Biopsychology Flashcards
What is the function of the nervous system?
Communication hub of the body- sends signals between neurons
What is the structure of the nervous system?
Made up of: CNS and PNS
What is the function of the central nervous system?
Origin of all complex commands and decisions- receives, processes, and responds to sensory information
What is the structure of the CNS?
Made up of: brain and spinal cord
What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?
Transmits messages, via neurons, to and from the CNS
What is the structure of the PNS?
Made up of: SNS and ANS (parasympathetic and sympathetic systems)
What is the function of the endocrine system?
Instructs glands to release hormones towards target organs
What is the structure of the endocrine system?
Made up of: glands (e.g. thyroid, pituitary)
What is the function of the ANS?
Transmits info to and from internal organs- does so involuntarily and has 2 divisions
What is the function of the SNS?
Transmits info from the receptor cells to the CNS, and receives info from the CNS to muscles to cause action
What is the sympathetic state?
A state of fight or flight
What is the parasympathetic state?
A state of rest and digestion
What happens in the sympathetic state?
- Increases heart rate
- Increases breathing rate
- Dilates pupils
- Inhibits digestion
- Inhibits saliva production
- Contracts rectum
What happens in the parasympathetic state?
- Decreases heart rate
- Decreases breathing rate
- Constricts pupils
- Stimulates digestion
- Stimulates saliva production
- Relaxes rectum
What are glands?
Organs in the body that synthesise substances such as hormones
What are hormones?
Chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs
What are neurons?
Nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals
What is the role of sensory neurons?
Carry messages from PNS to CNS
What is the role of relay neurons?
Connect sensory neurons to motor and other relay neurons
What is the role of motor neurons?
Connect CNS to effectors (e.g. muscles and glands)
What is the order of neurons?
Sensory > Relay > Motor
What is the structure of sensory neurons?
Long dendrites
Short axons
What is the structure of relay neurons?
Short dendrites
Short axons
What is the structure of motor neurons?
Short dendrites
Long axons
Where are sensory neurons located?
Fully PNS
Where are relay neurons located?
Fully CNS
Where are motor neurons located?
PNS and CNS
What is the function of the brain?
The centre of all conscious awareness
What is the function of the spinal cord?
Passes messages to and from the brain, and connects nerves to the PNS
What does adrenaline trigger?
Physiological changes in the body, during a time of fight or flight
Which neuron does not have a myelin sheath?
Relay neurons
What is the function of the nucleus (neurons)?
Contains genetic material of the cell
What is the function of dendrites (neurons)?
Carry nerve impulses from neighbouring neurons towards cell body
What is the function of the axon (neurons)?
Carries nerve impulses away from the cell body, down the length of the neuron
What is the function of the myelin sheath (neurons)?
Protects the axon and speeds up electrical transmission of the impulse
What is the function of nodes of ranvier (neurons)?
Speed up transmission of the impulse, by forcing it to jump across the gaps along the axon
What is the function of terminal buttons (neurons)?
Communicate with the next neuron in the chain, across a synapse
How are signals WITHIN neurons transmitted?
Electrically
How are signals BETWEEN neurons transmitted?
Chemically
What are neurotransmitters?
Brain chemicals that relay signals across the synapse from one neuron to another
What is excitation?
When a neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron, it increases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will pass on the electrical impulse
What is inhibition?
When a neurotransmitter increases the negative charge of the postsynaptic neuron, it decreases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will pass on the electrical impulse
What is summation?
The process that determines whether or not action potential will be generated by the combined effects of inhibitory and excitatory signals
