Biopsychology

Question 1

Specification

Answer 1

The divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral (somatic and autonomic).
The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons. The process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition.
The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones.
The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline.
Localisation of function in the brain and hemispheric lateralisation: motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory and language centres; Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, split brain research. Plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma.
Ways of studying the brain: scanning techniques, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); electroencephalogram (EEGs) and event-related potentials (ERPs); post-mortem examinations.
Biological rhythms: circadian, infradian and ultradian and the difference between these rhythms. The effect of endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers on the sleep/wake cycle.

Question 2

Define Nervous System

Answer 2

Consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

Electrical signals

Question 3

Define central nervous system

Answer 3

Consists of the brain and the spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and decisions

Question 4

Define Peripheral nervous system

Answer 4

Send information to the CNS from the outside world and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body

Question 5

Define Somatic nervous system

Answer 5

Transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS
It also receives information from the CNS that directs muscles to act

Governs muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors

Question 6

Define autonomic nervous system

Answer 6

Transmits information to and from internal bodily organs
It is autonomic as the system operates involuntarily
It has two main divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Governs vital functions in the body
eg .breathing, heart rate, arousal

Question 7

Thyroid Gland

Answer 7

Produces Thyroxine
Affects cells in the heart (increases heart rate)
Affects cells throughout the body (increasing metabolic rates)
Affects growth rates

Question 8

Pituitary Gland

Answer 8

Key endocrine gland
Located in the brain
Master gland, controls the release of hormones from all the other endocrine glands in the body

Question 9

Fight or Flight

Answer 9

Endocrine and ANS work in parallel