Biopsych - AS recap Flashcards
Central Nervous System (CNS)
All complex commands/decisions -> consists of brain & spinal cord
Nervous system
Network of cells that communicate using electrical signals in response to their environment
Brain (CNS)
Receives/processes information, generates thoughts & emotions and stores memory
Spinal cord (CNS)
Conducts signals to/from the brain
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Sends information to CNS from the outside world / from CNS to muscles & glands
Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
Voluntary muscle movements
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Involuntary muscle movements & vital functions
Sympathetic response
Fight or Flight response (emergency situations)
Parasympathetic response
Rest or Digest response (relaxed state)
Endocrine system
Instructs glands to release hormones to target organs
Glands
Organs that synthesise hormones
Hormones
Chemical substances circulated in bloodstream
Thyroid gland
Produces thyroxine -> increases metabolic rate -> impacts growth rate
Pituitary gland
(Master gland)
Produces oxytocin -> bonding with other people
SAM pathway
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
HPA Axis
Long-term stress response
- Perceive a threat
- Hypothalamus -> releases CRH
- Pituitary gland -> releases ACTH
- Adrenal cortex -> releases cortisol (lowers pain sensitivity)
Relay neurons
Allow communication between other neurons
Sensory neurons
Nerve impulses (sensations/reflexes)
Motor neurons
Muscle movements
Synaptic transmission
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
Neurotransmitters
Brain chemicals that relay signals
Excitation
Increase positive charge to increase likelihood the message is passed on (depolarisation)
Inhibition
Increase negative charge to decrease likelihood the message is passed on (hyperpolarisation)
Parts of a neuron: Dendrites
Receive signals from other cells & carry to cell body
Parts of a neuron: Cell body
Organises and keeps cell functional
Parts of a neuron: Axon
Transfers signals to other cells/organs
Parts of a neuron: Myelin sheath
Around the axon & increases the speed of the signal transfer
Parts of neuron: Axon terminal
Forms junctions with other cells
