Biopsychology

Question 1

What two parts can the nervous system be divided into

Answer 1

• the central nervous system (CNS)

- the peripheral nervous system (PNS )

Question 2

what are neurons

Answer 2

cells that transmit and receive electrical signals called nerve impulses

Question 3

what are the 4 main component of the neuron

Answer 3

dendrite, cell body, axon, axon terminal

Question 4

how do neurons transmit information

Answer 4

through nerve impulses or action potentials

Question 5

what is a nerve impulse

Answer 5

big change in voltage triggered at the cell body of the neuron. nerve impulses move in one direction down the neuron, from the dendrite down to the axon terminal. Nerve impulses occur if there is a big enough change at the cell body

Question 6

when does a nerve impulse occur

Answer 6

there is a large enough positive change in voltage

Question 7

what is a synapse

Answer 7

the gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of the second neurone

Question 8

what is synaptic transmission

Answer 8

process through which nerve impulses are transmitted across the synapse in order to communicate

Question 9

how do neurons communicate

Answer 9

through the synapse

Question 10

what is the central nervous system

Answer 10

The nervous system is our primary internal communication system, a specialised network of cells in our body. The central nervous system receives information from the senses and controls the behavior and regulation of the body’s psychological processes.

Question 11

what is the peripheral nervous system

Answer 11

The portion of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal cord. The function of the peripheral nervous system is to connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. The peripheral nervous system transmits information to and from the CNS.

Question 12

what can the PNS be divided into

Answer 12

the somatic nervous system

autonomic nervous system

Question 13

what is the somatic nervous system

Answer 13

The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements, transmits and receives messages from the senses and is involved in reflex actions without the involvement of the CNS so the reflex can occur very quickly. Somatic Nervous System (SNS) connects the central nervous system with the senses and is composed of: sensory and motor nerve

Question 14

what is the autonomic nervous system

Answer 14

regulates involuntary actions such as bodily arousal, body temperature, homeostasis, heart rate, digestion and blood pressure. Composed of 2 parts: The sympathetic nervous system and The parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 15

what is the sympathetic nervous system

Answer 15

1/2 of the autonomic nervous system. involved in responses which help us deal with emergencies. It slows bodily processes that are less important in emergencies such as digestion. The sympathetic ANS leads to increased arousal

Question 16

what is the parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 16

1/2 of the autonomic nervous system. relaxes the individual once the emergency has passed. and conserves the body’s natural activity by decreasing activity/maintaining it. The parasympathetic ANS leads to decreased arousal.

Question 17

what is the sensory neurones

Answer 17

convey information about sensory stimuli: vision, touch, taste, etc. towards the brain.

Question 18

what is the motor neurones

Answer 18

convey instructions for physical operations: e.g. release of hormones from glands, muscle movement, digestion, etc.

Question 19

what is the relay neurones

Answer 19

Relay neurons – connect different parts of the central nervous system (CNS).

Question 20

what does Excitatory mean

Answer 20

make a nerve impulse more likely to be triggered: for example, dopamine or serotonin which produce states of excitement/activity in the nervous system and in our mental state/behavior.

Question 21

what does Inhibitory mean

Answer 21

make a nerve impulse less likely to be triggered: for example, GABA calms activity in the nervous system and produces states of relaxation

Question 22

what are hormones

Answer 22

chemical messengers secreted from structures (glands) in the body which pass through the bloodstream to cause changes in our body or behavior. The network of glands is called the endocrine system.

Question 23

what does the thyroid gland release

Answer 23

hormone: thyroxine

Regulates metabolic rate and protein synthesis

Question 24

what does the Adrenal medulla release

Answer 24

main hormones: Adrenaline and noradrenaline

Fight or flight response: increased heart rate, blood pressure, release of glucose and fats (for energy)

Question 25

what does testes release

Answer 25

main hormone: Testosterone

Male sexual characteristics, muscle mass

Question 26

what does the ovaries release

Answer 26

main hormone: Oestrogen

Female sexual characteristics, menstruation, pregnancy

Question 27

what does the pineal gland release

Answer 27

main hormone: melatonin

Sleep-wake cycle

Question 28

what is the pituitary gland

Answer 28

master gland and controls release of hormones from many of the glands described above. The pituitary is divided into the anterior and posterior.

Question 29

what is the fight or flight response

Answer 29

sequence of activity within the body that is triggered when the body prepares itself for defending or attacking (fight) or running away to safety (flight)