Biopsychology Flashcards
What is the CNS
central nervous system
includes the brain and spinal cord
controls behaviour, bodily processes and muscles
What is the PNS
peripheral nervous system
nerves
relays messages to and from CNS
What does the PNS contain?
somatic and autonomic branches
somatic- conscious actions
autonomic- unconscious actions
What are the 2 branches of the autonomic nervous system?
sympathetic and parasympathetic
sympathetic- fight or flight
parasympathetic- calming caretaker functions
(“paralyses”)
What is a neurotransmitter and name 3 and state their function
messenger in the brain
noradrenaline- concentration dopamine- pleasure serotonin- mood gaba- calming acetylcholine- learning
What are some neurotransmitter related issues?
schizophrenia- dopamine high and serotonin low
major depression- serotonin levels low
parkinsons disorder- dopamine low which can’t motivate muscles
What are hormones?
hormones “excite” or stimulate the body and its organs
most hormones only affect their target cell
when enough signals are received cells produce a reaction
What does the pituitary gland release?
oxytocin-pair bonding
ACTH/CRH- energy production
HGH- growth and repair
What are the adrenal glands
located near kidneys
2 parts:
- adrenal cortex: necessary to live , produces cortisol (why we’re awake during day) and aldosterone (testosterone)
-adrenal medulla: not necessary to live, produces adrenaline and noradrenaline
What is the function of the ovaries?
produces oestrogen and progesterone
progesterone-threat and social responsiveness (steroid hormone)
What is the function of the testes?
produces testosterone- male characteristics
What happens when you perceive stress
1) get stressed - acute or chronic
2) amygdala perceives stress
3) hypothalamus tells body how to fix this using homeostasis
4) sympathetic nervous system works with hypothalamus to produce energy
5) reponse
How do you deal with acute stressors (sudden)?
1) SNS stops caretaker functions
2) adrenal medulla produces adrenaline
3) then when danger is gone it switches back to parasympathetic
How do you deal with chronic stressors (ongoing stress)?
1) hypothalamus tells body how to respond
2) pituitary gland releases hormones ACTH and CRF
3) ACTH stimulates- adrenal medulla produces adrenaline
CRF stimulates- adrenal cortex to produce cortisol
4) feed back: hypothalamus and pituitary gland monitor cortisol levels and make adjustments to deal with this
What are the 2 hormones that help deal with chronic stressors?
ACTH - adrenal medulla, adrenaline
CRF- adrenal cortex, cortisol
What is the function of neurons?
“cables of the body”
- transport info in electrical impulses (action potential)
- info received by terminal buttons at the dendrites
what are the 3 types of neurons?
sensory: receives info
relay: transmit info
motor: controlling muscles to respond
How does synaptic transmission work?
at the end of each dendrite at a terminal and meet with another dendrite
1) Action potential or neurotransmitters arrive at terminal from axon
2) NT packaged in vesicles
3) vesicles fuse with cell membrane
4) NT diffuses across synaptic gap
5) NT binds to receptors
6) Surplus NT is broken down or recycled by reuptake channels
Synapse- communication between 2 neurons at a synapse
action potential is translated into neurotransmitters
NT added up at receptors to decide what happens next.
What is the difference between excitatory and inhibitory?
Excitatory- cell more likely to do something e.g. adrenaline
Inhibitory- cell less likely to do something e.g. GABA turns off receptors with alcohol
What is EPSP
Excitatory postsynaptic potentials
+ charge
What is IPSP?
Inhibitory postsynaptic potential
- charge
How do postsynaptic potentials allow things to happen?
If a neutron receives both excitatory and inhibitory signals the total of each adds up and the most powerful signal
Can be:
Temporal = very quick firing of one presynaptic neuron
Spatial = lots of small signals happening at different synapses
+ has an upside down u shape and - has a u shape on graphs
What is the function of an axon
Passes messenges
What is the function of a myelin sheath
Covers the axon and helps speed neural impulses
What is the function of a dendrite
Received messenges
What is the function of a terminal branch
Forms junctions with other cells
Write 3 evaluative paragraphs about the fight or flight response?
P- ind. differences
E- tend + befriend in women
E- SRY gene, men in 911 helped others
L- gender bias
P- int val
E- +freeze
E- useful application in health
l- ecological val
P- economic implications
