Biological bases of behaviour: The nervous system Flashcards
What are the two parts of the nervous system?
Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
What is the central nervous system (CNS) comprised of?
Brain and spinal cord
What is the spinal cord?
delicate cable of nerve fibres, stretching from base of brain to lower back
encased by spine and connects brain to rest of body
How does the CNS work?
Spinal cord receives sensory info from PNS
Info conveyed to brain for processing & interpretation
Brain decides on appropriate response & sends messages to spinal cord for transmission to specific body parts in PNS
What does the peripheral nervous system (PNS) consist of?
All neurons outside CNS. This includes neurons in muscles, organs and glands
What is the role of the PNS?
Carry sensory information to CNS and carry motor information from CNS
What are the subsystems of the PNS?
Somatic nervous system and Autonomic nervous system
What is somatic nervous system for?
voluntary movement
What is the autonomic nervous system for?
automatic movement that occurs without conscious awareness
What is the afferent tract? What is another name for it?
A pathway for sensory neurons to deliver information relating to our external and internal environments (senses –> brain). AKA Ascending tract
What is the efferent tract? What is another name for it?
A pathway for motor neurons to deliver information from brain to various body parts about what appropriate movement they should make in response to sensory information (brain –> movement/response)
AKA descending tract
What are the subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system
What does the Sympathetic nervous system do?
Increases arousal of muscles, organs, glands; prepares body for vigorous activity
Dominates when we are highly aroused or needing sudden bursts of energy
Responsible for activation of fight-flight response
What does the Parasympathetic nervous system do?
Reverses effects of sympathetic nervous system
Returns body’s internal systems to natural level of functioning
Maintains boy when there is no threat present (homeostasis)
