Biopsychology (AO1) Flashcards
Broadly define the nervous system
A specialised network of cells in human body and our primary internal communication system
What are the 2 functions of the nervous system?
- To collect, process and respond to information in the environment
- To co-ordinate the working of different groups of cells in the body
What can the NS be divided into?
- Central Nervous System (CNS)
- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
What is the central nervous system?
- Made up of brain + spinal cord
- Brain: Centre of all conscious awareness. Its outer layer is known as cerebral cortex and is highly developed in humans and what distinguishes our higher mental functions from other animals. Divided into 2 hemispheres.
- Spinal Cord: Extension of the brain. Responsible for reflex actions such as pulling your hand away rom a hot plate. Passes messages to and from the brain and PNS
What is the peripheral nervous system?
- Transmits messages via millions of neurones to and from the CNS
Is further divided into 2 systems:
- Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate, sexual arousal and stress responses
- Somatic Nervous System (SNS): Control muscle movement + receives info from sensory receptors
Broadly define the Endocrine System
- Works alongside nervous system to control vital functions in the body. This system acts much more slowly than the NS but is very widespread and has powerful effects
- Includes glands and hormones
What are glands? An example?
- Organs that produce hormones
- A major glands of the Endocrine System is the pituitary gland in the brain. Often called ‘Master Gland’ because it controls the rate at which hormones are released from the parts of the body
What are hormones?
- Hormones are secreted into bloodstream and affect any organ + cell that has a receptor for that particular hormone. Most hormones simultaneously affect multiple organs and areas of the body.
Examples of hormones?
The thyroid gland produces thyroxine which increases heart rate as well as one’s metabolism. This in turn affects growth rate.
Finish the statement “When a stressor is perceived…”
… the hypothalamus initially triggers activity in the sympathetic branch of the ANS. This causes the ANS state to go from normal and resting (parasympathetic) to the physiologically aroused and sympathetic state
What is plasticity? How does it allow us to learn?
- Brain’s ability to change and develop over our lives.
- Its tendency to change and adapt based on new experiences and learning
- During infancy, the brain experiences a rapid growth of synaptic connections. As we age, some connections are less used and therefore become deleted, those that are more used become stronger.
What is plasticity also known as?
Synaptic Pruning
How has thinking changed on plasticity?
- ORIGINALLY: thought to only occur during childhood development whilst this functions become static in adulthood because it is past the critical period.
- HOWEVER: Newer research shows otherwise and suggests that these neural connections can be changed and adapt at any given time in life due to new experiences and neural experiences
- Outline Maguire et al (2000). What area of biopsychology is it relevant to?
- Plasticity
- Aim: To investigate what the exact role of the hippocampus is. Maguire wanted to see if there was a difference in the brains between people who rely on spatial awareness as part of their jobs and other people.
- Findings: More grey matter was found in the posterior hippocampus in taxi drivers than the control group bus drivers. The longer the career, the more pronounced the structural difference was! This part of brain is associated w/navigational and spatial skills.
What is meant by functional recovery?
- When areas of the brain become damaged, unaffected areas can compensate and adapt to make up for the loss ability from damaged areas. Another example of neural plasticity.
- Neuroscientist have suggested that this happens quickly after trauma (aka spontaneous recovery), but slows down within weeks and months after the event. This slowing down is when rehabilitation therapy may be necessary
