Biopsychology Flashcards
What is the nervous system?
One of the main messenger systems
Complex collection of nerves and neurons that transmit signals between different ports along the way
How does the nervous system deliver messages?
Electronically through the body using synapses and neurons
What are neurons?
Specialised cells
What is the structure of the nervous system?
NS -> CNS and PNS
CNS -> spinal cord and brain
PNS -> ANS and SNS
ANS -> sympathetic NS and parasympathetic NS
What does CNS stand for?
Central Nervous System
What is the function of the CNS?
Makes complex decisions for the body
What does PNS stand for?
Peripheral Nervous System
What is the function of the PNS?
Collects sensory information
Passes information to the CNS
Carries out the actions from the CNS
What does SNS stand for?
Somatic Nervous System
What is the function of the SNS?
Control voluntary movements and skeletal muscles
What does ANS stand for?
Autonomic Nervous System
What is the function of the ANS?
Controls involuntary movements and smooth muscles
What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
Calms the body to conserve and maintain energy (rest and digest)
What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
Arouses body to expend energy (fight or flight mode)
Are we usually in the sympathetic or parasympathetic state?
Parasympathetic
What is the function of the spinal cord?
Connects brain and PNS
In charge of reflexes
Strength of nervous system - practical application diagnosis
Anxiety disorder
Strength of nervous system - practical application treatment
Drug treatment - SSRI
AO3 nervous system - scientific
Electrical impulse measured
Limitation of nervous system - individual differences
Freeze - can’t explain why some people freeze
What is the endocrine system?
Chemical messenger of the body
What are the messages that the endocrine system sends?
Hormones
How does the endocrine system deliver messages?
Chemically through the bloodstream
What are glands?
Organs in the human or animal body which secrete particular chemical substances for use in the body or for discharge into the surroundings
What are hormones?
Regulatory substances produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids (blood, sap) to stimulate cells or tissues into action
What is the difference between the type of signal in the nervous vs endocrine system?
N - electrical (chemical at synapse)
E - chemical
What is the difference in the transmission in signal between the nervous vs endocrine system?
N - by neurons
E - by the bloodstream
What is the difference in the effectors used in the nervous vs endocrine system?
N - muscles or glands
E - target cells in particular tissues
What is the difference in the type of response between the nervous vs endocrine system?
N - muscle contraction or secretion
E - chemical change
What is the difference in the duration of response between nervous vs endocrine system?
N - short (until nerve impulses stop)
E - long (until hormone is broken down)
What is the difference in the speed of response between the nervous vs endocrine system?
N - very rapid
E - slower
What are some examples of glands?
Thyroid
Pituitary
Ovaries
Testes
Salivary
Adrenal
Pineal
What is the hormone (and function of that hormone) that is secreted from the adrenal glands?
Adrenal – adrenaline – fight or flight (increased heart rate, increased respiration, sweating)
What is the hormone (and function of that hormone) that is secreted from the ovaries?
Ovaries – oestrogen – controls regulation of female reproductive system (menstrual cycle)
What is the hormone (and function of that hormone) that is secreted from the testes?
Testes – testosterone – responsible for development of male sex characteristics (aggression, body hair)
Strength of endocrine system - practical application diagnosis
Diabetes
Strength of endocrine system - practical application treatment
Drug treatment - insulin
AO3 endocrine system - scientific
Blood tests
Limitation of endocrine system - individual differences
Freeze - can’t explain why some people freeze
What is the role of the nervous system in fight or flight?
ANS is the main component
Typically body in parasympathetic nervous state but when ANS perceives a threat, it changes body into sympathetic nervous state
What is the role of the endocrine system in fight or flight?
Works alongside ANS
Main element of endocrine system that’s active during fight or flight is the adrenals producing adrenaline
What are the effects of the sympathetic nervous state?
Increased heart rate
Increased respiration
Sweating
Pupils dilate
Stops digestion
Stops saliva production
Contracts rectum
What are the effects of the parasympathetic nervous state?
Decreased heart rate
Decreased respiration
Constricts pupils
Starts digestion
Starts salivation
Relaxes rectum
Strength of fight or flight - practical application diagnosis
Anxiety disorder
Strength of fight or flight - practical application treatment
SSRI
AO3 fight or flight - scientific
Blood test
Limitation of fight or flight - individual differences
Some people freeze and some tend + befriend
Can’t explain those differences
What is a way to remember which diagram is the relay neuron?
Smaller
What is a way to remember which diagram is the sensory neuron?
Cell body at the side
What is a way to remember which diagram is the motor neuron?
Lollypop shape
What is the size of a sensory neuron’s dendrites?
Long
What is the size of a sensory neuron’s axon?
Short
What is the function of the sensory neuron?
Receives/collects sensory information
Where are sensory neurons located?
Peripheral Nervous System
What is the size of a relay neuron’s dendrites?
Short
What is the size of a relay neuron’s axon?
Short
What is the function of relay neurons?
Decision-maker
Sensory-motor connector
Carries complex decisions
Where are the relay neurons located?
Central Nervous System (mainly brain)
What is the size of a motor neuron’s dendrites?
Short
What is the size of a motor neuron’s axon?
Long
What is the function of motor neurons?
Actions decisions through effectors
Where are motor neurons located?
Peripheral Nervous System
Strength of neurons - practical application diagnosis
Motor neurone disease
Strength of neurons - practical application treatment
Pacemaker in brain
AO3 neurons - scientific
Electrical impulse measured
Limitation of neurons - individual differences
Freeze - some people freeze
What are dendrites?
Branch-like structures which carries impulses to the cell body
What is an axon?
Carries impulses away from the cell body down the length of the neuron
What are terminal buttons?
Communicates with the next neuron over the synapse
What are vesicles?
Contain the neurotransmitters
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemicals that diffuse across the synapse to the next neuron
What is the beginning stage of synaptic transmission?
An ELECTRICAL IMPULSE is passed down the pre-synaptic neuron (axon)
Pre-synaptic neuron gets the vesicles to release neurotransmitters
What is the middle stage of synaptic transmission?
Neurotransmitters passed to the synapse via the terminal buttons
Then CHEMICALLY diffuse through the synapse
What is the end stage of synaptic transmission?
Neurotransmitters collected by the receptor sites of the post-synaptic neuron (dendrite)
Return to an ELECTRICAL STATE
Send an electrical impulse down the post-synaptic neuron (dendrite)
What is the fourth mark for a synaptic transmission question?
SUMMATION - totals/adds up the electrical charge of neurotransmitters
What are the two different types of neurotransmitter?
Excitation
Inhibition
What charge does an excitation neurotransmitter increase?
POSITIVE charge of postsynaptic charge
Does an excitation neurotransmitter increase or decrease the likelihood of the neurons firing?
Increase
What is an example of excitation neurotransmitter?
Dopamine
What charge does an inhibition neurotransmitter increase?
NEGATIVE charge of postsynaptic charge
Does an inhibition neurotransmitter increase or decrease the likelihood of the neurons firing?
Decrease
What is an example of an inhibition neurotransmitter?
Serotonin