biopsychology Flashcards
what is the nervous system?
network of cells in human body that allows communication
what are the two divisions of the nervous system?
central nervous system
peripheral nervous system
what are the two divisions of the central nervous system?
brain
spinal chord
what is the brain’s function in the central nervous system?
- processes information from senses
- conscious awareness
- higher mental functions
- emotion
- initiates responses
- stores memories
what is the spinal chord’s function in the central nervous system?
- conducts signals to and from the brain
- connects the nerves and the PNS
- responsible for reflex actions
what is the peripheral nervous system’s function?
sends messages to and from the CNS via neurones
what are the two divisions of the peripheral nervous system?
autonomic nervous system
somatic nervous system
describe the autonomic nervous system
- controls involuntary response
- controls smooth/cardiac muscles
- control centres located in the brainstem
describe the somatic nervous system
- controls voluntary movement
- controls skeletal muscles
- control centres located in the motor cortex
what are the 2 branches of the autonomic nervous system?
sympathetic
parasympathetic
what does the sympathetic branch control?
fight or flight response
what does the parasympathetic branch control?
restores bodily energy when relaxed
describe the structure of a neuron
dendrites
cell body
axon
myelin sheath
nodes of ranvier
terminal button
what is the function of the cell body in a neuron?
includes nucleus containing genetic material
what is the function of the dendrites of a neuron?
where the neurotransmitter receptors are found
what is the function of the myelin sheath of a neuron?
protects the axon
speed up transmission
what is the function of the nodes of ranvier?
speeds up transmission of impulse by making it ‘jump’ the gap
what is the function of the axon of a neuron?
sends nerve impulse through neuron to transmit the message
what is the function of the terminal button of a neuron?
releases neurotransmitters to transmit the message to the next neurone
what does a neuron do?
sends electrical and chemical impulses to communicate
what are 3 types of neuron?
sensory
relay
motor
where does the sensory neuron carry information to and from?
PNS to CNS
where does the relay neuron carry information to and from?
between the sensory and motor neurones
where does the motor neuron carry information to and from?
CNS to effector
what length dendrites and axons do all the neurones have?
sensory: long dendrites short axons
relay: short dendrites short axons
motor: short dendrites long axons
explain the process of synaptic transmission
- starts in the pre-synaptic neuron
- action potential sent down axon to terminal button
- neurotransmitters in vesicles released into synapse
- neurotransmitters diffuse across synapse and bind to receptor sites
where are the neurotransmitters only found?
in the pre synaptic neuron
where are receptors only found?
post synaptic neuron
after the neurotransmitters bind to the receptor sites, what happens?
next neuron gets ready to fire an impulse
OR
reuptake
what are the two types of neurotransmitter?
excitatory and inhibitory
what do excitatory neurons do?
- bind to the post synaptic neuron receptors
- post synaptic become positively charged
- making it more likely for the post synaptic neuron to fire an impulse
- increasing activity in the brain
what do inhibitory neurons do?
- bind to the post synaptic neuron receptors
- post synaptic become negatively charged
- making it less likely for the post synaptic neuron to fire an impulse
- decreasing activity in brain
what is summation?
- occurs when excitatory and inhibitory are added together
- if the effect is mainly inhibitory it makes it less likely for the neuron to fire an impulse
- if it is mainly excitatory the neuron will fire an impulse
what is the function of the endocrine system?
chemical system of communication in the blood stream that regulates activity of cells and organs
what are the chemical messages the endocrine system uses to communicate with?
hormones released by glands
what is a gland?
an organ that secretes hormones to control functions
what are 5 glands we need to know?
pituitary
adrenal
testes
ovaries
pineal
what is the pituitary gland sometimes known as?
master gland
what is the function of the pituitary gland?
secretes many different hormones that control functions of other glands
what is the function of the adrenal gland?
secretes adrenaline
causing changes like increased heart rate
in fight or flight response
what is the function of the pineal gland?
secretes melatonin
making a person tired
involved in sleep wake cycle
what are the ovaries and testes a part of?
anterior pituitary gland
what happens in the ovaries? (endocrine system)
anterior pituitary gland secretes LH and FSH
which stimulates the ovaries to release oestrogen and progesterone
regulating menstrual cycle
what happens in the testes? (endocrine system)
anterior pituitary gland releases LH and FSH
stimulating testes to release testosterone
producing male characteristics
what does the anterior pituitary gland secrete?
LH and FSH