Biopsychology: The Nervous System

Question 1

What Is The Nervous System?

Answer 1

• Consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
• Has two main functions:
  To collect, processes and respond to information in the environment.
  To coordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body.

Question 2

What Is The Central Nervous System?

Answer 2

• Consists of the brain and the spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and decisions.
• It passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS (Peripheral Nervous System).

Question 3

What Is The Brain?

Answer 3

• The centre of all conscious awareness.
• The cerebral cortex is highly developed in humans and is what distinguished out higher mental functions from those of animals.
• It is divided into two hemisphere.

Question 4

What Is The Spinal Cord?

Answer 4

• An extension of the brain.
• Responsible for reflex messages.
• It passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to PNS.

Question 5

What Is The Peripheral Nervous System?

Answer 5

• Sends information to the CNS (Central Nervous System) from the outside world and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body.
• It does this via millions of neurons (nerve cells) and is divided into ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) and Somatic NS (Somatic Nervous System).

Question 6

What Is The Somatic Nervous System?

Answer 6

• Transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS (Central Nervous System).
• Also receives information from the CNS that directs muscles to contract.
• Controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors.

Question 7

What Is The Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 7

• Transmits information to and from internal bodily organs.
• ‘Autonomic’ as the system operate involuntarily.
• Two main divisions the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
• Governs vital functions of the body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses.

Question 8

What Is The Para-Sympathetic Nervous System?

Answer 8

• A division of the ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) which controls the relaxed state (rest and digest), conserving resources and promoting digestion and metabolism.
• Parasympathetic works opposite to sympathetic branch of ANS. One or other is active at any time.

Question 9

What Is The Sympathetic Nervous System?

Answer 9

• A division of ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) which activates internal organs for vigorous activities and emergencies, such as the fight or flight response.
• Consists of nerves that control increase heart rate and breathing and decrease digestive activity.
• Sympathetic works opposite to parasympathetic branch of ANS. One or other is active at any time.

Question 10

The Central Nervous System: The Brain And The Spinal Cord.

Answer 10

• CNS: Made up of the brain and spinal cord. Origin of all complex commands and decisions.
• Brain: Centre of all conscious awareness. Cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain and distinguishes human mental function from animals. Divided into two hemisphere (left and right) each containing four lobes (frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal).
• Spinal Cord: Extension of the brain. Responsible for reflex messages. It passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to PNS.

Question 11

The Peripheral Nervous System: Autonomic NS And Somatic NS.

Answer 11

• PNS: Transmits messages via millions of neurons, to and from CNS. Subdivided into ANS and Somatic NS.
• ANS: Governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate etc (involuntarily effect). Splits into Sympathetic NS - activates internal organs and increases bodily activities, Parasympathetic NS - relaxes internal organs and decreases bodily activities.
• Somatic NS: Transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to CNS. Receives information from CNS that directs muscles to act (voluntary effect).