Biopsychology-booklet 1 bodily systems Flashcards
what is the 2 main functions of the nervous system
· To collect, process and responds to information in the environment
· To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
what is the nervous system divided into
-CNS(central nervous system)
-PNS (Peripheral nervous system)
what does the CNS consist of
brain
spinal cord
what is the function of the brain
-involved in psychological processes and higher mental functioning
-centre of all conscious awareness and highly developed in humans
what are the main 4 lobes of the brain
-frontal lobe
-parietal lobe
-temporal lobe
-occipital lobe
what is the function of the frontal lobe
higher order functioning
eg-planning, problem solving, decision making
what is the function of the parietal lobe
processes sensory information
what is the function of the temporal lobe
-process auditory information
-understanding/comprehending language
what is the function of the occipital lobe
-processes visual information
-connected by optic nerve
what is the main function of the spinal cord
to relay information between the brain and the rest of the body
where does the spinal cord facilitate the transfer of messages to and from
the spinal cord facilitates the transfer of messages to and from the brain to the PNS
what does the PNS consist of
-the somatic nervous system
-the automatic nervous system
what is the role of the PNS
trasmits messages from the brain to the whole body
what is the role of the somatic nervous system
faciliatates communications between the CNS and outside world
what neurons is the somatic nervous system made up of
sensory neurons which transmit and recieve messages from senses to motor pathways which direct muscles to react
eg-visual information from eyes
what is the somatic nervous system responsible for
conscious movement-providing muscle responses to the sensory infromation recieved
what is the role of the autonomic nervous system
helps transmit and receive information internally, to and from the organs, playing an important role in homeostasis (regulating body conditions)
-involved in unconscious movement
what is the autonomic nervous system divided into
sympathetic
and
parasympathetic
what does the sympathetic branch do
increases activity (ready for fight of flight)
what does the parasympathetic branch do
conserves resources by decreasing or maintaining activity, or restores normal physiological functioning when the threat has passed
somatic vs autonomic
in booklet
what is the function of a sensory neuron
transmit information about the 5 senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) from your sense organs and pass this information to a relay neuron
they are unipolar neurons as they only transmit messages
-have a myelin sheath
how are sensory neurons recognised
nucleus in the middle of the axon
what is the function of the relay neuron
carry nerve impulses between neurons, connecting and carrying impulse from sensory to motor neurons, allowing them to communicate with one another.
-no mylein sheath
where are relay neurons found
brain, visual system and spinal cord
how to recognise relay neurons
number of dendrites/ terminal buttons
what is the function of the motor neuron
receive messages from the the CNS about what to do and generate movement
-have a myelin sheath
where do motor neurons carry nerve impulses
Motor neurons carry nerve impulses from the brain/spinal cord to muscles/glands
how are motor neurons recongised
long axons
draw the general structure of a dendrite and describe the different components
in booklet
draw the process of synaptic transmission and describe
- electrical impulse reaches pre-synaptic neuron towards terminal button
2.this triggers the release of neurotransmitters from vesicles into synaptic gap - neurotransmitters bind to complementary receptors on post-synaptic neuron
- if neurotransmitters are excitatory this means post-synaptic neuron fires action potentials. If they are inhibitory this PSN wont fire action potentials
when are inhibitory/excitatory neurotransmitters fired
the excitatory/inhibitory influences are summed. If net effects are excitatory/inhibitory they release/inhibit action potentials
what direction does information travel at the synapse and why
one direction
-vesicles containing neurotransmitters are only present on pre-synaptic neuron
-receptors are only present on post-synaptic neuron
-diffusion of neurotransmitters occurs from high to low conc
drugs
what is the main function of the endocrine system
regulates cell/organ activity and control vital physiological processes in the body
how does the endocrine system control cell and organ activity
through glands that secrete chemical known as hormones directly into the bloodstream via blood vessels
where do these hormones then bind
these hormones then bind with specific receptors to regulate the activity of cells or organs in the body
what is the master gland
pituitary gland-many of the hormones produced by the pituitary gland control secretion of other endocrine glands rather than having a direct effect on cells
which endocrine gland is adrenaline and noradrenaline found and where is it found
adrenal medulla
found in kidneys
what are the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline
-stimulates fight and flight response
-increases heart rate/blood flow to the brain/muscles
-release of stored glucose/fats for use in fight or flight
what are effects of persistant surges of adrenaline
-high blood pressure
-anxiety
-severe headaches
which endocrine gland is melatonin found in and where
pineal gland
in the brain
what are the typical effects of the pineal gland
regulates the sleep-wake cycle
what dysfunction is there when theres too little/ too much melatonin being produced
little-anxiety/insomnia
much-drowsiness/ reduced core body temperature
which gland is thyroxine secreted for and where is it found
thyroid gland
below the adams apple
what are the effects of thyroxine
increase heart rate and metabolic rate
what are the effects of and overactive/ underactive thyroid gland
overactive-nervousness, anxiety
underactive-tiredness, weight gain, depression
how does the body respond to a fight or flight situation
hypothalamus receives stress signals from the nervous system so sends electrical signals to the sympathetic nervous system to activate the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline into the bloodstream which binds to receptors on target cells to carry our a response
The typical effects of adrenaline include (physiological changes)
-increased heart rate
-increased breathing rate
-pupil dilation
-sweat
-reduction of non-essential functions eg-digestion
what do these physiological changes allow the body to do
fight or flight (run) from threat
what occurs after the threat has passed
parasympathetic nervous system restores normal functioning
-reduces heart rate/ breathing rate
how has the fight/ flight response became maladaptive
many of the stressors we face cannot be solved through activation of fight/flight
eg-exams, realtionships, berevement
what can the activation of the fight or flight result in
impaired cognitive development, high blood pressure, lowered immune system
what can long-term raised levels of stress hormone result in
ilness
what are the physical effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline
as they increase heart rate and blood pressure they can physically damage blood vessels which could cause haemorrages
-long term raised levels of cortisol supresses the bodies immune system which leaves us vulnerable to infections and disease
what did grey suggest our initial instinct is
to freeze and avoid confrontation all together. we become hyper vigilant and decide the best course of action to take
what did Taylor suggest
that fight and flight response is male dominated. Women are more lilkely to protect there offspring and form allieiences with other women rather than to flee
what does Taylors study highlight
highlights a beta bias within this area of psychology
why can you not establush cause and effect realationhships
the research suggesting biological structures influence behaviour is correlational and you cannot establish cause and effect
is this idea reductionist or hollistic
reductionist-assumes biological structures eg-the brain underpin behaviour
is this research scientific
yes its scientific as measures are objective increasing reliability of results
is the fight or flight response useful survival mechanism for modern day
has become overactive in non-life threatening stressors which could be detrimental to our health
