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Psychology AS > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the human nervous system?

A

a complex network of nerve cells that carry messages to and from the brain and the spinal chord

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2
Q

what is the brain?

A

the powerhouse of the body

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3
Q

what does the brain do?

A

oversees the workings of the body

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4
Q

what is the human nervous system divided into?

A

the central nervous system (CNS)

the peripheral nervous system (PNS)

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5
Q

what is the CNS divided into?

A

the brain and the spinal chord

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6
Q

what is the PNS divided into?

A

the somantic nervous system and the automic nervous system

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7
Q

what is the autonomic nervous system divided into?

A

the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

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8
Q

what are the CNS’S two main functions?

A

the control of behaviour

the regulation of the body’s psysiological processes

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9
Q

what is the main function of the spinal chord?

A

relay information between the brain and the rest of the body

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10
Q

what happens if the spinal chord is damaged?

A

areas supplied by spinal nerves below the damaged site will be cut off by the brain and will stop functioning

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11
Q

how many areas is the brain divided into?

A

4

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12
Q

what are the 4 main areas the brain is divided into?

A

cerebrum
cerebellum
diencephalon
brain stem

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13
Q

what makes up the PNS?

A

all nerves outside the CNS

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14
Q

what is the function of the PNS?

A

relay nerve impulses from the CNS (the brain and spinal chord) to the rest of the body and from the body to the CNS

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15
Q

what is the somantic nervous system made up of?

A

12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves

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16
Q

what do receptors do?

A

detect stimuli and communicate with effectors via the nervous or endocrine system.

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17
Q

what do effectors do?

A

bring about a response to a stimulus

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18
Q

what do neurons transmit information as?

A

electrical impulses around the body

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19
Q

what does the cell body have?

A

Dendrites which recieve information from other neurons

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20
Q

what is the sensory neuron?

A

the nerve cells that transmit electrical impulses from the receptors to the CNS?

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21
Q

what is the relay neuron?

A

the nerve cells that transmit electrical impulses between sensory neurons and motor neurons

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22
Q

what is the mortor neuron?

A

the nerve cells that transmit electrical impulses from the CNS to the effectors

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23
Q

what is the transmission of information to and from the CNS?

A 
stimulus
receptors
CNS
effectors
response
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24
Q

what are reflexes?

A

fast, automatic responses to certain stimuli

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25
Q

what do refelxes bypass and where do they go?

A

they bypass your conscious brain completely and instead go through the spinal chord or an unconscious part of the brain

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26
Q

what does the somantic nervous system do?

A

controls conscious activities such as running

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27
Q

what does the autonomic nervous system do?

A

controls unconscious activities e.g digestion

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28
Q

what does the sypathetic nervous system do?

A

gets the body ready for action it is the ‘fight or flight’ system

29
Q

what does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

A

calms the body down and is the ‘rest and digest’ system

30
Q

what is a synapse

A

junction between a neuron and the next cell

31
Q

what is the synaptic cleft?

A

the tiny gap between the cells at a synapse

32
Q

what does the presynaptic neuron do?

A

it has a swelling which is called the synaptic knob

33
Q

what happens when an electrical impulse reaches the end of a neuron?

A

it causes neurotransmitters to to be released into the synaptic clef. They then diffuse across the postsynaptic membrane and bind to specific receptors

34
Q

what can neurotransmitters be?

A

excitatory

inhibitory

35
Q

what do excitatory neurotransmitters do?

A

increase the likelihood that an electircal impulse will be triggered in the postsynaptic neuron

36
Q

what do inhibitory neurotransmitters do?

A

dcrease the likelihood that an electrical impulse will be triggered in the post synaptic neuron

37
Q

what are 5 examples of neurotransmitters that come up in psychology?

A 
Actetylcholine
dopamine
noradrenaline
serotonin
GABA
38
Q

What does the endocrine system involve?

A

glands and hormones

39
Q

what is a gland?

A

a group of cells that is specialised to secrete useful substances

40
Q

what is a hormone?

A

chemical messengers

41
Q

when are hormones secreated?

A

when a gland is stimulated

42
Q

what can glands be stimulated by?

A

a change in concentration of a specific substance

they can also be stimlated by electrical impulses

43
Q

what do hormones do?

A

diffuse directly into the blood and are then taken around the body by the circulatory system

44
Q

what do hormones diffuse out of?

A

blood all over the body but each hormone will only bind to specific receptors for that hormone

45
Q

what is the endocrine system responsible for?

A

regulating a large number of bodily functions such as growth, metabolism, sleep and reproduction

46
Q

what are the major glands?

A 
hypothalamus 
pituitary gland
pineal gland
thyroid gland 
parathyroid glands 
thymus glands
adrenal glands
pancreas 
gonads
47
Q

hypothalamus

A

produces hormones that control the pituitary gland

48
Q

pituitary gland

A

known as the ‘master gland’ because it releases hormones to control other glands in the endocrine system

49
Q

pineal gland

A

reponsible for the production of melatonin which plays a role in the control of sleep patterns

50
Q

thyroid gland

A

produces hormones such as thyroxine. the thyroid is reponsible for controlling the body’s metabolic rate as well as regulating growth and maturation

51
Q

parathyroid glands

A

produces a hormone called parathyroid hormone. this helps to control the levels of minerals such as calcium in the body

52
Q

thymus gland

A

regulates the immune system

53
Q

adrenal glands

A

produces hormones such as adrenaline - responsible for ‘fight or flight’

54
Q

pancreas

A

releases the hormones insulin and glucagon which regulate blood sugar levels

55
Q

Gonads (ovaries and testes)

A

produce sex hormones e.g oestrogen and testosterone

56
Q

how do hormones get to their target cells?

A

they aren’t released into their target cells so they have to travel in the blood to get there

57
Q

what does the hypothalamus prepare you for?

A

fight or flight

58
Q

what happens when the body is threatened?

A

it prepares for action e.g by either fighting or running away (fight or flight response)

59
Q

how does the hypothalamus help to coordinate the fight or flight response?

A
  • in initial shock hypothalamus triggers activity in sympathetic branch of ANS
  • this stimlates adrenal medulla within adrenal glands which released adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream
  • these hormones affect the body in different ways
  • the result of these changes is that the body is ready to use energy to deal with the stressful situation
60
Q

how does adernaline and noradrenaline affect the body?

A 
blood pressure and heart rate increase
digestion decreases
muscles become more tense
perspiration increases
breathing rate increases
pupil size increases
salivation decreases
61
Q

what is the endocrine system also known as?

A

the hormonal system

62
Q

what is the localisation of function?

A

certain areas of the brain are thought to be reponsible for particular functions e.g vision, language

63
Q

what are the 6 areas of the brain?

A 
mortor cortex
broca's area
auditory cortex
wernicke's area 
visual cortex
somatosensory cortex
64
Q

what are the 2 parts of the pituitary gland?

A 
the anterior (front)
the posterior (back)
65
Q

what hormones does the anterior of the pituitary gland produce?

A

andrenocorticotrophic- as a response to stress
LH
FSH

66
Q

what hormones does the posterior pituitary gland release?

A

oxytocin which stimulates the contraction of the uterus in childbirth

67
Q

what hormones do the adrenal glands produce?

A

cortisol- a stress hormone

aldosterone- which is responsible for maintaining blood volume and blood pressure

68
Q

explain the fight or flight response?

A

when a person experiences a threatening/stressful situation, their body reacts in specific ways. heart beats faster and breathing becomes more rapid and their muscles tense. this is known as the fight or flight response

Psychology AS (4 decks)

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