Biopsychology (AS Paper 2)

Question 1

What’s the 2 main functions of the nervous system

Answer 1

Collect, process and respond to information from the environment

Co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells

Question 2

What are the 2 sub-systems that the nervous system is divided into

Answer 2

CNS (central nervous system)
PNS (peripheral nervous system)

Question 3

The PNS is further divided into what 2 groups

Answer 3

SNS (somatic nervous system)
ANS (autonomic nervous system)

Question 4

What information does sensory neurones carry to the CNS

Answer 4

Sensory information

Question 5

What information does the motor neurone carry from the CNS to the muscles

Answer 5

Instructions

Question 6

The ANS can be further subdivided into 2 groups, what are they

Answer 6

Sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 7

What does the sympathetic nervous system prepare the the body for

Answer 7

Fight or flight response which includes stress related activities

Question 8

What does the parasympathetic system prepare the body for

Answer 8

Rest and digest response which includes day to day activities

Question 9

What hormone does the thyroid release and what does it do

Answer 9

Thyroxine and this is responsible for regulating metabolism.

Question 10

The flight and flight response

Answer 10

Stressor perceived
Hypothalamus actives the pituitary gland which secretes ACTH
This then activates the sympathetic branch of the ANS
Sympathetic branch sends a signal to the adrenal medulla
Adrenaline hormone is released from the adrenal gland
This circulates the body and targets key organs (heart beats faster, faster breathing, bp increases)

Question 11

How many neurones are located in the brain

Answer 11

80 billion

Question 12

What does the sensory neurone do

Answer 12

Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS

Question 13

How does the sensory neurone become activated

Answer 13

By a sensory input from the environment
For example, touching a hot surface, the sensory neurones would revive this and then send signals to other parts of the nervous system.

Question 14

What do motor neurones do

Answer 14

Transmit impulses from the CNS to the muscles, glands and organs. Therefore they control our muscle movements.

Question 15

Give an example of a motor neurone response (if you touch a hot surface)

Answer 15

If you touch a hot surface, the motor neurone would respond and move your hand away.

Question 16

What do relay neurones do

Answer 16

Connect the sensory neurones to the motor neurones so impulse can get sent from on to the other quickly.

Question 17

What is the gap called between neurones

Answer 17

Synapse

Question 18

What are the 4 stages of synaptic transmission

Answer 18

1) Action potential (electrical impulses) reach the pre-synaptic terminal
2) This triggers the release of neurotransmitters front the vesical
3) Neurotransmitters (chemicals) diffuse across the synapse
4) Neurotransmitters bind to receptors in the post synaptic neurone.

Question 19

What hormone causes excitation and why

Answer 19

Adrenaline by increasing its positive charge

Question 20

What hormone causes inhibition and why

Answer 20

Serotonin by making the neurone negatively charged.

Question 21

Why would a neurone be more likely to fire

Answer 21

If it’s got a higher/more positively charged.