Biological Psychology Flashcards
What is the nervous system?
Complex and specialised network of cells in the human body.
Its two main functions are:
- The collection, processing and response to information in the environment.
- It coordinates the working of different organs and cells in the body.
What is the thalamus?
Brains relay station. It receives information from various senses and passes it on to the appropriate areas.
Plays a role in sleep, wakefulness and OCD
What is the hypothalamus?
Controls motivational behaviours such as hunger, thirst and sex.
Involved in fight or flight.
Regulates endocrine system via its connection with the pituitary glands.
What is the limbic system?
Consists of structures eg amygdala.
Regulates emotional responses and plays a role in memory and learning.
What is the Cerebellum?
Coordinate posture, balance and movement.
What is the corpus callosum?
Dense collection of nerve cells which connects the two hemispheres and allows communication between the hemispheres.
It integrates the activities of both sides of the body.
What are the frontal lobes?
Controls high level cognitive functioning such as thinking, planning, problem solving and decision making. Controls voluntary movement.
What are the frontal lobes?
Processes sensory information from the skin. The larger the area the more sensitive to touch.
What are the temporal lobes?
Contains auditory cortex and deals with sound information and understanding language.
What are the occipital lobes?
Located at the back of the brain and contains the primary visual cortex. Deals with visual information.
What is broca’s area?
Responsible for speech production
What is Wernicke’s Area?
Responsible for understanding language.
What are the 3 types of neurons?
Sensory, motor and relay
What is the sensory neuron?
Receptors to CNS, long dendrites, short axons.
What are motor neurons?
CNS to effectors, short dendrites and long axons.
