biopsychology Flashcards
what is biopsychology
psychology that studies the brain and neurotransmitters influence our behaviours, thoughts and feelings.
central nervous system functions
all complex processing of information and decisions are made in this.
peripheral nervous system
transmits information from the CNS to the muscle and glands
CNS
brain and spinal cord
PNS
transmits info all over the body.
frontal lobe’s function
high order functions and decisions making
temporal lobe’s function
processes auditory information, is needed for speech
parietal lobe’s function
integrates information from different senses, and is used for spacial navigation.
occipital lobe’s function
processes visual information
where is the frontal lobe located
top left
where is the temporal lobe located
bottom left
where is the parietal lobe located
middle top
where is the occipital lobe located
back right
where is the cerebellum located
bottom right
where is the brain stem located
bottom
somatic nervous sytem
controls muscle movements, and relays information from the CNS to the rest of the body.
autonomic nervous system
responsible for vital functions and involuntary reactions.
is the SNS automatic or controlled
controlled
is the ANS automatic or controlled
automatic
where is the SNS and ANS located
in the PNS
sympathetic nervous system functions
involved in responses that help us to deal with emergencies, preparing for rapid action when under threat.
parasympathetic nervous system function’s
relaxes the body after the information has passed.
what kind of effect does the sympathetic nervous system produce
stimulating effects
what kind of effects does the parasympathetic produce
inhibiting effects
what dies the sympathetic and parasympathetic system come under
autonomic nervous system
what is the structure of the sensory neuron
long dendrites
short axons
what is the structure of a relay neuron
short dendrites
short axons
what is the structure of a motor neuron
short dendrites
long axons
what is the function of the sensory neuron
conduct impulse to the spinal cord
what are reflex arcs
reflexes are to protect us from danger, they’re very fast to protect us.
what is the function of the axon
carries impulses away from the cell body
what is the purpose of the myelin sheath
to increase the speed at which impulses propagate
what is another name for nerve impulses
action potential
what is the synapse
a very small gap between neurons, which is done using chemicals
what is the name of chemicals that diffuse across the synapse
neurotransmitters
what is the first step in transmitting signals
electrical impulse travels along the axon
what is the second step of transmitting signals
the pre-synaptic neuron releases neurotransmitters
what is the third step of transmitting signals
chemicals diffuse across the synapse and bind with receptors on the next neuron
what is the fourth step of transmitting signals
neurons bind wit hspecific receptors, which stimulates the next neuron to transmit an electrical impulse
what is the fifth step of transmitting signals
after the neuron had transmitted, the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed in the re-uptake of the original neuron.
examples of neurotransmitters
serotonin
dopamine
what is the function of the inhibitory neurotransmitters
they decrease the likelihood of the neuron firing to the second one, as the first neuron becomes negatively charged.
what is the function of the exhibitory neurotransmitters
they increase the likelihood of the neuron firing as they excite the previous neuron making it positively charged.
pituitary gland function
controls the rest of the glands and release of hormones from all the other endocrine glands
function of the adrenal gland
releases adrenaline for the fight-or-flight response
function of the testes
release testosterone
function of ovaries
releases oestrogen and progesterone
what is the function of hormones
regulate bodily systems for critical functioning, which affects our behaviour.
what are the adrenal glands composed of
adrenal cortex
adrenal medulla
what does the adrenal cortex release
hormones necessary for life
what does the adrenal medulla release
hormones not necessary for life
what is the flight or fight response
where we are threatened by immediate and serious danger the nervous system and endocrine system works together.
what is the amygdala functions
associates sensory signals wit emotions, and sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus
what does the hypothalamus’s function
an area of the brain that produces hormones such as heart rate, hunger etc.
what is acute stress
the body’s immediate reaction to stress (fight or flight)
what is chronic stress
the brain continues to perceive something as threatening, as the initial surge of adrenaline subsides and the HPA axis activates.
what is the HPA axis
Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal glands stress response system.
what is the feedback system
the hypothalamus and pituitary glands monitor cortisol levels and regulate them.
what did tally et al (2000) say about the fight or flight response
women have a tend and befriend response, whereas men fight or flight
what did gray (1988) state
our first confrontation to threat is the freeze response
