Biopsycholgy Flashcards
What is the nervous system?
A specialised network of checks in the human body and is our primary internal communication system.
It has two main functions, to collect, process and respond to information in the environment and to coordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
What is the central nervous system?
It is made up of the brain and the spinal cord. It is the origin of all complex commands and decisions
What is the brain?
It is the centre of conscious awareness
The cerebral cortex is the outer lateral of the brain and is what distinguishes human mental functions from those animals
It is divided into two hemispheres, each hemisphere has four lobes (frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal)
What is the spinal cord?
An extension of the brain
It is responsible for relex actions eg. Pulling your hand from a hot plate
It passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS
What is the peripheral nervous system?
It transmits messages via millions of neurons, to and from the central nervous system
It is subdivided into the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system
What is the autonomic nervous system?
It governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate digestion, sexual arousal and stress (involuntary effect)
It is subdivided into the sympathetic nervous system which activates internal organs and increased bodily activities
And the parasympathetic nervous system which relaxes internal organs and decreases bodily activities
What is the somatic nervous system?
It transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the central nervous system.
It receives information from the central nervous system that directs muscles to act (voluntary effect)
What is the endocrine system?
It is one of the body’s major information systems that instructs glass to release hormones directly into the blood stream
It works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions.
These hormones are carried towards target organs in the body
What hormone does the pituitary gland release?
Many
It is known as the master gland because the hormones released control and stimulate the release of hormones from other glands in the endocrine system
What hormone does the pineal gland release?
Melatonin
It is responsible for important biological rhythms including the sleep wake cycle
What hormone does the adrenal gland release?
Adrenaline
It is responsible for flight it fight response, it stimulates the heart rate, contracts blood vessels and dilates air passages among other impacts
What is the fight or flight response?
The way an animal responds when stressed
The body becomes physiologically aroused in readiness to fight an aggressor or in some cases flee
The response is reflexive meaning it occurs without conscious awareness or thought
How does the endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system work together?
The hypothalamus re
