biological psychology Flashcards
what is biological psychology?
‘It is the study of the physiological, evolutionary and developmental mechanisms of behaviour and experience’ (Kalat, 2007)
what is the nervous system?
The body’s command centre
Facilitates human functioning
Regulates homeostasis
Affects senses, movement, thoughts/memory, stress response, digestion, bodily processes, breathing patterns, sleep, ageing
what is the nervous systems function?
Sensory function = gathers info from inside/outside body, transmits to processing areas of brain/spine
Integration function = processes info in brain/spine
Motor function = sends info to muscles/glands/organs
Method of info transmission = neurons release neurotransmitters across synaptic gap, excessive neurotransmitters diffused + reabsorbed when necessary
divisions of the nervous system
CNS = brain + spinal cord
PNS = somatic + autonomic nervous system
Somatic = voluntary movements, sends info to and from skin + muscles
Autonomic = involuntary movements, relay info to organs, sympathetic and parasympathetic NS
-Sympathetic = fight/flight, controls organs in stress
Parasympathetic = rest/digest, controls organs when body @ rest
key neurotransmitters
dopamine
acetylcholine
norepinephrine
GABA
glutamate
endorphins
serotonin
what does dopamine do?
Enhances sensations, ‘feel good’ mechanism of brain
what does Acetylcholine do?
Stimulates muscles, especially gastrointestinal system
what does Norepinephrine do?
Increases sympathetic nervous system e.g. heat rate/blood pressure
what does GABA do?
Affects motor control/vision/anxiety
what does glutamate do?
Affects learning/memory/cognition
what do endorphins do?
Pain reduction and pleasure
what does Serotonin do?
Affects emotion/mood/perception
what is the endocrine system do?
Sends info to brain/other tissues via bloodstream
Works with nervous system
Compromises glands which secrete hormones into bloodstream
E.g. fight/flight, adrenal glands, cortisol secretion etc
