Sincerely, Ms. Paoloni and Mrs. Whitney

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1 Dear Students, Welcome to AP Psychology! We will begin our course of study focusing on the nervous system with a particular emphasis on how the brain and neurotransmitters influence our behaviors. In preparation for our busy year, you are expected to complete the following assignment over the summer. Please review the descriptions of the activities listed below. The assignment must be hand-written and is DUE on the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. All the information you need can be found in the website links listed. We have double checked to ensure that all of the links are working. If you run into a problem opening a link, cut and paste the link into your browser and that normally does the trick. If you can t get one of the sites to work just Google whatever you are looking for. There is no need to send either of us an over the summer to let us know you can t get a link to work. The first test of being an AP student will be for you to use other research strategies to figure out where you can find the information. You can access a digital copy of this assignment on the Olentangy Orange website, if you need an additional copy. A paper copy of the assignment must be submitted on the first day of school. There will be a quiz over this material on the first day of class, but the summer assignment may be used as notes on the quiz. Enjoy your summer, see you next fall! J Sincerely, Ms. Paoloni and Mrs. Whitney Jamie_paoloni@olsd.us Rebecca_Whitney@olsd.us The Neuron Neurons are the building blocks of our nervous system. A bundle of neurons make up nerves, and these nerves make up both our peripheral and central nervous systems. Neurons communicate with one another by sending electrochemical impulses called neurotransmitters between them. For this class, it is important to understand the structure and function of each part of a neuron as well as the process of neural firing, which allows for communication between the various parts of our nervous system. Part I: Diagraming a Neuron Directions: You can use the following websites for the first two activities: Use the diagram of the neuron below to label the following structures: Dendrites Cell Body or Soma Nucleus Myelin Sheath Axon Axon Terminal (or Synaptic End Bulbs) Synapse

2 Part II: The Function of a Neuron Use the websites above to identify the function of each neural structure Dendrite Cell Body/Soma Nucleus Axon Myelin Sheath Axon Terminal Synapse Part III: Building a Neuron Use the following website to practice constructing a neuron and become a mad scientist! At the end, pay attention to how a neural messages (or neurotransmitters) are communicated between the two neurons that you have constructed. Part IV: Neural Firing Use the following website to answer questions about how neurons communicate with one another to send messages along your nerves to your brain and back to help coordinate human actions. Communication Between Neurons 1. What are the ions that are inside and outside of the neuron made up of chemically? 2. When a neuron is at a resting state (or resting potential), what is the charge inside the cell body (or soma)? 3. When a neuron is at a resting state (or resting potential), what is the charge outside of the cell body (or soma)? 4. When something stimulates a neuron (what we call an excitatory neurotransmitter), and positive ions flood inside the cell body, what does it create? 5. What does the all-or-none law explain? 6. What determines whether a neuron will fire? 7. What is the space between two cells called? 8. What are the chemicals called that allow neurons to communicate? 9. Where are these chemicals stored? 10. What does it mean that neurotransmitters work the same way as keys do?

3 11. If the released neurotransmitter is excitatory, what will more than likely be the result? 12. If the neurotransmitter is inhibitory, what will more than likely be the result? 13. What happens to the neurotransmitter that is left in the synapse? Watch the video below: It will help you to understand neural firing and answer the questions below: When the video talks about a stimulus coming in, what type of neurotransmitter would this be? 14. What does it mean when the sodium ions rush into the cell and create depolarization? What is the electrical charge of the cell? 15. What happens during repolarization? 16. How long does this process take? interactive activity on Neural Communication Use the diagram/video in the link below to see exactly how neurotransmitter is stored and released to produce neural communication. The neurotransmitter being discussed is one that we will study called dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in which imbalances can result in disorders such as Parkinson s disease, schizophrenia, and addictive disorders. Neurotransmitters The list below includes some of the neurotransmitters that we will study throughout the year. If an imbalance in the amount of neurotransmitter available at the synapse occurs (it could be too much neurotransmitter or too little), it can result in various types of disorders. Use the link below to identify disorders associated with an imbalance of the following neurotransmitters. Acetylcholine Dopamine Norepinephrine Serotonin Gaba The Brain The Brain is the control center of the nervous system. It is connected to the rest of the nervous system via the spinal cord. The brain contains billions of neurons that help us coordinate our movements, talk, think, hear, and see. The brain is divided into three main sections: the brainstem (aka the old brain) the limbic system, which is largely in control of our emotions the cerebral cortex, also called the cerebrum, where higher-level cognition and functioning occurs.

4 Go to the following website: Begin by clicking on the structure tab at the bottom of the interactive map of the brain. Then, click on the yellow dots on the various parts of the brain to learn about the function of each and describe below: Brainstem: 1. What is the brainstem responsible for? 2. Discuss the role of each of the structures of the brainstem: a. Medulla Oblongata: b. Pons: c. Reticular Formation (not discussed): the network of fibers that connects the spinal cord to the brain in order to relay messages, involved in arousal and consciousness Fill in the diagram of the brainstem: Limbic System: 1. Describe the limbic system and its main function in the brain. What is its nickname and why? 2. Discuss the role of each of the structures in the limbic system: a. Amygdala: b. Hippocampus: c. Hypothalamus: d. Thalamus: e. Pituitary Gland (technically part of endocrine system): f. Cerebellum (have to leave Limbic system on interactive map):

5 Fill in the diagram of the Limbic System: Cerebrum/Cerebral Cortex: 1. Describe the main function of the Cerebrum: 2. What are hemispheres? Explain what each side is largely responsible for: Right Hemisphere: Left Hemisphere: 3. Discuss the role of each of the parts of the cerebrum: Cerebral Cortex: Frontal Lobe: Motor Cortex: Broca s Area: Parietal Lobe: Sensory Cortex: Occipital Lobe: Temporal Lobe: Wernicke s Area:

6 Fill in the Diagram of the Cerebrum/Cerebral Cortex: Go to the following website to explore the ways we can scan the brain: 1. Explain the methods used to scan the brain below: EEG Scan (Electroencephalogram): CAT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography): PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography): MRI Scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): MEG Scan (Magnetoencephalography):