Biopsychology

Question 1

The nervous system

Answer 1

Network of neurons that make up a specialised communication system.

Question 2

Neurons function

Answer 2

-Collect, process and respond to information in the environment.
-Co-ordinate organs and cells in the body.

Question 3

What are the 2 subsystems?

Answer 3

-Central nervous system.
-Peripheral nervous system.

Question 4

The CNS

Answer 4

-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.

Question 5

The spinal cord

Answer 5

-Relays info between brain and body.
-Connects to different parts of the body through the spinal nerves.

Question 6

The PNS

Answer 6

-Transmit messages via millions of neurons to and from the CNS.
-Divided into the autonomic nervous system & somatic nervous system.

Question 7

The ANS

Answer 7

-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.

Question 8

The syNS & psNS

Answer 8

-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.

Question 9

The syNS & psNS

Answer 9

-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.

Question 10

The SNS

Answer 10

-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.

Question 11

The endocrine system

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Hypothalamus

Answer 12

-Regulated internal body temp.
-Controls pituitary gland and links NS to ES.

Question 13

Pituitary gland

Answer 13

-Master gland.
-Controls release of hormones from other glands.

Question 14

Pineal gland

Answer 14

Produces melatonin which makes you sleep.

Question 15

Thyroid & para-thyroid gland

Answer 15

Secretes thyroxine to regulate metabolism = affects growth & metabolic rates.

Question 16

Thymus

Answer 16

Serves a vital role in training and developing T-lymphocytes.
-type of white blood cells involved in immune system.

Question 17

Pancreas

Answer 17

Controls blood glucose levels with the release of insulin and glucagon.

Question 18

Adrenal glands

Answer 18

-Regulated metabolism + maintains balance of salt and water in the body.
-Produces adrenaline, involved in the stress response.

Question 19

Ovary (in females)

Answer 19

-Responsible for producing hormones in sexual development in females i.e oestrogen.

Question 20

Placenta (during pregnancy)

Answer 20

-Provides 02 + nutrients to your growing baby + removes waste products from baby’s food.

Question 21

Testes (in males)

Answer 21

-Responsible for providing hormones in sexual development in males ie testosterone.

Question 22

Hormones

Answer 22

-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.

Question 23

What is the flight or fight response?

Answer 23

-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.

Question 24

Flight or fight response

Answer 24

-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.

Question 25

Adrenaline

Answer 25

-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).