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AQA A level Psychology > biopsychology > Flashcards

biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the central nervous system?

A

a specialised network of cells in the human body, and is our primary internal communication

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2
Q

what is the central nervous system based on?

A

electrical and chemical signals

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3
Q

what is the endocrine system is based on?

A

hormones

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4
Q

what is the nervous system’s main two functions?

A
  • to collect, process, and respond to information from the environment
  • to co-ordinate the workings of different organs and cells in the body
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5
Q

what does the central nervous system consist of?

A

brain and spinal cord

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6
Q

what is the spinal cord?

A

an extension of the brain which is responsible for our reflex actions. it passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the central nervous system

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7
Q

what is the brain?

A

controls our conscious awareness, involved in psychological processes. different regions are responsible for different functions.

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8
Q

what is the somatic nervous system?

A

governs muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors. facilitates communication between the CNS and the outside world.

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9
Q

what is the autonomic nervous system?

A

helps to achieve homeostasis in the body, such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses

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10
Q

what is the outer layer of the brain?

A

the cerebral cortex and is only 3mm thick

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11
Q

what does the brain stem connect?

A

the brain and spinal cord and controls involuntary processes including our heartbeat, breathing and consciousness

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12
Q

what is the role of the PNS (peripheral nervous system)?

A

to relay messages (nerve impulses) from the CNS (brain and spinal cord) to the rest of the body. it transmits messages via millions of neurons (nerve cells) to and from the CNS.

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13
Q

what is the sympathetic nervous system?

A

involves the body for fight or flight. impulses travel from the sympathetic nervous system to organs in the body to help prepare for action when faced with a dangerous situation.

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14
Q

what is the parasympathetic system?

A

helps the body to relax the body and return us to our normal resting state. the parasympathetic nervous system slows down our heart rate and breathing rate and reduces our blood pressure.

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15
Q

examples of what happens in the sympathetic state?

A
  • high/increased heart rate
  • high/increase breathing
  • pupils dilate
  • inhibited digestion
  • lower/decreases saliva production
  • rectum contracts
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16
Q

examples of what happens in the parasympathetic state?

A
  • low/decreased heart
  • low/decreased breathing
  • pupils constrict
  • stimulated digestion
  • higher/increased saliva production
  • rectum relaxes
17
Q

what is the endocrine system?

A

a network of glands across the body that secrete chemical messages called hormones

18
Q

is the endocrine system slower of faster than the nervous system?

A

slower

19
Q

where are hormones secreted to?

A

the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone.

20
Q

what is the function and secretion of the adrenal gland?

A

adrenaline / cortisol, adrenaline is used in fight or flight and cortisol is used in the stress response which leads to the immune system

21
Q

what is the function and secretion of the parotid?

A

secretes saliva, which aids in digestion and chewing and functions of saliva can change during stress

22
Q

an example of something causing fight or flight?

A
  • getting into trouble with a teacher (psychological stress)
  • getting chased by a dog (physical threats to life)
  • exams (psychological stress?
  • heights (physical threats to life)
23
Q

what is the role of the amygdala?

A

responds to sensory input, what we see, hear, smell etc, and connects sensory input with emotions associated with the fight or flight response, such as fear and anger

24
Q

what happens between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and the amygdala in a stressful situation? (fight or flight)

A

the amygdala sends a signal to the hypothalamus which communicates with the body through the sympathetic nervous system. the hypothalamus then activates the pituitary gland and this triggers activity in the sympathetic branch of the ANS. the ANS changes from resting state (the parasympathetic state) to the physiologically aroused (sympathetic) state

25
Q

what is adrenaline?

A

a stress hormone released from the adrenal medulla (part of adrenal gland near the kidney) into the bloodstream. it triggers physiological changes in the body (e.g, increased heart rate) necessary arousal for the flight or fight response

26
Q

what is the flight or fight response described as?

A

an acute and automatic response

27
Q

what works together in the fight or flight response?

A

Endocrine and ANS

28
Q

what happens to the parasympathetic nervous system after a threat has passed? (fight or flight)

A

returns the body to its resting state. the parasympathetic branch of the ANS works in opposition to the SNS. It acts as a “brake” and reduces activities of the body that were increased by the actions of the sympathetic branch.

29
Q

what else is the parasympathetic state known as?

A

‘rest and digest’

30
Q

what is a strength of the fight of flight response?

A

it is an evolutionary mechanism and therefore it promotes our survival. we are able to respond to stress or danger in our environment. however, it could actually be an unhelpful response in today’s society. for example, in exams, driving, fight or flight causes panic and added stress causes us to affect and make mistakes.

31
Q

what is a weakness of the fight or flight response?

A
  • it is bad for health
  • intense or inappropriate activation of the fight or flight response is implicated in a range of clinical conditions including most anxiety disorders
  • physical responses can be harmful to your health and is linked to high blood pressure and heart attacks
  • the response to a phobic object could be seen as inappropriate
  • phobias are an example of an anxiety disorders that can seriously impact on day-to-day life such as not being able to go outside because of a phobia of pigeons
32
Q

what is another weakness of the fight or flight response?

A
  • our reactions are not limited
  • some suggests that there is an initial ‘freeze’ response which aims to avoid confrontation altogether
  • during a freeze response, animals and humans are hyper-vigilant while they appraise the situation to decide the best course of action to the threat
33
Q
A

AQA A level Psychology (5 decks)

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