Biopsychology Flashcards
The nervous system
Network of neurons that make up a specialised communication system.
Neurons function
-Collect, process and respond to information in the environment.
-Co-ordinate organs and cells in the body.
What are the 2 subsystems?
-Central nervous system.
-Peripheral nervous system.
The CNS
-Made of brain and spinal cord.
-The brain received information from its sensory receptors on the body (eyes,skin,ears) about the environment.
-The brain sends this info to the muscles and glands of the body through the spinal cord.
The spinal cord
-Relays info between brain and body.
-Connects to different parts of the body through the spinal nerves.
The PNS
-Transmit messages via millions of neurons to and from the CNS.
-Divided into the autonomic nervous system & somatic nervous system.
The ANS
-Governs involuntary actions such as breathing, heart rate, digestion etc.
-Divides into the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
-Only motor neurons involved.
Control centres are in the brain stem.
The syNS & psNS
-They regulate the same organ.
-Opposite effects due to the neurotransmitters.
-Either excitatory which increases activity or inhibitory which has a calming effect.
-syNS prepares body for flight or fight & sends messages to every organ and gland within the body preparing for rapid action when the individual is under threat.
-the psNS relaxes the body once the emergency has passed.
The syNS & psNS
-They regulate the same organ.
-Opposite effects due to the neurotransmitters.
-Either excitatory which increases activity or inhibitory which has a calming effect.
-syNS prepares body for flight or fight & sends messages to every organ and gland within the body preparing for rapid action when the individual is under threat.
-the psNS relaxes the body once the emergency has passed.
The SNS
-Controls skeletal muscle and movement
-Carried commands from the motor cortex in your brain.
-Involved in reflex + voluntary actions.
-Both sensory AND motor neurons are involved.
The endocrine system
Instructs glands to release hormones into the bloodstream which are carried towards target organs that have a specific receptor.
-Slower than nervous system but has more widespread effects.
Hypothalamus
-Regulated internal body temp.
-Controls pituitary gland and links NS to ES.
Pituitary gland
-Master gland.
-Controls release of hormones from other glands.
Pineal gland
Produces melatonin which makes you sleep.
Thyroid & para-thyroid gland
Secretes thyroxine to regulate metabolism = affects growth & metabolic rates.
Thymus
Serves a vital role in training and developing T-lymphocytes.
-type of white blood cells involved in immune system.
Pancreas
Controls blood glucose levels with the release of insulin and glucagon.
Adrenal glands
-Regulated metabolism + maintains balance of salt and water in the body.
-Produces adrenaline, involved in the stress response.
Ovary (in females)
-Responsible for producing hormones in sexual development in females i.e oestrogen.
Placenta (during pregnancy)
-Provides 02 + nutrients to your growing baby + removes waste products from baby’s food.
Testes (in males)
-Responsible for providing hormones in sexual development in males ie testosterone.
Hormones
-Secreted into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that have a receptor for that particular hormone.
-i.e thyroid gland produces thyroxine-} increases heart rate + metabolie rates which affects growth rates.
What is the flight or fight response?
-Evolved as a survival mechanism= enabled humans and animals to react quickly.
-Upon sensing a threat, the amygdala becomes mobilised- associates sensory signals with emotions ie fear or anger.
-This sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus which communicates to kickstart the response.
Flight or fight response
-When a stressor is perceived, the hypothalamus activates the pituitary gland.
-This triggers activity in the sympathetic branch of the ANS.
-ANS changes from its normal resting state to the physiologically aroused sympathetic state.
Adrenaline
-released by the adrenal medulla part of the adrenal gland near the kidney) into the bloodstream
-triggers physiological changes in the body:
- increased heart rate.
- slow digestion in the gut.
- inhibits salivary production in salivary glands.
- triggers release of blood glucose (to supply energy).
- inhibits urination by relaxing the bladder (takes up less energy).
-dilates pupils (take in more light to see).
- dilates bronchi in the lungs (more 02).
