biopsychology Flashcards
what is the nervous system ?
this is a specialised network of cells in the human body and is our primary communication system
what is the 2 things that the nervous system is broken down too ?
- central nervous system
- peripheral nervous system
what is the central nervous system ?
it is where information is processed, interpretated and stored
then issued to the glands, muscles and organs
what is the central nervous system divided into ?
brain
spinal cord
what is the brain ?
centre of all are conscious awareness
- maintains life which is involved in higher functions and psychological processes
what is the spinal cord ?
the bridge between the brain and the PNS and it receives and transmits info to and from the brain
- a bundle of nerves that runs from you brain along a canal in your backbone
what is the peripheral nervous system ?
it transmits information to and from the CNS
what is the PNS further divided into ?
- somatic nervous system
- autonomic nervous system
what is the somatic nervous system ?
transmits sensory and motor signals to and from the CNS
- deals with external environment
-controls the skeletal muscles
-voluntary process as the conscious is required
what is the autonomic nervous system ?
controls the functions of organs and glands by transmitting info to and from internally
- the movement of non-skeletal muscles
- involuntary process ad conscious isn’t required
what could the ANS be sub divided into ?
- sympathetic nervous system
- parasympathetic nervous system
what is the sympathetic nervous system ?
prepares us for ‘flight or fight’
- mobilizes body for action and energy is an output
- increase body activities
what is the parasympathetic nervous system ?
associated with functioning under relaxed conditions
- conserves the energy to maintain a quiet state
decrease body activities
what do nervous systems use to transmits signals for communication ?
nerve cells
- aka neurons
what doe the nerve cells communicate with each other through ?
electrical and chemical signals
- within the body and the brain
what are the 7 parts of a neuron ?
axon
axon terminal
dendrites
nucleus
cell body
node of ranvier
myelin sheath
what is the axons function ?
- carry signals away from the cell body to the axon terminal to transmits electrical signals to other neurons, muscles, glands
what is the function of an axon terminal ?
- transmit signals to other neurons
what is the function of a dendrite ?
- receive information from neurons and then transmit it to the cell body
what is the function of the cell body ?
- to maintain the cell and keep the neuron functioning efficiently
what is the function of nucleus ?
- produce DNA
what is the function of a myelin sheath ?
- it insulates 1 nerve cell from another
- prevents the impulse of 1 neuron interfering with the impulse of another
what is the function of a node of ranvier ?
- allows energy to flow through
- as allows electrical activity and effectively depolarized
what are the 3 types of neurons ?
sensory
relay
motor
what is the function of a sensory neuron ?
carry sensory nerve impulses to the CNS
and then once it reaches the brain it turns the electrical impulse into ‘sensations’
- Found in the PNS
what is the structure of the sensory neuron ?
- short axons
- long dendrites
- 1 axon that is split into 2 branches
- afferent neuron
- unipolar
what does it mean by ‘sensations’ for the sensory neuron ?
visions
hearing
taste
touch
what is a afferent neuron ?
moves away from a central organ or point
what is a unipolar neuron ?
only transmits messages
why do some sensory neurons stop at the spinal cord ?
as it allows for quick reflex
what is the function of a relay neuron ?
allows the sensory and motor neurons to communicate as connect various neurons with the CNS
- Found in sensory input and motor output and CNS
what is the structure of the relay neuron ?
- long dendrites
- long/short axons
- 1 axon and several dendrites
- multipolar
what is a multipolar neuron ?
both receives and sends messages from many sources
what is the function of a motor neuron ?
when stimulated it releases neurotransmitters that bind to the receptors to trigger a response
- Found in CNS
- controls muscle movement as response leads to movement
- carry signals away from CNS towards muscles
what is the structure of a motor neuron ?
- short dendrites
- long axon
- 1 axon
- several dendrites
- efferent neuron
- multipolar
what is a efferent neuron ?
moving towards a central organ or point
what is the interaction of the neurons to an action ?
stimulus
receptors
sensory neuron
relay neuron
motor neuron
effectors
response
what is the knee jerk reflex ?
-stimulus= hammer hitting the knee
- conveys message along SN
- reaches CNS and connects to RN
- transmits message to MN
- carries message to effector which is a muscle
- response= muscles contracting a knee jerk
what does the term synaptic transmission refer too ?
how the nervous system transmits information across a synaptic gap from one neuron to another
what is the process of synaptic transmission ?
- an electrical impulse travels down the axon until it reaches the axon terminal of the pre-synaptic neuron
- this triggers calcium to be released and then the calcium triggers the vesicles to open
- the vesicles release neurotransmitters
- the neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft so it can bind onto the receptors on the post synaptic neuron
what is there a process called reuptake in synaptic transmission ?
as not all neurotransmitters bind to the receptors
what is the process of reuptake ?
-the neurotransmitters are broke down by the enzymes in the synaptic cleft
- then re-absorbed back into the vesicles ready to be used again
what are the 2 effects in summation ?
inhibitory
excitatory
what is the excitatory effect ?
‘excited’
they are positive neurotransmitters that bind to receptors
- make the neuron more likely to fire the electrical impulse
what is the inhibitory effect ?
’ not excited’
- they have a negative charge on the neurotransmitters as don’t want to bind to the receptors
- makes the neurons less likely to fire the electrical impulse
how can u tell if u have a more negative or positive charge on the post synaptic neurons ?
-you add the amount of excitatory neurotransmitters and inhibitory neurotransmitters
- which has more tell us if it is positive or negative
I = -
e = +
what is the endocrine system ?
the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate
- metabolism
- growth/ development
- tissue function
- sexual and reproductive function
- sleep/ mood
what does the endocrine influence ?
almost every cell, organ and function of our bodies
what are the 7 glands the endocrine system is made up of ?
- pituitary gland
- pineal gland
- pancreas
- parathyroid gland
- adrenal gland
- thyroid gland
-ovaries/ testicles
what is the endocrine system in charge of ?
the slow processes within the body
- hormone is released into the blood stream
what is the pituitary gland?
‘the MASTER’
-release hormones that control the endocrine system
what is the problem if the pituitary gland isn’t regulated ?
it will release excess or not enough of the hormones
what is the hormone in the pineal gland ?
melatonin
what is the function of the pineal gland ?
to control how you sleep
what is the problem if melatonin isn’t regulated ?
negative effect on mental health and sleep quality
what hormone does the parathyroid gland produce ?
parathyroid
what is the function of the parathyroid gland ?
to control calcium and mineral levels
what is the problem if the parathyroid isn’t regulated ?
lead to hyperparathyroidism which leads to many issues
eg) =kidney stones
what hormone does the pancreas release ?
insulin
what is the function of the pancreas ?
-control blood sugar levels and regulate them
- produce enzymes to help digest food
what is the problem if insulin isn’t regulated ?
diabetes—- type 1
what is the hormones released by the thyroid gland ?
thyroxine
what is the function of the thyroid gland ?
- control the body’s metabolism
- regulate growth and maturity
what is the problem if thyroxine isn’t regulated ?
the body’s cells work faster then normal and if too much released, it is called hypothyroidism
what hormone does the adrenal glands release ?
adrenaline and noradrenaline and glucorticoids
what is the adrenal gland ?
it produces a variety of hormones and split into an inner and outer area
what is the inner area of the adrenal gland ?
adrenal medulla
what is the adrenal medulla ?
produces adrenaline in the ‘fight of flight’ response
what is the outer area of the adrenal gland ?
adrenal cortex
what is the adrenal cortex ?
it stimulates the release of glucose and supports the immune system
eg) hormone is several by their is gluocorticoids
what is the problem if adrenal glands production isn’t regulated ?
Addison’s disease
what are the types of gonads ?
- ovaries
- testicles
what is the ovaries and testicles function ?
produce sex hormones which aids development of sex organs and secondary sexual characteristics
what are the hormones released for the gonads ?
ovaries= oestrogen
testicles= testosterone
what are the problems if the gonads hormones aren’t regulated ?
oestrogen= blood clots, strokes
testosterone= erectile dysfunction
what does the sympathetic branch do in the ‘fight or flight’ response ?
activate internal organs in situations needing energy and arousal
- helps
what does the parasympathetic branch do in the ‘fight of flight’ response ?
- involved when the body is trying to conserve and store resources
- monitors the relaxed state
- promotes digestion
- makes body back to equilibrium afterwards
what hormone is released during the ‘fight or flight’ response ?
adrenaline and noradrenaline
what 7 things happem immedailty when adrenaline and noradrenaline is released ?
- increased heart rate
- increased breathing
- glucose released
- pupil dilation
- reduced activity with digestion
- mouth feels dry as saliva production inhibited
- relaxation of bronchi in lungs
what is the role of adrenaline ?
boosts oxygen
supply glucose
- helps the body respond to the stressor quickly by allowing it to stop the non-emergency process
- so all energy supplied are ready to fight the stressor which causes the ‘rush’
what is localisation ?
the principle that specific functions have specific locations within the brain
what is the frontal lobe function ?
the brain’s command centre, controlling cognition, personality, and motor skills
what are the 4 lobes the cerebral cortex has ?
- frontal
- partial
- temporal
- occipital
what are the 3 main parts of the frontal lobe ?
- prefrontal cortex
- Broca’s area
- primary motor cortex
what is the prefrontal cortex responsible for ?
for executive functions to achieve a particular goal
what are the 5 examples of the executive functions o the prefrontal cortex ?
- problem solving
- planning
- decisions
- working memory
- self control
what is the location of the prefrontal cortex ?
front of the frontal lobe
what is the responsibility of Broca’s area ?
production of speech
where is the location of Broca’s area ?
lower left side of the frontal lobe
- close to area that controls the mouth, tongue and vocal cords
- allocated on the left hemisphere
what happens is Broca’s area gets damaged ?
understanding language and form sentences in their MINDS
but they cant communicate the thought through comprehensive speech
what is the responsibility of the primary motor cortex ?
controls the bodies skeletal muscles to produce movement
what are skeletal muscles ?
all bodies muscles
- does exclude smooth muscles in organs
what are examples of skeletal muscles ?
- hands
- arms
- feet
- legs
where is the primary motor cortex located ?
back of frontal lobe, both hemispheres of the brain have one
- both control one another’s side
what is the function of the occipital lobe ?
process vision from the eyes
- it is in charge of processing vision in the primary visual cortex
where is the occipital lobe located ?
very back of the cerebral cortex
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