Biopsychology - The nervous system Flashcards
What is the human nervous system?
A complex network of nerve cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to different parts of the body. Helps all body parts communicate with each other.
What is the function of the brain?
The brain oversees the workings of the body, while its more advanced functions provide us with consciousness and makes us who we are.
What is the nervous system divided into?
Central nervous system
Peripheral nervous system
What is the central nervous system divided into?
Spinal cord
Brain
What is the Peripheral nervous system divided into?
Somatic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
What is the autonomic nervous system divided into?
Sympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
What is the two main function of the CNS?
Controls behaviour
Controls the regulation of the body’s physiological processes
Where does the CNS receive info from in order to control behaviour?
From the sensory receptors eyes, ears, skin
What is the main function of the spinal cord?
To relay information between the brain and the rest of the body . Allows the brain to regulate bodily functions such as digestion, breathing and movement.
What is the spinal cord connected to?
Connected to different parts of the body by pairs of spinal nerves. These connect with specific muscles and glands.
What does the spinal cord contain which allows us to perform simple reflexes without involvement from the brain?
The spinal cord contains circuits of nerve cells. Simple reflexes could be pulling your hand away from something hot.
What happens if the spinal cord is damaged?
Areas supplied by spinal nerves below the damaged site will be cut off from the brain and will stop functioning.
What areas are the brain divided into?
The cerebrum
Cerebellum
Diencephalon
Brain stem
What is the largest part of the brain?
The cerebrum
What is the frontal lobe involved in?
Thought and production of speech
What is the occipital lobe involved in?
Processing of visual images
What is the cerebrum split into?
Straight down the middle into two halves called cerebral hemispheres. Each hemisphere has specialised functions and the two communicated through the corpus callosum