AOS1 SAC Flashcards
1
Q
Neural communication pathway
A
receptor site sends message to sensory neurons via afferent tracts in spinal cord to brain, interneurons receive the message and communicate with motor neurons via efferent tracts, motor neurons trigger effectors (muscles, organs, glands)
2
Q
Spinal reflex
A
automatic response initiated by neurons in the spinal cord instead of the brain, pain is registered in the brain after the reflex (sensory neuron to interneuron to motor neurons).
RECEPTOR CELL–SENSORY NEURON–INTERNEURON–MOTOR NEURON– EFFECTOR
3
Q
Interneurons
A
only found in CNS, communicates between sensory and motor neurons, can sometimes send signals straight to motor neurons in spinal reflexes.
4
Q
Role of neurons
A
reception and transmission of information
5
Q
Dendrites
A
receives chemical neurotransmitter message
6
Q
Soma
A
holds genetic material, cell metabolism
7
Q
Axon
A
path down which the electrical message (action potential) travels
8
Q
Myelin Sheath
A
fatty tissue that protects, insulates and speeds up transmission
9
Q
Axon terminals
A
neurotransmitters are released from here into the synapse, exit pathway for neural messages
10
Q
Resting potential
A
negative energy in axon, outside neuron is positively charged
11
Q
Action potential
A
negative charges become positive and vice versa (electric impulse), initiated by the soma
12
Q
Electrochemical
A
communication within the neuron is electric and between is chemical
13
Q
Pre synaptic neuron
A
releases neurotransmitters to post synaptic dendrite, where they will bind if they are complementary to receptor sites
14
Q
Post synaptic dendrite
A
receives neurotransmitters from the pre synaptic neuron
15
Q
Independent Groups
A
There’s a control and experimental group.
Quick, inexpensive, no order effects, less impact from drop outs
Participant variables have a higher chance of effecting the DV (decreased validity)
16
Q
Repeated measures
A
Participants are in both control and experimental groups.
Reduced participant effects and therefore reduced variables (increased validity)
Improvement due to practice, order effects– can be helped by counterbalancing (phase 1- control then experimental groups, phase 2- experimental then control groups)
17
Q
Matched participants
A
Participants are matched for factors that could affect the DV then one participant is allocated to control and the other to experimental
Participant effects are controlled for extraneous variables
It is difficult to have a large sample, withdrawal of participants has a major effect on sample size
18
Q
Somatic NS
A
voluntary actions, control of skeletal muscles, sensory and motor neurons
19
Q
Autonomic NS
A
involuntary actions of muscles, organs and glands, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
20
Q
S.A.M.E
A
sensory afferent motor efferent
21
Q
Functions of the nervous system
A
receives info from environment, sends electrochemical messages, responds to information through muscles, organs and glands
22
Q
Why does returning to homeostasis take longer?
A
The hormones released by the sympathetic nervous system take longer to leave the body
23
Q
Controlling the autonomic nervous system
A
meditation, deep breathing, biofeedback
24
Q
Central nervous system
A
consists of the brain and spinal cord, which receive, process and integrates information from the body and then responds. The spinal cord connects the brain to the body through the peripheral nervous system
25
Spinal cord
In the centre is grey matter, which are cell bodies, axons and dendrites. The outer layers are white matter, which are myelin coated axons which form axon columns, which form afferent or efferent tracts. The axon columns bundle into spinal nerves that carry messages to and from the spinal cord.
26
spinal cord message carrier
Sensory info from PNS to brain through afferent tracts and motor info back to PNS through efferent tracts
27
PNS
All nerves that don't include the CNS. Conveys sensory info and transmits motor info from CNS via connection to the spinal cord.
28
Somatic nervous system
controls voluntary responses of skeletal muscles, involves both sensory and motor neurons, also includes the senses and sensations
29
Autonomic nervous system
regulates the activity of organs and glands, self regulating, motor messages are sent to involuntary muscles, still communicates with the brain
30
Lock and key
neurotransmitters act as a key and are specific to the receptor, which acts as the lock. Neurotransmitters with non-complementary shapes cannot bind to the receptor.(IF REFERRING TO THE PROCESS DESCRIBE THE RESPONSE IT RESULTS IN)
31
Why are neurotransmitters chemical?
Because they can't jump across the synapse
32
Neurotransmitters binding
Even if neurotransmitters bind, they will return to their neuron. If neurotransmitters do not bind, they will degrade. If they are never used, they will eventually die.
33
Sympathetic nervous system
part of the autonomic nervous system, for times of heightened emotions or vigorous activity, responsible for the flight/fight/freeze response. Motor signals are sent to the adrenal glands which send adrenaline into the bloodstream, which increases heart rate and blood pressure. Pupils dilate for extra light for better vision, perspiration decreases, digestion decreases.
34
Parasympathetic nervous system
maintains homeostasis, vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure, heart rate and digestion. Returns the effects of the sympathetic nervous system to normal, but takes longer to occur as it takes time for the released hormones to disappear.
35
Spinal reflexes
occur automatically by the somatic nervous system and operate independently from the brain. Sensory neurons pass the message of pain to the interneurons, which in turn send this message to motor neurons, which then respond.
36
Monosynaptic reflex
Activate only one synapse between a sensory and motor neuron
37
Polysynaptic reflex
Activate more than one synapse, also includes interneurons
38
Neurons
Receive, process and transmit information electrochemically.
39
Glial cells
provide structural and nutritional support, repair, maintenance
40
Nodes of Ranvier
gaps that increase speed, nutrients and waste can both enter and leave
41
Synaptogenesis
process by which synapses are formed
42
Sensory (afferent) neurons
detect and respond to energy from the environment, carry messages toward the spinal cord. Receptor cells detect sensations and external energy.
43
Motor (efferent) neurons
carry motor signals from CNS to the body. Messages are relayed to motor neurons in descending tracts.
44
Agonists
increase or imitate the release of neurotransmitters
45
Antagonists
inhibit or block neurotransmitters
46
Excitatory neurotransmitters
Increase the likeliness of depolarisation. If several excitatory messages are sent the neuron will fire (if there are also no inhibitory messages)
47
Parkinsons'
Is a neurodegenerative disease in which symptoms are influenced by a lack of dopamine. There is a degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra (which produce dopamine), in the midbrain, in the basal ganglia. Low dopamine does not explain all symptoms of parkinson's.
48
Parkinson's stats
- Average age of diagnosis is 65.
- More common in men.
- No known cause of why the neurons die.
- Only real known risk factor is age.
49
Parkinson's treatment
Levodopa and carbidopa.
50
Symptoms of Parkinson's
- muscle rigidity
- bradykinesia- slow movement/trouble with fine motor movements
- balance problems
- postural instability
- tremor at rest (messages are repeatedly sent to muscles to contract because neurons are not inhibited by dopamine or GABA)
- anxiety
- depression
- cognitive impairment
- fatigue
51
Glutamate
an excitatory amino acid, particularly found in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Plays a role in cognition, memory, learning, behaviour, movement and sensation. Key role in production and growth of new cells.
Excess can affect development of neural circuits and may cause neurodegenerative diseases.
52
GABA
an inhibitory amino acid that calms/slows neural transmission. Helps treat anxiety disorders. Valium and Xanax act as agonists. Low GABA can lead to epileptic seizures.
53
Acetylcholine
excitatory, activates muscles but is inhibitory at the heart, linked to Alzheimers
54
Epinephrine
secreted by the medulla, increases arousal, blood pressure, heart rate, pulse and respiration
55
Norepinephrine
secreted by the medulla, controls arousal, wakefulness, hunger, learning and memory
56
Dopamine
Mostly inhibitory, involved in voluntary movement, attention, learning, arousal, pleasure. A lack is associated with Parkinson's while an excess is associated with schizophrenia.
57
Serotonin
inhibitory, pain, sleep, mood regulation, low levels lead to mood/anxiety/sleep disorders
58
Stress definition
automatic psychological and physical arousal felt in response to change in internal or external environment that challenges or causes a person to feel as if they don't have the resources to cope.
59
stressor
any person, object or event that challenges or threatens someone. Can be internal or external
60
Experience of stress
can be positive or negative, classified as eustress or distress and is subjective, influenced by past experience, personality, culture and education
61
Eustress
activated by the sympathetic nervous system, results in the same physical responses as distress but is instead associated with a positive psychological response to a perceived stressor indicated by a positive psychological state. Usually resulting due to a perceived challenge, increases our alertness and energy
62
Distress
a negative psychological response to a perceived stressor as indicated by a negative psychological state. Usually results in anger, anxiety, fear, hopelessness due to feeling as if the stressor is out of your control.
63
Acute stress
the immediate response to a stressor, caused by daily demands and pressures. Usually appears and disappears over a short period.
64
Chronic stress
the body's response to a long-term stressor, caused by ongoing demands and pressures. This depletes the body's natural resources and exhausts us, leaving us vulnerable to physical and mental issues.
65
Yerkes-Dodson curve
is a curve of performance measured against stress, says that we must be in the mid range for stress to be working at optimum. Before and after optimum our performance drops to lazy or impaired.
66
Life event
major events that require a change of behaviour within a short period of time. May be perceived as positive or negative and responses will vary, therefore we cannot determine the significance of an event to an individual before it happens.
67
Daily pressure
minor events that occur most days
68
Acculturative stress
Moving between cultures requires a change to many aspects of identity, causing stress. Involves changing behaviour to adopt cultural and social patterns of the culture they have moved to. Active attempts to assimilate will result in less overall stress. Acculturative stress can lead to anger, anxiety, aggression, depression, low self esteem.
69
Catastrophe
unpredictable, intense events that is out of the control of an individual and causes intense and prolonged suffering, usually for a group of people. can be a personal or shared experience that may result in PTSD or other mental issues. Has the potential to increase positive psychological growth.
70
Selye's GAS
stage 1- alarm (substage shock and counter shock)
(Sympathetic nervous system is activated)
stage 2- resistance (cortisol is released and immune system is suppressed)
stage 3- exhaustion (physical resources are depleted, we are more likely to become sick, physically or mentally)
ISSUE: assumes we all experience the full same three stages in response to as stressor, also was studied using animals, oversimplified
71
Talking about a model or theory
talk about what it is explaining and acknowledge the criticisms. Also talk about why it is good.
72
Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model
Psychological explanation of the effects of stress
Explains individual differences in our stress response based on thought processes and personal experience and the fact that the experience of stress is subjective. Stress is experienced when there is imbalance between demands of a situation and perception of coping resources.
73
Psychosomatic illness
physical illness due to psychological factors
74
Coping strategies
- exercise- releases endorphins, decreases heightened arousal
- breathing exercises- meditation
- approach- facing and therefore reduce/removing the stressor
- avoidant- avoiding stressor through maladaptive behaviour
- problem focused- involves action
- emotion focused- involves thought
- coping flexibility- changing coping strategy to adapt to the stressor
75
Validity
whether the study measures what it aims to measure
76
FFF
when a threat is perceived, the SNS activates and we evaluate if we can survive.
deciding we can = fight
deciding we can't = flight
This is an adaptive response because the body is automatically prepared.
77
Freeze response
parasympathetic NS causes freezing to stop an unsuccessful fight or flight, energy is directed to organs we need for survival until the threat passes, happens when we believe there is no chance of survival, endorphins cause a numbing effect and sometimes you might even fall unconscious to avoid the stressor.
78
excess cortisol
chronic fatigue, decreased metabolism, weight increase, sleep disturbances, anxiety, high blood sugar, decease in muscle, weak immunity
79
effect of cortisol
is a steroid hormone that maintains homeostasis, released in response to events, in the short term generates a positive effect, returns to normal by the parasympathetic NS. Regulates glucose, blood pressure, insulin and immune function.
80
Primary appraisal
evaluation of the impact of the stressor and the threat it poses. May be deemed insignificant, benign (positive) or a threat/harmful
81
Secondary appraisal
assessment of the resources we have to cope internally and externally based on personal skills, external resources and level of control. if we have resources= reappraisal, if we don't = stress
82
pros and cons of lazarus and folkman
pros- distinguishes between eustress and distress
shows stress as subjective
highlights appraisal and response changes
considers psychological factors
cons- difficult to test
difficult to seperate the appraisals
doesn't consider physical responses to stress
83
What detects sensations?
RECEPTOR CELLS NOT RECEPTOR SITES
84
Secondary appraisal
assessment of the resources we have to cope internally and externally based on personal skills, external resources and level of control. if we have resources= reappraisal, if we don't = stress
85
pros and cons of lazarus and folkman
pros- distinguishes between eustress and distress
shows stress as subjective
highlights appraisal and response changes
considers psychological factors
cons- difficult to test
difficult to seperate the appraisals
doesn't consider physical responses to stress
86
What detects sensations?
RECEPTOR CELLS NOT RECEPTOR SITES
87
exercise as a coping strategy
releases endorphins, releases muscle tension, helps deplete us of stress hormones, improves alertness and concentration
88
approach strategies
targets the stressor in a practical way. involves behavioural and psychological responses designed to change the nature of the stressor, helps gain a sense of control
89
problem focused strategies
directly target the stressor, seeking information, reappraising its significance, making a plan of action and learning skills to deal with the stressor
90
emotion focused
manages stress by changing unpleasant thoughts about the stressor but won't solve the source of distress, works when you feel the threat is out of your control
91
avoidance strategy
maladaptive (self destructive) cognitive or behavioural avoidance of the stressor to escape painful emotions or thoughts. used when we feel there is no control. can involve doing or not doing something, but the person will not confront the stressor. Adds to long term stress as the stressor is not defeated.
