biopsychology Flashcards
biopsychology- CNS
central nervous system
brain and spinal chord, nrain is divided into seperate areas each with different fuctions reanging from higher level functions to controlling skills and behaviour. The spinal chord relays info between the brain and the rest of the body
Biopsychology - PNS 1ST ONE
peripehral nervous system
nerves outside the CNS- connects to organs limbs and skin. Relays impulses between CNS and the rest of the body, it has 2 main divisions.
Devisions of the PNS- biopsychology
SNS (somatic nervous system) - has nerves which recieve input from sense organs and send output to control voluntary muscle movement. its comprised of sensory and motor neurons and connected withe the CNS and the senses
ANS(autonomic nervous system ) nerves which communicate with organs and glands. controls involuntary movements such as heart beat. Uses motor pathways and has 2 furtehr divisions
biopsychology - divisiosn of ANS
sympathetic nervous system- has an arousing effect on the body such as preparing body for fight or flight response.
parasympathetic nervous system has a calming effect on rge body- helps return body to homeostasis, rest and digest.
biopsychology - sensory neurones
long dendrites,
short axons.
unipolar
afferent, carries sensory info from sense organs to CNS
biopsychology -relay neurones
short dendrites
short axons
multipolar
no myline sheath = not insulated
only found in the brain/ CNS
connects with other neurons
involved in analysis of sensations, decides response
biopsychology - motor neurones
short dendrites
long axons
multipolar
efferent neurone- info from CNS to sensory organs
PROCESS OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION, STEP 1- SYNTHESIS, BIOPSYCHOLOGY
precursor chemicals transported to axon terminal of presynaptic neurone- used to produce neurotransmitters. stored in the vesicles.
PROCESS OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION, STEP 2- RELEASE, BIOPSYCHOLOGY
in response to an electric impulse, neurotranmitters are released from veisicles into synaptic gap
PROCESS OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION, STEP 3- receptor activation , BIOPSYCHOLOGY
NT bind to specific receptor sites after crossing the synapse- diffusion. This causes electrical impulse in the post synaptic neurone
PROCESS OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION, STEP 4- INACTIVATION , BIOPSYCHOLOGY
NT unbind from recptor sites- reuptaken into presynaptic neuone. or broken down by enzymes in the synapse.
PROCESS OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION, INHIBITION EXCITATION SUMMATION, BIOPSYCHOLOGY
excitatory NTs- excitatiory post synaptic potential on post synaptic neurone. Inhibitory neurones have a inhibitory post synaptic potential on post synaptic neurone.
Summation is the sum of EPSP and IPSP in Post synaptic neurone.
If IPSP is greater then EPSP there is an overall inhibitory charge and hyper polarisation, inhibition (decreasing fire on action potential )
if EPSP is greater then IPSP there is an overall excitatory charge and depolarisation - meaning excitation (increased hood of fire on action potential)
reasons why signals in the synapse only travel in one direction- biopsychology
the synaptic vesicles containing NT are only released from pre synaptic neurone
NTs in synapse go from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration when travelling from pre- to post- synaptice membrane.
The receptors for NTs to bind with are only present on post synaptic neurone. It is the binding which passes on the information.
description of the endocrine system, including 3 glands- biopsychology
The endocrine system contains glands- which produe hormones that have many regulartory functions, i.e metabolism, development, tissue function, sexual function, reroduction. sleep and mood.
- it provides a chemical system of communication through the bloodstream.
- Presence of the hormones = physiological reaction in the cell= alters its activity.
- Secretes the hormones required to regulate bodily functions.
3 key glands in endocrine system:
Pituitry gland= helps regulate function/ secretion of other glands in the endocrine system- releases prolactine- helps with lactation.
Adrenal gland= secretes adrenaline and responds to sympathetic devision during fight or flight response.
Thyroid gland= secretes thyroxine which helps regulate metabolism rate and growth.
biopsychology- description of hormones
hormones are chemicals produced by glands of endocrine system. Upon brains signals, hormones secreted into bloodstream by glands- travel to target cells- interact with receptors on the surface of or inside cells to cause their influence.
biopsychology- differences between NTs and hormones.
- NTs are produced within neurones and pass very quickly across the synaptic cleft to another nearby neurone.
-Hormones are secreted by glands and travel less quickley through the bloodstream to often quite distant target organs.
biopsychology- fight or fight response.
autonomic nervous system is central to homeostasis(internal regulation), it has two divisions, sympathetic branch and parasympathetic branch which are usually in balance. When we percieve a stressor, brain acrivates Sympathomadullary pathway (SAM) which causes the fight or flight response
- stressor precieved, assess threat.
- Hypothalummus activates SNS of ANS.
- sympathetic nerves transmit nerves from CNS to the PNS
- Adrenal medulla (inner part of adrenal gland) releases adrenaline and noradrenaline into the blood stream.
- adrenaline constricts blood vessels in skin, diverts blood to the muscles.
biopsychology- effects of adrenaline
increase:
- Heart rate= speed up blood flow
- Blood pressure= speed up blood flow
- Pupil size= see stressor better
- Blood glucose= provide more energy
- Blood flow to muscles= increase phyisical mobility
decrease:
- Salivation = digestive system inhibited at this point- blood diverted as digestion is not prioritised.
- Digestion = blood flow diverted to the muscles
biopsychology, post fight or flight, parasympathetic response
once threat is gone, ANS switches activation of SNS to the PNS branch.
decreases the release of adrenaline to bloodstream.
has a calming effect on the body- “rest and digest”
heart rate is lowered, return of digestive processes.
parasympathetic acitivation returns the body to balanced state- homeostasis.
AO3- fight or flight biopsychology
the explanation is too narrow as human behaviour is not limited to 2 responses. Gray(1988) argues 1st response to danger is freeze, during which human is hyper vigilant and assesses the situationto decide the best course of action.
Fight or flight is too restrictive in explaining of behavioural response and cannot fully explain range of cognitive and behavioural influences on behaviour.
therefore, research into fight or flight response is incomplete and lackining in validity of theory in understanding of behaviour.
