Biopsychology - The divisions of the nervous system

Question 1

What are the different parts of the nervous system?

Answer 1

• The nervous system
• Central nervous system, including the brain and the spinal cord
• The peripheral nervous system
• The motor nervous system
• The sensory nervous system
• The autonomic nervous system
• The somatic nervous system
• The sympathetic nervous system
• The parasympathetic nervous system

Question 2

What happens in the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 2

-Sensory neurones take information to the CNS and motor neurones take information away from the CNS

Question 3

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 3

-The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary actions

Question 4

What is the role of the somatic nervous system?

Answer 4

-The somatic nervous system controls voluntary actions, including the movement of skeletal muscles

Question 5

What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 5

• Increases bodily activities
• Releases Noradrenaline
• Activates in stress response
• Heart rate increases
• Sweat increases
• Breathing rate increases
• Dilates pupils
• Inhibits digestion
• Etc…

Question 6

What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 6

• Decreases bodily activities
• Releases Acetylcholine
• Activates in rest response (Rest and digest)
• Heart rate decreases
• Sweat decreases
• Breathing rate decreases
• Constricts pupils
• Stimulates digestion
• Etc…

Question 7

What is the effect of adrenaline and noradrenaline?

Answer 7

• Increased blood flow to the brain for quicker thinking and reactions
• Decreased blood flow to the digestive and the immune systems
• Dilated pupils for improved vision
• Faster breathing rate for increased concentration of O2 in the blood
• Increased sweating to remove heat

Question 8

What is the process of the fight or flight response?

Answer 8

• The stress/threat is recognised
• Hypothalamus activates the sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system
• The sympathetic adreno-medullary pathway (SAM) is triggered, causing adrenaline and noradrenaline to be released from the adrenal medulla
• The endocrine system is also activated by the pituitary glands
• The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to release ACTH, this results in the secretion of the stress hormone (cortisol) from the adrenal cortex