Biopsychology

Question 1

What does the central nervous system (CNS) do?

Answer 1

Consists of the brain and the spinal cord.

Is the origin of all complex commands and decisions.

Question 2

What does the peripheral nervous system do?

Answer 2

Sends information to the CNS from the outside world and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body.

Question 3

What does the somatic nervous system do?

Answer 3

Transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS. It also receives information from the CNS that directs muscles to act.

Question 4

What makes up the nervous system?

Answer 4

Consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

Question 5

What does the central nervous system comprise of?

Answer 5

The brain and spinal cord.

Question 6

What does the spinal cord do?

Answer 6

Received and transmits information to and from the brain.

Question 7

What does the brain do?

Answer 7

Maintains life, involved in higher functions and psychological processes.

Question 8

What’s the function of the sensory neurons?

Answer 8

Transmits information to the rest of the brain about the internal/external environment by processing information from the senses.

Question 9

What’s the function of the relay neurons?

Answer 9

These carry messages from one part of the CNS to another. They connect motor and sensory neurons.

Question 10

What’s the function of the motor neurons?

Answer 10

Carry signals from the CNS which helps organs, glands and muscles to function.

Question 11

What does a neuron consist of?

Answer 11

Dendrites
Cell body
Axon
Nucleus
Nodes of ranvier
Myelin sheaths
Schwann cells

Question 12

What is synaptic transmission?

Answer 12

The process for transmitting messages from neuron to neuron via a synapse as an electrical impulse transmitted chemically.

Question 13

Explain the transmission of information across the synapse.

Answer 13

• The electrical nerve impulse travels down the neuron.
• It prompts the release of neurotransmitters at the pre-synaptic terminal.
• These chemicals are released into the synaptic fluid in the synapse.
• The adjacent synapse takes up the chemicals and converts them into an electrical impulse which travels down the next neuron.

Question 14

What are the steps in the flight-or-fight response?

Answer 14

Hypothalamus recognises a threat, it sends a message to the adrenal gland which triggers the release of adrenaline to the endocrine system and noradrenaline in the brain. This prompts physical changes allowing the individual to react quicker.

Question 15

Why does heart rate increase during the flight-or-fight response?

Answer 15

To speed up blood flow to vital organs and improve the spread of adrenaline.

Question 16

Why does breathing rate increase during the flight-or-fight response?

Answer 16

To increase oxygen intake.

Question 17

Why does muscle tension occur during the flight-or-fight response?

Answer 17

To improve reaction time and speed.

Question 18

Why does pupil dilation occur during the flight-or-fight response?

Answer 18

To improve vision.

Question 19

Why does sweat production increase during the flight-or-fight response?

Answer 19

To facilitate temperature regulation.

Question 20

Why does reduced functioning of the digestive and immune systems occur during the flight-or-fight response?

Answer 20

To save energy for prioritised functions like running.

Question 21

What does the autonomic nervous system do?

Answer 21

Transmits information to and from internal bodily organs.

Question 22

Briefly explain excitation and inhibition.

Answer 22

Neurotransmitters have one of the aforementioned effects on the neighbouring neuron. It either causes the neuron to become more negatively charged and so less like to fire (inhibition) or become more positively charged and so more like to fire an electrical impulse (excitation).