Biopsych - AS recap

Question 1

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Answer 1

All complex commands/decisions -> consists of brain & spinal cord

Question 1

Nervous system

Answer 1

Network of cells that communicate using electrical signals in response to their environment

Question 2

Brain (CNS)

Answer 2

Receives/processes information, generates thoughts & emotions and stores memory

Question 3

Spinal cord (CNS)

Answer 3

Conducts signals to/from the brain

Question 4

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Answer 4

Sends information to CNS from the outside world / from CNS to muscles & glands

Question 5

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

Answer 5

Voluntary muscle movements

Question 6

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Answer 6

Involuntary muscle movements & vital functions

Question 7

Sympathetic response

Answer 7

Fight or Flight response (emergency situations)

Question 8

Parasympathetic response

Answer 8

Rest or Digest response (relaxed state)

Question 9

Endocrine system

Answer 9

Instructs glands to release hormones to target organs

Question 10

Glands

Answer 10

Organs that synthesise hormones

Question 11

Hormones

Answer 11

Chemical substances circulated in bloodstream

Question 12

Thyroid gland

Answer 12

Produces thyroxine -> increases metabolic rate -> impacts growth rate

Question 13

Pituitary gland

Answer 13

(Master gland)
Produces oxytocin -> bonding with other people

Question 14

SAM pathway

Answer 14

Short-term stress response
- Stressful situation
- Amygdala sends distress signal to hypothalamus
- Adrenal medulla stimulated by sympathetic nervous system
- Secretes adrenaline & noradrenaline
- Physiological changes occur to prepare for fight or flight

Question 15

HPA Axis

Answer 15

Long-term stress response
- Perceive a threat
- Hypothalamus -> releases CRH
- Pituitary gland -> releases ACTH
- Adrenal cortex -> releases cortisol (lowers pain sensitivity)

Question 16

Relay neurons

Answer 16

Allow communication between other neurons

Question 17

Sensory neurons

Answer 17

Nerve impulses (sensations/reflexes)

Question 18

Motor neurons

Answer 18

Muscle movements

Question 19

Synaptic transmission

Answer 19

Process by which neurons send messages/signals to one another (one-way process), signals are sent from a pre-synapse & received in a post-synapse

Question 20

Neurotransmitters

Answer 20

Brain chemicals that relay signals

Question 21

Excitation

Answer 21

Increase positive charge to increase likelihood the message is passed on (depolarisation)

Question 22

Inhibition

Answer 22

Increase negative charge to decrease likelihood the message is passed on (hyperpolarisation)

Question 23

Parts of a neuron: Dendrites

Answer 23

Receive signals from other cells & carry to cell body

Question 24

Parts of a neuron: Cell body

Answer 24

Organises and keeps cell functional

Question 25

Parts of a neuron: Axon

Answer 25

Transfers signals to other cells/organs

Question 26

Parts of a neuron: Myelin sheath

Answer 26

Around the axon & increases the speed of the signal transfer

Question 27

Parts of neuron: Axon terminal

Answer 27

Forms junctions with other cells