Biopsychology Flashcards
what are the 2 main componments of the CNS
CNS + PNS (central nervous system and peripheral nervous system)
2 part of CNS
brain and spinal chord
componments making up peripheral nervous system
autonomic nervous system, somatic nervus system, sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system
what does autonomic nerovus system mean
self governing
what is the outer layer of the brain
the cerebral cortex
what is an extension of the brain
spinal chord
what does the somatic nervous system
transmits infomation recieved by the senses through receptors to the CNS and transmits messages from the CNS to the muscles to instruct them to act
3 types of neurons
sensory, relay, motor
sensory neuron =
these neurons tell the rest of the brain about external and internal environment by processing information taken from one of the 5 senses. carry messages from PNS to CNS.
motor neuron=
carry signals from the CNS which helps organs including glands and muscles function
relay neuron
carry messaged from one part of the CNS to another, connect motor and sensory neurons
neuron disease =
motor neuron disease
what is electric transmission
when a neuron is activated by a stimulus the inside of the cell becomes positively charged for a split second causing action potential to occur, creates electrical impulse which travels down the axon
when is a neuron in resting state
the inside of a cell is negatively charged
what causes action potential to occur
electric transmission
what is a neuro transmitter
neurotransmitters are chemicals that diffuse across the synapse to the next neuron in the chain. they can affect mood and behaviour
examples of neurotransmitters
seratonin, dopamine, melatonin, adrenaline
what is excitation
excitation refers to when a neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the post synaptic neuron
what is inhibition
refers to when a neurotransmitter increases the negative charge of the post synaptic neuron
what is the pituitary gland
the master gland, control of other glands
thyroid gland =
produces thyroxin, for regulation of growth and metabolism
adrenal gland =
produces adrenaline, responsible for fight or flight
testes =
repsonsible for production of testosterone and male sexual behaviour
fight or flight reponse =
sympathatic system
optimal state =
parasympathatic system
VASM
visual, auditory, sensory, motor
POFT
parietal, frontal, temporal, occipital
visual cortex
visual area
auditory cortex
processing audio infomation
motor cortex
controls volunatry movement in the opposite side of the body
occipital lobe
houses visual cortext
frontal lobe
personality
occipital lobe
houses visual cortex
temporal lobe
auditory area wernickes area
damage to the speech area is called
brocas aphasia
what is synaptic pruning
connections in the brain being strengthened
brain is malleable
brain plasticity
what happens to the brain after trauma
axonal sprouting, reformation of new blood vessels and recruitment of homologous areas on the opposite side of the brain
3 types of brain scans
FRMI EEG ERP’s = functional magnetic resonance imaging
electroencephalogram
event related potentials
another way of examening besides scanning
post morten examination
circadian rhythms
rhythms that last for 24h
exogenous zetgeiber
external factors that have an impact on the bodys rhythm
infradian rhythms
24h+
example of infradian rhythms
menstrual cycle or SAD
example of circadian rhythms
sleep/ wake cycle
ultradium rhythms
-24h
example of ultradium rhythms
stages of sleep
stage 1 and 2
light sleep - easily woken
stage 3 and 4
deeper sleep
stage 5 REM
deepest sleep
endogenouos pacemakers
bodys internal clocks
the suprachiasmatic nucleus
bunch of tiny nerve cells locaed in the hypothalamus in each hemisphere of the brain - primary endogenous pacemaker and influential in maintaining circadian rhythms
