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psychology 🧠 > biopsychology > Flashcards

biopsychology Flashcards

1
Q

what are the 3 types of neuron? (biopsychology)

A
  • motor neuron
  • sensory neuron
  • relay neuron
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2
Q

what is a motor neuron? (biopsychology)

A
  • connect the CNA to effectors like muscles & glands
  • they have short dendrites & long axons
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3
Q

what are sensory neurons? (biopsychology)

A
  • carry messages from the PNS to the CNS
  • have long dendrites & short axons
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4
Q

what are relay neurons? (biopsychology)

A
  • connect the sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons
  • have short dendrites & short axons
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5
Q

what 5 structures do neurons have? (biopsychology)

A
  • cell body
  • dendrites
  • axon
  • nodes of raniver
  • terminal buttons
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6
Q

what is the cell body of a neuron? (biopsychology)

A
  • includes a nucleus which holds the genetic material of the cell
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7
Q

what are dendrites in neurons? (biopsychology)

A
  • branch-like structures that carry nerve impulses from neighbouring neurons towards body cells
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8
Q

what are axons in neurons? (biopsychology)

A
  • carries impulses away from the cell body
  • covered in a fatty later of myelin sheath that protects the axon & speeds up electrical transmission
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9
Q

what are the nodes of raniver in neurons? (biopsychology)

A
  • gaps in the myelin sheath that forces messages to ‘jump’ so that they move faster
  • speeds up the transmission of impulses
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10
Q

what are the terminal buttons of neurons? (biopsychology)

A
  • at the end of the axons
  • communicate with the next neuron across a synapse
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11
Q

where are motor neurons found? (biopsychology)

A
  • cell bodies may be in the CNS
  • also have long axons that form part of the PNS
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12
Q

where are sensory neurons found? (biopsychology)

A
  • located outside the CNS
  • in the PNS in clusters known as ganglia
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13
Q

where are relay neurons found? (biopsychology)

A
  • make up 97% of all neurons
  • most are found within the brain & the visual system
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14
Q

summarise the process of electrical transmission (biopsychology)

A
  • when a neuron is in its resting state, the inside of the cell is positively charged
  • when it is activated, the inside becomes positively charged for a split second, causing action potential
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15
Q

summarise the process of chemical transmission (biopsychology)

A
  • neurons connect with each other within groups known as neural networks
  • neurons are separated by synapses
  • a synapse incudes the synaptic cleft, the presynaptic terminal & the postsynaptic receptor site
  • signals between neurons are transmitted chemically by synaptic transmission
  • when electrical impulses within the neuron get to the presynaptic terminal, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles
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16
Q

how do neurotransmitters travel through neurons? (biopsychology)

A
  • once it crosses the gap, it is taken up by the postsynaptic receptor sites (the dendrites of the next neuron)
  • here, the chemical message is converted back into an electrical impulse & the process begins again
  • there are many different types of neurotransmitter (each has its own specific molecular structure that fits into the postsynaptic receptor site)
17
Q

what are they types of effect that neurotransmitters can have? (biopsychology)

A
  • excitatory
  • inhibitory
18
Q

what is an excitatory effect? (biopsychology)

A
  • when a neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron
  • increases the likelihood the electrical impulse will be passed on
  • e.g. adrenaline
19
Q

what is an inhibitory effect? (biopsychology)

A
  • when a neurotransmitter increases the negative charge of the postsynaptic neuron
  • decreases the likelihood the electrical impulse will be passed on
    -e.g. serotonin
20
Q

what is summation? (biopsychology)

A
  • the net effect of the number of neurotransmitters at the postsynaptic neuron which decides its likelihood of firing
21
Q

is an electrical impulse more likely to occur if there are more excitatory neurotransmitters? (biopsychology)

A
  • yes as long as there are fewer inhibitory neurotransmitters
22
Q

is an electrical impulse more likely to occur if there are more inhibitory neurotransmitters? (biopsychology)

A
  • no, it will be less likely to occur if there are more inhibitory neurotransmitters
23
Q

what type of signal is the nervous system based on? (biopsychology)

A
  • electrical
  • chemical
24
Q

what are the two main function of the nervous system? (biopsychology)

A
  • to collect, process & respond to information in the environment
  • to co-ordinate the working of different organs & cells in the body
25
Q

name the two subsystems of the nervous system (biopsychology)

A
  • central nervous system (CNS)
  • peripheral nervous system (PNS)
26
Q

what is the central nervous system made up of? (biopsychology)

A
  • the brain
  • the spinal cord
27
Q

what is the role of the brain in the central nervous system? (biopsychology)

A
  • centre of all conscious awareness
  • its cerebral cortex (only found in mammals) is highly developed & separates humans from other species
  • it is divided into two hemispheres
28
Q

what is the role of the spinal cord in the central nervous system? (biopsychology)

A
  • is an extension of the brain
  • passes messages to & from the brain
  • connects nerves to the PNS
  • it is also responsible for reflex actions (e.g. pulling your hand away from a hot pan)
29
Q

what is the role of the peripheral nervous system? (biopsychology)

A
  • transmits messages via neurons to & from the CNS
  • it is divided into the autonomic nervous system (ANS) & somatic nervous system (SNS)
30
Q

what is the role of the autonomic nervous system? (biopsychology)

A
  • governs vital functions in the body
  • e.g. breathing, heart rate, sexual arousal, stress responses etc
31
Q

what is the role of the somatic nervous system? (biopsychology)

A
  • governs muscle movement
  • receives information from sensory receptors
32
Q

what is the role of the endocrine system? (biopsychology)

A
  • instructs glands to release hormones direct;y into the bloodstream
  • these hormones are then targeted towards certain organs in the body
  • works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body
33
Q

what are the 3 key features of the endocrine system? (biopsychology)

A
  • regulates cell & organ activity
  • controls vial physiological processes
  • release hormones from glands into the bloodstream (these bind to specific receptors to activate organ activity)
  • e.g. adrenaline from the adrenal gland (for fight or flight), oestrogen from ovaries (reproductive system, menstrual cycle)
34
Q

what are the role of glands in the endocrine system? (biopsychology)

A
  • produce hormones which affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone
  • e.g. the thyroid
35
Q

what is the major gland in the endocrine system & what does it do? (biopsychology)

A
  • the pituitary gland
  • located in the brain
  • it controls the release of hormones from all other endocrine glands in the body
36
Q

summarise the process of the flight or flight response (biopsychology)

A
  • when the hypothalamus perceives a stressor in the environment the sympathetic branch of the ANS is triggered
  • the ANS changes from its resting state to physiological arousal
  • adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla which triggers a series of events (e.g. increased heart rate) which is necessary for the fight or flight response
  • once the threat has passed the parasympathetic branch returns the body to its resting state (rest & digest response)
37
Q

state some biological changes associated with the sympathetic response (biopsychology)

A
  • increases heart rate
  • increases breathing rate
  • dilates pupils
  • inhibits digestion
  • inhibits saliva production
  • contracts rectum
38
Q

state some biological changes associated with the parasympathetic response (biopsychology)

A
  • decreases heart rate
  • decreases breathing rate
  • constricts pupils
  • stimulates digestion
  • stimulates saliva production
  • relaxes rectum

psychology 🧠 (10 decks)

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