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Psychology > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the Central nervous system (CNS) made up of?

A

The Central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the spinal cord and the brain.

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2
Q

What does the Central nervous system (CNS) do?

A

The Central nervous system (CNS) receives information from the senses and controls the body’s responses.

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3
Q

What are the two main parts of the Nervous system?

A

The two main parts of the nervous system are:

  • The Central nervous system (CNS)
  • The Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
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4
Q

What are the two parts of Peripheral nervous system?

A

The two parts of Peripheral nervous system are:

  • Somatic nervous system (SNS)
  • Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
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5
Q

What are the two parts of the Autonomic nervous system?

A

The two parts of the Autonomic nervous system are:

  • Sympathetic nervous system
  • Parasympathetic nervous system
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6
Q

What is the Endocrine System and what does it do?

A

The Endocrine system is a network of glands across the body that secrete chemical messages called hormones. It works alongside the nervous system. Information is transferred through blood instead of nerves.

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7
Q

Name 5 glands that make up the Endocrine System?

A
  • Hypothalamus
  • Pituitary Gland
  • Pineal Gland
  • Thyroid
  • Thymus
  • Pancreas
  • Adrenal Glands
  • Placenta
  • Testicle
  • Ovary
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8
Q

What is the main hormone that’s released in the Pineal gland?

A

The main hormone produced in the Pineal gland is Melatonin.

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9
Q

What does Melatonin do?

A

Melatonin is responsible for important biological rhythms, including the sleeping and waking cycle.

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10
Q

What does the Hypothalamus do?

A

The Hypothalamus stimulates and controls the release of hormones from the Pituitary gland.

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11
Q

What are the two main hormones released by the Pituitary gland?

A

The two main hormones released by the Pituitary gland are ACTH and Oxytocin.

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12
Q

What effect does ACTH have on the body?

A

ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex and the release of cortisol during the stress response.

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13
Q

What effect does Oxytocin have on the body?

A

Oxytocin is responsible for uterus contractions during child birth.

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14
Q
  • What is the main hormone that is released from the Thyroid gland?
  • What is this hormone responsible for?
A
  • Thyroxine.

* Thyroxine is responsible for regulating metabolism.

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15
Q

What are the two hormones that are released from the Adrenal Medulla?

A

Adrenaline and Noradrenaline.

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16
Q

What hormone is released from the Adrenal cortex and what does it do?

A
  • Cortisol.

* It stimulates the release of glucose to provide the body energy, while suppressing the immune system.

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17
Q

What hormone is released from the Ovaries?

A

Oestrogen.

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18
Q

What does Oestrogen do?

A

Oestrogen controls the female reproduction system. (Menstrual and Pregnancy cycles)

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19
Q

What hormone is produced from the Testes?

A

Testosterone.

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20
Q

What does Testosterone do?

A

Testosterone is responsible for the development of male sex characteristics during puberty and muscle growth.

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21
Q

Name the 4 main areas of the brain and draw them?

A
  • Cerebrum
  • Diencephalon
  • Cerebellum
  • Brain stem
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22
Q

Name the 4 lobes of the Cerebrum.

A 
Frontal lobes (speech,thought,learning)
-

Parietal lobes
(sensory information)
-

Temporal lobes
(are involved with hearing and memory)
-

Occipital lobes
(process visual info)

23
Q

How do the two half’s of the cerebrum communicate?

A

The two half’s of the cerebrum communicate through the corpus callosum.

24
Q

What is the role of the cerebellum?

A

The cerebellum is involved in controlling a persons motor skills and balance, coordinating the muscles to allow precise movements.

25
Q

In which area of the brain are the thalamus and hypothalamus located?

A

In the diencephalon.

26
Q

What is the main function of the spinal cord?

A

The main function of the spinal chord is to relay information between the brain and the rest of the body.

27
Q

What does the brain stem do?

A

The brain stem is responsible for regulating the automatic functions that are essential for life. (Breathing, heartbeat)

28
Q

What is the Pituitary gland?

A

The pituitary gland is the master gland whose primary function is to influence the release of hormones from other glands.

29
Q

What does the autonomic nervous system do?

A

Governs the brains involuntary activities e.g (stress and heartbeat)

30
Q

What do motor neurons do?

A

They form synapses with muscles and control their contractions.

31
Q

What do Neurotransmitters do?

A

Neurotransmitters transmit nerve impulses across the synapse.

32
Q

What do relay neurons do?

A

Allow the sensory and motor neurons to communicate with each other.

33
Q

What do Sensory neurons do?

A

Carry nerve impulses from sensory receptors to spinal cord and the brain.

34
Q

What is Synaptic transmission?

A

When a nerve impulse passes across the synaptic cleft from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic neuron.

35
Q

What do motor neurons do?

A

Muscle contractions (they do the tasks)

36
Q

What is the HPA axis?

A

Stress response activated by hypothalamus.

Hypothalamus releases chemical messenger that goes to the pituitary gland. Pituitary sends hormone to adrenal cortex stimulating the release of cortisol and other hormones.

37
Q

What does adrenaline do?

A
  • Pushes blood to muscles.
  • Bp increases
  • Release of glucose (supplying energy)
38
Q

What is Broca’s area?

A

An area in the FRONTAL LOBE of the brain, usually in the LEFT hemisphere, related to SPEECH production.

39
Q

What is Localisation of function?

A

The belief that SPECIFIC areas of the brain are associated with specific COGNITIVE processes.

40
Q

What is the Motor Cortex?

A

Region of the brain responsible for generation of voluntary motor movements.

41
Q

Somatosensory Cortex?

A
  • Area of brain

- Processes input from Sensory receptors

42
Q

Wernicke’s area?

A
  • Area of brain in temporal lobe

- Important in comprehension of language

43
Q

Brain plasticity?

A

Brain’s ability to modify its own structure and function as a result of experience.

44
Q

Functional recovery?

A

The recovery of abilities and mental processes that have been compromised by brain injury.

45
Q

What are the 4 ways of examining the brain?

A
  • fMRI
  • EEG
  • ERP
  • Post Mortem Examinations
46
Q

What is fMRI?

A
  • A technique for measuring brain activity.

- Works by detecting changes in blood oxygenation

47
Q

What are post mortem examinations?

A

Examining brains of those with abnormalities after death.

48
Q

What is EEG?

A

A method of recording changes in electrical activity of brain. (things on head)

49
Q

What is ERP?

A

Takes raw EEG data and investigates cognitive processing of a specific event.

50
Q

Circadian rhythm?

A

A pattern of behaviour that occurs approx every 24 hrs which is set by environmental stimuli (light).

51
Q

What’s the difference between Infradian rhythms and Ultradian rhythms?

A

Infradian rhythms have a duration of over 24 hours whereas Ultradian rhythms last less than 24 hours.

52
Q

What are Endogenous pacemakers?

A

Mechanisms within the body that govern the interna, biological bodily rhythms.

53
Q

Explain and draw the Sleeping-waking cycle?

A

Sunlight -> Photoreceptor (retina) -> SCN (hypothalamus)

Blue light = -> Cortisol produced from pituitary -> Wake

Faint/red light = -> Melatonin from pineal -> Sleep

54
Q

What is the SCN?

A

Pacemaker for circadian rhythms.

Psychology (11 decks)

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