Biopsychology Flashcards
What makes up the nervous system?
CNS - brain and spinal chord, PNS - somatic nervous system (motor neurones), autonomic nervous system (regulates glands, blood, etc) - sympathetic (fight or flight), parasympathetic (rest state)
Cerebrum
4 lobes - behaviours
Cerebellum
Motor skills, muscle coordination
Diencephalon
Made up of thalamus and hypothalamus
Brain stem
Automatic function
Somatic
Connects CNS and senses- 12 cranial nerves - involved in reflex action.
Autonomic
Automatic actions - regulate organs
Sympathetic
Deal with emergencies - fight or flight - increase heart rate/ blood pressure
Parasympathetic
Relaxes body after emergency passed- rest state.
Sensory neurones
Carry nerve impulses from sensory receptors to spinal cord toward brain
Relay neurones
Allow communication between motor and sensory neurones
Motor neurones
Control muscle movements
Structure of a sensory neurone
Receptor cell > myelin sheath > axon > cell body/ nucleus > axon terminal
Structure of a motor neurone
Dendrites > cell body / nucleus > Axon > Myelin sheath > Axon terminal
Structure of a relay neurone
Dendrite > Cell body / nucleus > axon > axon terminal
What is the process of synaptic transmission?
As the message is converted to an electrical impulse and is rapidly fired down the axon as an action potential, it reaches the axon terminal where it makes contact with the synaptic vesicales that burst releasing neurotransmitters. These diffuse across the synapse and make contact with receptors on the dendrites. Once the impulse has been transferred and summation has occurred, it is sent back to be reabsorbed.
Excitatory Neurotransmitters
Cause the excitation of the post synaptic neurone - positive charge.
Inhibitory Neurotransmitters
Calming body and mind - negatively charged.
Summation
Likelihood of impulse firing calculated by adding up excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters - more excitatory = fire, more inhibitory = not fire.
Glands
Secrete hormones into the blood stream to regulate the body.
Pituitary
Master gland - regulates endocrine system
Adrenal Glands
Fight or flight - adrenaline
Testes
Testosterone in males.
Ovaries
Oestrogen and progesterone in females