Biological: Nervous Sytem + Brain structure

Question 1

What is the nervous system?

Answer 1

A complex network of cells in the human body. It’s our internal communication system with 2 main functions;
Collect and process information
Coordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body

Question 2

What is the spinal cord and what does it do?

Answer 2

The spinal cord is a tube like extension to the brain. It’s responsible for reflex actions and it passes messages to and from the brain.

Question 3

What is the brain and what does it do?

Answer 3

The source of our conscious awareness and where decision making takes place. It’s divided into 2 hemispheres the right side controls the right of our body and opposite for left.

Question 4

What are the subcortical structures

Answer 4

Hypothalamus, thalamus, limbic system, cerebellum and corpus callosum.

Question 5

What does the thalamus do?

Answer 5

The brains relay station. It receives information from various senses and passes it to the appropriate areas.
Acts as a gate for information (when we wake or sleep)

Question 6

What does the hypothalamus do?

Answer 6

Controls motivational behaviours (sex, hunger, thirst) it’s the body’s key stress response through fight or flight.
It also regulates the endocrine system (hormones)

Question 7

What does the limbic system do?

Answer 7

Consists of several structures (e.g: amygdala) and regulates emotional responses (aggression) it also plays a key role in memory and learning

Question 8

What does cerebellum do?

Answer 8

Coordinate posture balance and movement.

Question 9

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 9

Physically connects the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex. It allows communication between hemispheres.

Question 10

What is the cerebral cortex made up of?

Answer 10

Frontal lobes, parietal lobes, temporal lobes, occipital lobes

Question 11

What does the frontal lobe do?

Answer 11

High-level cognitive functions such as thinking, planning and problem solving.

Question 12

What do the parietal lobes do?

Answer 12

They control processing of touch and the information gained from the contact to skin.

Question 13

What do the temporal lobes do?

Answer 13

Deal with sound information process the location volume and pitch of sounds. Also have a role in understanding language.

Question 14

What do the occipital lobes do?

Answer 14

Processes visual information.

Question 15

Define neuron

Answer 15

A neuron is a nerve cell that allow the nervous system to transmit signals electrically and chemically around the body.

Question 16

Define neurotransmitter

Answer 16

Brain chemicals released from synaptic vesicles. Neurotransmitters relay signals from one neuron to another across a synapse

Question 17

Define synaptic transmission

Answer 17

The process by which neighboroughing neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the synapse.

Question 18

What are the main features of a synapse?

Answer 18

Cell body (soma)
Dendrite
Nucleus
Myelin sheath
Axon
Terminal button
Node of ranvier

Question 19

Describe the neuron appearance wise

Answer 19

The cell body contains the nucleus and the genetic material of the cell, dendrites stick out for the cell body. These carry impulses from neighboroughing neurons towards the cell body. The axon is a tube like structure that carries the impulse away from the cell body. The myelin sheath covers the axon and is a fatty layer.
Gaps in the myelin sheath are the nodes of ranvier. Finally at the end are the terminal buttons

Question 20

What are the three types of neuron?

Answer 20

Sensory neuron
Motor neuron
Relay neuron

Question 21

Describe synaptic transmission

Answer 21

A chemical process using biochemical substances called neurotransmitter. When the AP reaches the end of the neuron (presynaptic terminal button) it triggers the release of neurotransmitters from tiny slave called synaptic vesicles. When the chemical diffuse into the synapse the fit into the matching receptor sites which may fire another AP.

Question 22

Define recreational drug

Answer 22

A biochemical that has a specific effect on the functioning of the body’s systems.

Question 23

What is an agonist recreational drug? Give examples

Answer 23

Agonist drugs imitate natural neurotransmitters which fool the brain into activating pleasure centres. However they are much more powerful.
(Heroin, nicotine, cannabis)

Question 24

What is an antagonist recreational drug? Give examples

Answer 24

Drugs that boost the amount of normal neurotransmitters triggering the brains pleasure centres.

Question 25

What effect does cocaine have on the brain?

Answer 25

The drug alters synaptic transmission and neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin) especially dopamine!!
Cocaine blocks the trip take of dopamine by binding with the terminal buttons. As cocaine prevents this process the synapse is flooded with surplus quantities of dopamine this why you get a high.

Question 26

What are the long term effects of cocaine use?

Answer 26

After repeated cocaine use dopamine receptors become down regulated meaning fewer receptors are active as some have been shut down or damaged so the amount of dopamine declines. This explains withdrawal and tolerance as a higher amount of cocaine is needed to gain the same high.

Question 27

What effect does heroin have on the CNS?

Answer 27

It has depressant effects on the CNS. it slows down activity (including pain receptors) this is why it can be used as a painkiller. Endorphins are produced by the body as a natural pain killer. Heroin binds with the natural opioid system and massively enhances the natural response.

Question 28

Evaluate the neurobiology of recreational drugs S

Answer 28

Olds and Milner
The rats could give their brains a pleasurable shock and would return to the lever that gave the shock over and over ignoring other sources of pleasure like food or mates. Making them behave rather like drug addicts

Question 29

Evaluate the neurobiology of recreational drugs O

Answer 29

Generalising from animals to humans is problematic humans have much more complex cognitions than animals. For example they use recreational drugs socially or to regulate their moods. Making this explanation reductionist.

Question 30

Evaluate the neurobiology of recreational drugs D

Answer 30

There are similarities between the neurobiological view of recreational drugs and learning theories. Both involve the idea of euphoria as the main reason people keep taking them. (Positive reinforcement in operant conditioning) it explains addiction through the unpleasant side effects of not taking the drug (negative reinforcement- operant conditioning)

Question 31

Evaluate the neurobiology of recreational drugs A

Answer 31

As our knowledge grows so do treatments for addicts.
E.g: Nalaxone can prevents heroin from blocking opiate receptors.

Question 32

Define aggression

Answer 32

Behaviour that is intended to cause injury. In humans this could psychological or physical.

Question 33

What is the key structure involved in aggression?

Answer 33

The amygdala as it has a central role in how an organism assesses and responds to the environments threats and challenges.

Question 34

What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in Aggression?

Answer 34

Plays an important role in higher cognitive functions such as rational thinking and impulse regulation. In psychological patients that conditions feature aggression activity in the OFC is reduced which disrupts it’s impulse control function.

Question 35

What is the role of serotonin in aggression?

Answer 35

Serotonin can slow down neuronal activity. At normal levels, you will have a reasonable degree of self control. Decreased serotonin will disturb this link reducing self control leading to aggression.

Question 36

What is the role of dopamine in aggression?

Answer 36

Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that regulates motivated behaviour. Serotonin underactivity, stimulates, dopamine, overactivity, and both are linked with impulsivity and aggression.