Biopsychology Flashcards
What’s a circadian rhythm?
Subjected to a 24h cycle which regulate A number of body processes such as the sleep wake cycle and changes in core body temperature .
What’s an infradian rhythm?
A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of less then 24 hours then one cycle in 24 hours such as menstruation and seasonal affective disorder?€
What’s an ultradian rhythm?
A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of more than one cycle in 24 hours such as the stages of sleep like the sleep cycle.
What is the effect of endogenous pacemakers?
The superchiasmatic nucleus which lies in the hypothalamus is the main endogenous pacemaker , controls biological rhythms as it links to other areas of the brain responsible for sleep and arousal.
What is the effect of exogenous zeitgebers?
There external factor in the environment that reset our biological clocks through a process known as entrainment. It’s been shown that in the absence of external cues the free running biological clock that controls sleep wake cycle continues to tick in a distinct cyclical pattern seen in siffre study . This free running cycle is then brought into line ie entrained by environmental cues so there is an interaction of internal and external cues .
excitation
a signal sent to the next nerve making it more likely to fire
inhibition
a signal sent to the next nerve making it less likely to fire
localisation of function
functions in the brain being specific to certain areas brocas areas is specific to language production
plasticity
brain adapt to situations and change its structure even potentially regain a lost function
wernicks
speech comprehension
hemispheric lateralisation
language function are in left hemisphere
What is the nervous system ?
Is a specialised network of cells in the human body and is our primary internal communication system it has two main functions
What are the nervous systems two main functions
To collect process and respond to information in the environment
To coordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body y
What is the nervous systems two sub systems?
Central nervous systems
Peripheral nervous system PNS
What is the central nervous system ?
Brain and spinal cord
The brain is the centre of all conscious awareness. The brain’s outer layer the cerebral cortex is highly developed in humans and is what distinguish our higher mental functions from those of animals. The brain is divided into two hemispheres
The spinal cord is an extension of the brain l it is responsible for reflex actions such as pulling your hand away from a hot plate it passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the pns
What is the peripheral nervous system
The pns transmits messages via millions of neurons [ nerve cells ] to and from the central nervous system the peripheral nervous system is further subdivided into the autonomic nervous system which governs vital functions in the body such as breathing heart rate digestion sexual arousal and stress responses - involuntarily
Somatic Nervous systems controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors voluntarily
What does the cerebellum do
Motor skill , balance and coordination
What is the brain stem responsible for?
Connects the brain and spinal cord controls involuntary processes including heartbeat breathing consciousness
What is the the hypothalamus responsible for?
Regulates hunger and body temp links to endocrine system to secrete hormones
What does thalamus ?
Relay station for nerve impulses
What are the autonomic nervous systems subsystems
Sympathetic - fight or flight our heart rate blood pressure and breathing rate increase decrease pupil size while less important functions like digestion salivation and the desire to urinate are suppressed
Parasympathetic rest and digest to relax the body and return us to our normal resting state slows down our heart rate and breathing rate and reduces our blood pressure. Furthermore any functions that were previously slowed down during fight or flight reaction are started again pupils dilate .
What sensory neuron function?
Carries messages from the senses to the brain and spinal cord converts sensory into neural impulses so the brain can translate
