Biopsychology Flashcards
What is the nervous system and its function? (3m)
A network of cells in the human body, the body’s internal communication system (1).
NS function is to collect, process and respond to information from the environment (2)and to control organs and cells in the body (3).
What is the central nervous system made up of and what are their functions?
Brain - responsible for higher mental processes, receives and processes info from the senses.
Spinal cord - conducts signals to and from the brain, controls reflex actions.
What is the Peripheral nervous system made up of and what are their functions?
Autonomic NS - responsible for involuntary actions and controls cardiac and smooth muscles
Somatic NS - responsible for voluntary movements and controls skeletal muscles
What are the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches functions?
Sympathetic - fight or flight response
Parasympathetic - restores and conserves body energy when relaxed
Outline the structure and function of the nervous system? (6m)
- NS is split into two main parts CNS and PNS.
- CNS made up of the brain which is responsible for higher mental functions and receiving and processing information from the senses and the spinal cord which controls reflex actions and conducts messages to and from the brain.
- PNS made up of the autonomic NS which controls cardiac and smooth muscles and is responsible for involuntary actions and the somatic NS which controls skeletal muscles and is responsible for voluntary movements.
- The autonomic NS splits again into two branches, the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches.
- The sympathetic branch controls the fight or flight response.
- The parasympathetic branch conserves and restores the body’s energy when relaxed.
What is one difference between the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system?
Autonomic nervous system controls involuntary movements WHEREAS the somatic nervous system controls voluntary actions.
What is the structure and functions of a neuron?
- Dendrites - where NT receptors are found, once receptor and NT are bound an electrical impulse will occur.
- Cell body - includes nucleus and cells genetic material (DNA).
- Axon - sends nerve impulse through neuron to transmit message to the next neuron.
- Myelin sheath - insulates/protects axon and helps to speed up transmission.
- Nodes of ranvier - speeds up transmission of impulse by forcing it to ‘jump’ across gaps along axon.
- Terminal button - end of neuron, send info to next neuron through NT release.
What is a sensory neurons location, structure and function?
Location - PNS in clusters known as ganglia
Function - send info from SENSES towards brain. Receptors found in eyes, ears, tongue, skin
Structure - long dendrites, short axons
What is a relay neurons location, function and structure?
Location - brain and CNS
Function - carry nerve impulses between neurons, allows sensory and motor neurons to communicate
Structure - short dendriets, short axons, no myelin sheath/nodes of ranvier
What si the location, function and structure of a motor neuron?
Location - cell bodies found in CNS but long axons part of PNS
Function - send information via axons from CNS to effectors (muscles and glands)
Structure - short dendrites, long axons
Pineal gland
- secretes melatonin (sleep wake cycle)
- person tired = ready to sleep
Adrenal gland
- releases adrenaline
- causes fight or flight response
- physiological changes = increased blood flow to increase oxygen to the brain for rapid response planning
Pituitary gland
- secretes many hormones
- ovaries = anterior releases LH and FSH, ovaries release oestrogen and progesterone regulating menstrual cycle
- testes = anterior releases LH and FSH, testes release testosterone creating male characteristics and sperm production
What is the function of the endocrine system?
- provides chemical system of communication Within blood stream
- slower than NS but effects are more powerful and widespread
- hormones are circulated in blood and control cells/organs to influence behaviour
Fight or flight response (4m) (sally has potentially seen a piranha)
- STRESSOR identified by HYPOTHALAMUS activating the PITUITARY GLAND triggering activity in the SYMPATHETIC branch of ANS.
- ADRENALINE released by ADRENAL GLAND into bloodstream
- The fight of flight response is produced, preparing body for sudden physical action. Produces physiological reactions eg increased heart rate, blood pressure and respiration, reduces saliva production and digestion.
- PARASYMPATHETIC branch restores body back to normal when stressor is removed.
Fight or flight response AO3
:( - doesn’t fully explain stress response in alliances with other women
women likely to protect offspring + form alliances with women
suggests gender bias - assumes men and women respond in same way
Limiting explanation
:( - human behaviour not limited to two responses
First response to danger = freeze + consider best course of action
Fight or flight doesn’t consider other factors (thought processes)
Localisation of function
Specific areas of brain are specialised for specific functions.
Hemispheric lateralisation
Brain split into two halves - left and right hemispheres
Different hemispheres responsible for different mental processes.
Holistic theory
All parts of Brian work together when processing information.
Brian areas, functions and damage
Motor cortex - both hemispheres, voluntary motor movements, damage causes paralysis
Somatosensory cortex - both hemispheres, processes info from senses in skin (touch, pressure, pain), damage produces problems perceiving touch
Visual cortex - both hemispheres, contralaterally wired, rvf - lh lvf - rh, processes colour and shapes, damage causes blindness
Wernickes area - left hemisphere, language understanding, damage causes werenickes aphasia
Auditory cortex - both hemispheres, analysing speech based behaviours, damage causes deafness
Broca’s area - left hemisphere, language production, damage causes brocas aphasia
Localisation AO3
:) - Tan, only word could say, still understand language, post mortem showed damage to area in left hemisphere (brocas), increase validity
:( - EB, LH removed, regained speech,
What is plasticity?
The brains ability to change and adapt its structures and processes as a consequence of new learning.
What is synaptic pruning?
When young, the brain creates many connections in the brain but as we grow older some connections aren’t used as much. The connections that aren’t used will be deleted and the connections that are used regularly will be strengthened.
What is functional recovery?
The recovery of abilities affected by brain damage or disease.
The brain can rewire itself forming new synaptic connections close to the damaged area of the brain.
Secondary pathways that would not typically be used to carry out certain functions are activated to enable normal functioning to continue creating a number of structural changes in the brain.
