biopsychology Flashcards
two divisions of central nervous system
peripheral nervous system
central nervous system
what are the 2 divisions of peripheral nervous system
autonomic (controls vital involuntary functions)
somatic (receives information from sensory receptors belonging to each of the 5 senses, effectors are stimulated by cns)
what are the two divisions of autonomic nervous system
sympathetic
parasympathetic
together provide the rest and digest response as well as fight or flight.
which division of the autonomic nervous system increases heart rate, causes vasoconstriction and pupil dilation
sympathetic
which division of autonomic nervous system decreases heart rate, vasodilation, pupil constriction, rest and digest
parasympathetic
what is the ‘master’ gland
the pituitary gland, it controls release of hormones from all other glands in the body
Outline the role of adrenaline in the fight or flight response. (4)
-Adrenaline is released from adrenal medulla, in response to activation of sympathomedullary pathway
- This increases heart rate, causes vasoconstriction, pupil dilation, increases respiration and sweating, diverts blood from extremities to organs and muscles, prepares body for action e.g. fight or flight
how is adrenaline released
-from adrenal medulla
- in response to activation of sympathomedullary pathway
describe fight or flight response
- The body senses a stressor in the environment and becomes aware of it through sensory receptors
- Through sensory neurons in the PNS, this information is sent to the hypothalamus in the brain which co-ordinates a response and triggers increased level of activity in the sympathetic nervous system of the ANS
- Adrenaline is released from adrenal medulla in response to activation of sympathomedullary pathway, adrenaline is transported to target via blood and endocrine system
- Heart rate increases, vasoconstriction, pupil dilation, increased breathing rate etc. This creates the flight or fight response
- Once the stressor is no longer a threat, parasympathetic nervous system activates, rest and digest response
how do neurons communicate with eachother?
Synaptic transmission
1. action potential arrives at the pre-synaptic membrane causing depolarisation through the opening of calcium ion channels and the influx of calcium ions
2. High concentration of calcium ions within the membrane causes the vesicles containing the neurotransmitter to fuse with the pre-synaptic membrane and release their contents into the synaptic cleft through exocytosis
What does localisation theory suggest?
Different areas of the brain are responsible for certain functions and processes
What area of the brain is responsible for regulating and controlling movements?
Motor area
where is the motor area of the brain?
frontal lobe
what can result from damage of the motor area of the brain?
difficulty or inability to perform and control voluntary fine motor tasks
where is the auditory area
temporal lobe
what is the auditory area responsible for
processing auditory information and speech, damage to general auditory area can result in hearing loss
where is the visual area of the brain
occipital lobe, processes visual information
where is the somatosensory area of the brain?
parietal lobe
what is the function of the somatosensory area?
processes sensory information. Lesions in this area cause loss of ability to denote sensitivity to particular body parts
What is the function of Wernickes area of the brain?
responsible for speech comprehension
Where is Wernickes area?
Left temporal lobe
what areas of the brain are in the temporal lobe?
auditory+wernickes area, brocas area
what is wernicke’s aphasia
use of nonsensical words, no awareness of using incorrect words but no issues with pronunciation. resulting from damage to wernickes area of the brain
what are characteristics of wernickes aphasia?
use of nonsensical words, no awareness of using incorrect words but no issues with speech or pronunciation
