6 - biopsychology Flashcards
what are the divisions of the nervous system?
Central nervous system split into brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system split up into somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
autonomic NS divided into parasympathetic division and sympathetic division
what is the function of the brain?
receives and processes sensory information, and initiates a response
what is the function of the spinal cord?
conducts signals to and from the brain, controls reflex activities
what does the peripheral nervous system do?
relays messages from the CNS to the rest of the body
consists of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system
what is the function of the somatic nervous system?
controls voluntary movements, we are aware and can consciously influence
- made of sensory and motor neurons
- reflex arc
what is the function of the autonomic nervous system?
controls involuntary responses and plays an important part in homeostasis
as 2 components
1. sympathetic nervous system
2. parasympathetic nervous system
what does the sympathetic nervous system do?
‘fight or flight’
- controls and prepares body for stress, danger, and physical activity
what is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
‘rest and digest’
- relaxes body after emergency has passed
what things in the body increase when the sympathetic nervous system is activated?
- heart rate
- blood pressure
- breathing rate
- pupil size
what happens to digestion when in fight or flight mode?
slows down
what is the role of of the cerebellum?
controls motor skills and balance
what is the role of the thallamus
relay station for incoming pulses and directs them to the brain
what is the role of the hypothallamus
regulates homeostatic functions
what is the function of the sensory neuron?
carry nerve impulses from sensory receptors to the spinal cord and brain
converts info into neural impulses
what is the location of sensory neurons
many places e.g. eyes, ears, tongue, skin
- PNS
- some go to the brain and others go to the spinal chord to speed up reflex arc
what is the function of the relay neuron?
allows sensory and motor neurons to communicate with eachother
location of relay neurons
brain and spinal chord
what is the function of motor neurons
- conducts signal from CNS to effector organs
- form synapses with muscles
- release neurotransmitters that bind receptors on the muscles
- when axon fires, muscle contracts
where are motor neurons found?
cell body in CNS
cell bodies
project from CNS
describe synaptic transmission part 1
- action potential is in presynaptic neuron
- calcium ion channels open
- calcium ions diffuse in presynaptic neuron
- synaptic vesicles move and bind with neuron membrane
- neurotransmitter is released into synaptic cleft
- neurotransmitter diffuses into the synaptic cleft
describe synaptic transmission part 2
- neurotransmitter binds to the receptor site on the sodium ion channels
- sodium ion channels open
- sodium ions diffuse in
- new action potential (nerve impulse) is sent along axon of post synaptic neuron
describe synaptic transmission part 3
- an enzyme breaks down neurotransmitter
- sodium ion channels close
- 2 bits of neurotransmitter diffuse back across cleft to presynaptic neuron
- allows NT to be recycled
- some NT are reup taken into pre synaptic neuron
what is the function if the hypothalamus?
stimulates and controls the release of hormones from pituitary gland
what hormones does the anterior pituitary gland release?
adrenocortical trophic factor
LH
FSH