potential
4
