biopsychology Flashcards
what two subsections does the nervous system split into?
the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
what two subsections does the central nervous system split into?
the spinal cord and the brain
what two subsections does the peripheral nervous system split into?
the somatic and autonomic nervous systems
what two subsections does the autonomic nervous system split into?
the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
what is the nervous system?
specialised network of cells and our primary internal communication system
what are the nervous systems two main functions?
1) to collect, process and respond to information in the environment
2) to coordinate the working of different organs and calls in the body
what is the function of the central nervous system?
control our behaviour and regulate the body’s physiological processes such as digestion and breathing
what does the spinal cord do?
relays information between the brain and the rest of the body
what is the brain?
the ‘control’ center
how many lobes does the brain have?
4 lobes
what are the 4 brain lobes?
frontal, temporal, occipital, parietal
what is the frontal lobe responsible for?
thought and speech
what does the frontal lobe house?
the broca’s area and the motor area
what is the temporal lobe responsible for?
auditory information
what does the temporal lobe house?
wernicke’s area
what is the occipital lobe responsible for?
processing visual images
what does the occipital lobe house?
visual cortex
what is the parietal lobe responsible for?
processing of sensory information
what does the parietal lobe house?
the sensory cortex
what is the cerebellum responsible for?
control of motor skills and balance.
what does the cerebellum coordinate?
coordinates muscles and allows for precision
what is the brain stem responsible for?
regulating automatic functions essential for life
what is the cerebrum split into?
two hemispheres
how do the two hemispheres communicate?
via the corpus callosum
what is the function of the peripheral nervous system?
transmits messages via millions of neurons from the CNS
what does the CNS stand for?
central nervous system
what does the PNS stand for?
peripheral nervous system
what is the function of the autonomic nervous system?
regulates involuntary physiological processes
what are some of the processes the ANS controls?
breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, sexual arousal
what does ANS stand for?
autonomic nervous system
what is the function of the somatic nervous system?
regulate voluntary movements of the skeletal muscles and transmits sensory information from body to CNS
what is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
‘fight or flight’
what is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
‘rest and digest’
what does ‘fight or flight’ do to the heart rate?
increase
what does ‘rest and digest’ do to the heart rate
slows
what does ‘fight or flight’ do to pupils?
dilates
what does ‘rest and digest’ do to pupils?
constricts
what does ‘fight or flight’ do to digestion and salivation?
inhibits
what does ‘rest and digest’ do to digestion and salivation?
stimulates
what does ‘fight or flight’ do to airways?
dilates
what does ‘fight or flight’ do to blood flow?
redirects to muscles
what does the diencephalon consist of?
the thalamus, hypothalamus and brain stem
what is the thalamus responsible for?
relay info from never impulses coming from senses
what is hypothalamus responsible for
regulate body temperature, hunger and thirst
what is the brain stem responsible for?
regulate automatic functions
what are the three types of neurons?
sensory, relay and motor
what does a sensory neuron do?
sends information from senses to the brain
what does a relay neuron do?
acts between sensory and motor neurons
where are relay neurons mostly found?
brain/CNS
what does a motor neuron do?
sends messages via long axons from the brain to muscles or effectors
what is the primary function of a neuron?
transmit information throughout the nervous system
the part of the neuron that receives signals is called the?
dendrite
what is the role of myelin sheath in neurons?
insulate the axon and increase the speed of signal transmission
what is synaptic transmission?
nerve impulses passing across s synaptic cleft from one neuron to another
in synaptic transmission, what neurons do the nerve impulse pass from and to?
presynaptic neuron to postsynaptic neuron
what are the two typers of neurotransmitters?
inhibitory and excitatory
example of a excitatory neurotransmitter?
noradrenaline
example of n inhibitory neurotransmitter?
serotonin and GABA
what does an excitatory neurotransmitter do?
increase likelihood of an impulse being transferred to the postsynaptic neuron
what does an inhibitory neurotransmitter do?
decrease likelihood of an impulse being transferred to the postsynaptic neuron
