Biopsychology descriptions Flashcards
Nervous system
-divides into CNS (brain/spinal cord) and peripheral NS
-PNS divides into somatic and autonomic NS
-ANS divides into sympathetic and parasympathetic branch
Somatic NS
-nerves we actively control
-SNS receives information from sensory receptors + sends info to CNS which controls muscle movement
ANS
-works automatically, don’t have to think for nerves to work eg. heart beat
-has 2 sub divisions sympathetic and parasympathetic branch
Differences between ANS and SNS
-ANS only motor, SNS sensory + motor
-ANS controls internal organs/glands , SNS controls muscle
-ANS control centre in brain stem, SNS in motor cortex
Sensory neurones
-carry messages from sensory receptors to CNS
-long dendrites and short axons
-cell body in the middle of the axon
Relay neurons
-connect sensory neurones to motor or other relay neurones
-found in CNS
-short dendrites and axons
Motor neurones
-connect CNS to muscles or glands
-release neurotransmitters that bind to receptors on the muscle causing movement
-short dendrites, long axons
Neurotransmitters
-chemicals that diffuse across the synapse to the next neurone
-bind to post synaptic receptor sites
-re-uptake then occurs where neurotransmitter returns to pre-synaptic neuron
Excitation
Inhibition
-post synaptic neurone becomes positively charged + more likely to fire eg. adrenaline
-Post synaptic neurone becomes negatively charged + less likely to fire eg. GABA
-these influences are summed, so if the net is excitatory, neurone is more likely to fire
2 Glands and what hormone is released
-Pineal gland releases melatonin which regulates sleep-wake cycle
-Adrenal medulla releases adrenaline for flight or fight response
Fight or flight
-generated from ANS specifically sympathetic branch
-perceived stressful event
-hypothalamus sends message to pituitary gland
-this releases ACTH
-this causes adrenal medulla to release adrenaline
-this triggers physiological changes leading to flight or fight response
-parasympathetic branch returns the body to resting state
Localisation of function
Specific functions have specific locations within the brain
Location of 6 areas
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Starting at top of brain + working clockwise
Motor cortex
Somatosensory cortex
Visual cortex
Wernicke’s area
Auditory cortex
Broca’s area
Motor cortex
description, lobe, hemisphere
-responsible for voluntary muscle movements
-frontal lobe
-both hemispheres
Somatosensory cortex
description, lobe, hemisphere
-processes sensory input from skin, muscle and joints related to touch
-parietal lobe
-both hemispheres