Psychology: Neuron, Endocrine Glands, CNS, Reaction Time, Behavioral Psychology

RUNNING HEAD: PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
Name of Student
Name of University
Author note

PSYCHOLOGY1
Response to Task A
1.The neuron has a nucleus, a cell body (soma), dendrites and a long projection that is known
as axon which helps in signal transduction greatly. The axon is covered by myelin sheath in
myelinated neurons (Whiteway et al.2019). The signal jumps from one gap to the other,
present between the myelin sheath known as nodes of Ranvier (Brivio et al. 2017). This type
of conduction is called ‘saltatory conduction’ that is multiple folds faster than unmyelinated
nerve. The myelin is produced by Schwann cells.
A neuron ends synaptic bulbs where the transduced signal produces end plate
potentials (EPPs) that crossed over the synaptic junction to the next neuron (Wong et al.
2019). The chemical changes in the synaptic vessels play a very important role in
depolarization and transduction processes. Acetylcholine is released from the vessels which is
an excitatory neurotransmitter and helps actively in excitatory neurotransmission (Reczek and
Chandel).
2. The endocrine glands form a biological or metabolic communication network throughout
the human body (Rosol and Gröne 2015). Pituitary glands also known as the master gland,
under the influence of hypothalamus – control the hormone secretion from the other axis or
parts of the body (Wang et al. 2018). The lobes of pituitary (anterior, posterior and middle)
secretes the ‘stimulating hormones’ that influences the secretion of target endocrine glands
(thyroid, testes, ovaries). While the hormonal control loop acts in an axis, controlled greatly
by the pituitary gland – the metabolic and homeostatic states play a very important part in
functioning of this endocrinal network.
3. Structure and function of central nervous system. The central nervous system consists of
‘two major structures’ - brain and the spinal cord. Brain is protected by skull. Spinal cord is a
continuation or prolonged extension of the brain through the vertebral column. The delicate

PSYCHOLOGY2
spinal cord is protected by vertebrae. The cerebrospinal fluid or CSF is present in the CNS
that communicated with the spinal cord from skull’s base, continues through ‘foramen
magnum’ and it terminates at the level of second or first lumbar vertebra. The central nervous
system, functionally, involved with higher neurological and psychological functions as well
as interpretation of sensory impulses and production of a desired response.
4. Split brain studies continue to explore the fact certain brain functions are specific and
particular to certain areas in a specific lobe and the ‘function’ appear as ‘exclusive’ to either
left or right hemisphere. Many studies have provided evidences that has pointed towards and
against the idea of ‘lateralization’ (Rogers and Vallortigara 2017). Although, there are
different ‘portions’ identical to both the lobes but still, functionally, some regions are
concentrated on left hemisphere such as speech and writing areas and some areas on
exclusively on the ride side of brain while emotions rise from the right hemisphere.
5. One of the oldest and well known debates in psychology is the ‘nature – nurture
controversy’ according to which, a person’s behavior is determined by nature (genes) and by
the environmental influences (in which a child grows up to become an adult and so on). This
latter influence is called ‘nurture’.
Response to Task B
1. Reaction time calculates how fast or rapid can an individual ‘execute’ a mental or
psychological operation required to perform a certain task. In ‘simple reaction time
experiment’ - the ‘subject’ is presented or given a ‘quite simple stimulus’ such as
‘light’ and then, the subject was instructed to complete a very simple response that is
‘pressing of a button’ (Nagatani 2015)
2. While I took the test, the test results varied from one test to the other. This is because,
the mind uses a lot of collateral mechanisms to handle the stimulus- response loop.