BIOPSYCHOLOGY Flashcards
What is the endocrine system?
instructs glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream
whats the nervous system
collects, processes and responds to information in the environment
what is your nervous system divided into
central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
What is the PNS divided into?
somatic and autonomic
whats the PNS
everything but brain and spinal chord
whats CNS
brain and spinal chord
What’s the somatic nervous system?
voluntary muscle movement
What’s the autonomic nervous system?
involuntary muscle movement
what are the functions of the autonomic nervous system
activate internal organs and conserve energy
what are the branches of the autonomic
sympathetic and parasympathetic
whats the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system
activates organs
whats the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system
conserves energy
what does the parasympathetic and sympathetic branch do to the eyes
parasympathetic - contracts pupil
sympathetic - dilates pupil
what does the parasympathetic and sympathetic branch do to the lungs
parasympathetic - constricts bronchi
sympathetic - relaxes bronchi
what does the parasympathetic and sympathetic branch do to the heart
parasympathetic - slows heart beat
sympathetic - accelerates heartbeat
what does the parasympathetic and sympathetic branch do to the stomach intestines
parasympathetic - stimulates activities
sympathetic - inhibits activities
what does the parasympathetic and sympathetic branch do to the blood vessels or internal organs
parasympathetic - dilates vessels
sympathetic - contracts vessels
what is the somatic nervous system concerned with
muscles and sense organs
what is the autonomatic nervous system concerned with
bodily functions
where are hormones secreted to
the bloodstream
What secretes hormones?
glands
whats the main function of the endocrine system
controls vital physiological processes by regulating cell or organ activity
what does the first or immediate shock of stress involve
sympathetic branch of your ANS
what does the second or counter shock response of stress involve
the parasympathetic branch of your ANS
process of fight or flight syndrome
eyes - hypothalamus - activates sympathetic branch - adrenal medulla - releases adrenaline - increase sympathetic activity and decrease parasympathetic
what are the 3 types of neuron
motor
sensory
relay
What’s a neuron?
nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals
What are sensory neurons?
carry messages from the PNS to the CNS
structure of a sensory neuron
long dendrites and short axons
what are relay neurons
connect the sensory neuron to motor or other relay neurons
structure of a relay neuron
short dendrites and short axons
Structure of a motor neuron
Short dendrites and long axons
What’s a motor neuron?
connects the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands
How do neurons communicate with each other?
within groups known as neural networks
what are neurons separated by
synapse
How are signals BETWEEN neurons transmitted?
Chemically across the synapse
How are signals WITHIN neurons transmitted?
electrically across the synapse
what happens when the electrical impulse reaches the end of the neuron
triggers the release of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles
What are neurotransmitters?
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
what effect do neurotransmitters have on the neighbouring neuron
either inhibitory or excitatory
what is excitation
When a neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron
what does excitation do
increases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse
What is inhibition?
When a neurotransmitter increases the negative charge of the postsynaptic neuron
what does inhibition do
decreases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse.
What is summation?
decision on whether a postsynaptic neuron with fire
where does the motor neuron carry messages
away from the brain
where does the sensory neuron carry messages
towards the brain
where does the relay neuron carry messages
in between the other neurons
what are the ways of scanning the brain
fMRI
EEG
ERP
post-mortems
What does fMRI measure?
blood flow to the brain
what does an fMRI track
oxygenated blood
What is a post-mortem?
analysis of brain after death
What is an EEG?
measures electrical impulses in the brain (as waves)
What does EEG stand for?
electroencephalogram
How does an EEG work?
electrodes placed on the scalp measure electrical activity in neurons
what premise do EEGs work on
that information is processed in the brain as electrical activity