Biopsychology Flashcards
What are the two types of Nervous Systems?
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
What are the two components of the CNS?
The brain and the spinal cord
What are the two main parts of the PNS?
Autonomic and Somatic
Compare the Autonomic and Somatic nervous systems.
Autonomic- Transmits information between organs and CNS responsible for involuntary bodily activities.
Somatic-Transmits information between senses and the CNS directs voluntary movement.
The Autonomic system is further subdivided into the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous system what do these two parts do?
Sympathetic- Increases bodily functions to prepare for fight or flight (action)
Parasympathetic- Decreases bodily functions to conserve energy (calm and rest)
Define synaptic transmission?
Neuron’s are separated by small gaps called synapses, electrical impulses are sent across the gap reaching the axon terminal neurotransmitters are released before being taken up by the receptors in the other neuron’s dendrite.
Neurotransmitters have different properties define the difference between excitatory and inhibitory effects.
Excitatory: Increase the likelihood of the neuron firing
Inhibitory: Decrease the likelihood of the neuron firing
What are the three main types of neurons?
Sensory (Transmit information from the senses)
Motor (Transmits info between the CNS and organs or muscles)
Relay (Connects neurons to each other)
What is the endocrine system?
A system of glands responsible for the release of hormones, it is linked to the nervous system which co-ordinates and regulates the release of hormone’s from glands.
Name three glands in the endocrine system and what they produce
Pituitary- Growth hormone: Stimulates growth and cell division
Testes- Responsible for male secondary sex characteristics (e.g. body hair, deeper voice, bigger bone structure), sperm cell production, increases aggression and muscle size
Thyroid- Increases metabolism, regulates growth and temperature
Pineal- Regulates circadian rhythm and sleep
Adrenal- Cortisol: Maintains blood sugar, regulates inflammation and immune response, Adrenaline, Fight or flight system.
Explain the fight or flight response.
The brain senses a threat
The brain sends a message to the adrenal glands to release adrenaline
Adrenaline is released shutting down unnecessary bodily functions like digestion and salivation increasing heart rates, and dilating the lungs and pupil.
Once the threat has passed the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to normal.
Define hemispherical lateralisation
when the brain is divided down the middle leaving a left and right hemisphere.
How did Sperry conduct his experiment?
When split-brain patients were shown an image to their right visual field, they were able to describe in words what they saw. However, when they were shown the same image to their left visual field, they were not able to describe what they saw. This is likely because visual information from the left side is processed in the right hemisphere (the visual cortex is contralateral) and language processing primarily occurs in the left hemisphere
What are the main 4(+1) areas of the brain?
- Motor cortex
- Somatosensory cortex
- Visual cortex
- Auditory cortex
- Brocas and Wernikers area
What is the difference between the Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas?
Wernicke- Language comprehension
Broca- Language production
