Biopsychology L1 - 4 Flashcards
What are the 2 main functions of the nervous system?
- Collect, process + respond to info in environment
- Coordinate working of different organs and cells in the body
What 2 sub-systems does the nervous system consist of?
- Central Nervous System
- Peripheral Nervous System
What 2 parts is the central nervous system made up of?
- Brain
- Spinal cord
What are the three parts of the brain and what are the main divisions of these?
Parts of brain:
- Hindbrain
- Midbrain
- Forebrain
4 divisions:
- Cerebrum
- Cerebellum
- Diancephalon
- Brain stem
3 Features of cerebrum:
- Largest part
- 4 lobes: frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital
- Divided into 2 cerebral hemispheres
Purpose of cerebellum:
Controls motor skills and balance
2 Features of diancephalon:
- 4 main structures: thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, subthalamus
- Regulates circadian rhythm
Purpose of brain stem:
Regulates automatic functions
What does spinal cord transmit info to and from?
To and from brain
What does PNS transmit info to and from and and what can it be sub-divided into?
- Transmits messages via neurons to and from CNS
Subdivided into: - Autonomic Nervous System
- Somatic Nervous System
3 Features of SNS:
- Transmits messages from receptor cells to CNS
- Also receives messages from CNS (spinal cord) for muscle movement
- Both sensory and motor neurons
4 Features of ANS:
- Automatic and unconscious
- 2 parts: sympathetic and parasympathetic
- Only consists of motor pathways
2 Features of sympathetic nervous system:
- Increases activity and is activated when a person is stressed
- Uses noradrenaline which stimulates
2 Features of parasympathetic nervous system:
- Returns body to resting state after flight and fight
- Uses acetylcholine which inhibits
Differences between brain and spinal cord:
Brain - Conscious awareness
Spinal cord - Simple reflex responses
Differences between somatic and autonomic nervous system:
- Autonomic has 2 subdivisions, whereas somatic only has 1
- Autonomic only has motor pathways whereas somatic has this and sensory ones
6 Parts of neuron:
- Cell body
- Dendrites
- Axon
- Myelin sheath (sensory + motor)
- Axon terminals
- Nodes of Ranvier
What does the cell body include?
Nucleus, which consist of genetic material
What are dendrites?
- Branch-like structures hanging out from cell body
- Receives signals from other neurons/sensory receptors
What is the axon?
- Long slender fibre
- Carries impulses w/ action potential away from cell body down to axon terminals
What is myelin sheath?
Covers axon, protects it and speeds up electrical transmission of impulse