Biopsychology: The nervous system and the endocine system Flashcards
What is the nervous system?
A specialised network of cells in the body and is our primary internal communication system.
What are the two main functions of the nervous system?
To collect, process and respond to information in the environment
To co-coordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
What are the two sub-systems the nervous system is divided into?
Central nervous system
Peripheral nervous system
What is the CNS?
It consists of the brain and the spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and decisions
What is the PNS?
It sends information to the CNS from the outside world, and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body.
What is the PNS divided into?
Autonomic Nervous System and the Somatic Nervous System
What is the Autonomic Nervous System?
It transmits information to and from internal bodily organs. It operate involuntarily.
It has two main divisions: sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
What is the Somatic nervous system?
It transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the central nervous system. It also receives information from the CNS that directs muscles to act.
What is the endocrine system?
One of body’s major information systems that instructs glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream . These hormones are carried towards target organs in the body.
What two systems work together to create a fight or flight response?
The endocrine and the ANS
What is the fight or flight response?
The way an animal responds when stressed. The body becomes physiologically aroused in readiness to fight an aggressor or flee.
How does fight or flight response occur?
- Stressor perceived
- Hypothalamus triggers activity in the sympathetic branch of ANS
- ANS changes from parasympathetic state to sympathetic state
- Adrenaline released from adrenal medulla into bloodstream
- Adrenaline triggers physiological changes in body (e.g. increased heart rate)
- This creates the physiological arousal necessary for the F or F response
What happens when the threat has passed?
The parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to it’s resting state.
