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Psychology, Chapter 4: Approaches in psychology > Biopsychology: The nervous system and the endocrine system > Flashcards

Biopsychology: The nervous system and the endocrine system Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the nervous system?

A

The nervous system is a specialised network of cells in the human body and is our primary internal communication system.

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2
Q

How many functions does the nervous system fulfil?

A

The nervous system fulfils two main functions for the body.

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3
Q

Which two functions are fulfilled by the nervous system?

A

The nervous system fulfils the following functions:

To collect, process and respond to information in the environment.

To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body.

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4
Q

How many sub-systems is the nervous system divided into?

A

The nervous system is divided into two sub-systems.

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5
Q

Which two sub-systems is the nervous system divided into?

A

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

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6
Q

What is the central nervous system composed of?

A

The central nervous system is made up of the brain and the spinal cord.

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7
Q

The nervous system is composed of the brain of the spinal cord. What is the brain?

A

The brain is the centre of all conscious awareness.

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8
Q

What is the scientific term for the brain’s outer layer?

A

The brain’s outer layer is called the cerebral cortex.

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9
Q

How does the cerebral cortex help to distinguish between humans and animals?

A

In humans the cerebral cortex is highly developed. This therefore distinguishes our higher mental functions from those of animals.

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10
Q

How many hemispheres is the brain divided into?

A

The brain is divided into two hemispheres: the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere.

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11
Q

The nervous system is composed of the brain of the spinal cord. What is the spinal cord?

A

The spinal cord is an extension of the brain. It is responsible for reflex actions, such as pulling your hand away from a hot plate.

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12
Q

How does the spinal cord interact with the brain and the PNS?

A

The spinal cord passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS.

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13
Q

What is the peripheral nervous system responsible for?

A

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) transmits messages, via millions of neurones, to and from the central nervous system.

It transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body.

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14
Q

The peripheral nervous system is subdivided into two components. What are these two components?

A

The peripheral nervous system is further divided into the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the somatic nervous system (SNS).

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15
Q

What is the autonomic nervous system responsible for?

A

The autonomic nervous system transmits information to and from internal bodily organs. It is ‘autonomic’ as the system operates involuntarily.

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16
Q

What vital functions are governed by the autonomic nervous system?

A

The autonomic nervous system governs vital functions in the body such as:

  • Breathing
  • Heart rate
  • Digestion
  • Sexual arousal
  • Stress responses
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17
Q

The autonomic nervous system is further divided into two components. Name these two components.

A

The ANS is divided into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.

18
Q

What is the somatic nervous system responsible for?

A

The somatic nervous system transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS. It also receives information from the CNS that directs muscles to act.

19
Q

What vital functions are governed by the somatic nervous system?

A

The somatic nervous system controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors.

20
Q

Which system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body?

A

The endocrine system

21
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

The endocrine system is one of the 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.

22
Q

Does the endocrine system act quicker or slower than the nervous system?

A

The endocrine system acts much more slowly than the nervous system but has widespread effects.

23
Q

What is the endocrine system responsible for?

A

The endocrine system instructs glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream.

24
Q

The endocrine system instructs glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream. What are glands?

A

A gland is an organ in the body that synthesises substances such as hormones.

25
Q

Glands synthesise hormones. What are hormones?

A

Hormones are chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs. They are produced in very large quantities but disappear quickly.

26
Q

Why do hormones have such powerful effects on the body?

A

Most hormones affect cells in several organs or throughout the entire body, leading to many diverse and powerful responses.

27
Q

What is the pituitary gland responsible for?

A

The pituitary gland is often called the master gland because it controls the release of all other hormones. It is also responsible for the release of ACTH.

28
Q

Where is the pituitary gland located?

A

The pituitary gland is found in the base of the brain.

29
Q

What is the testes gland responsible for?

A

The testes gland is responsible for releasing the male hormone testosterone.

30
Q

What is the ovaries gland responsible for?

A

The ovaries gland is responsible for producing both oestrogen and progesterone, which are both female hormones.

31
Q

Where is the adrenal gland located?

A

The adrenal gland is located in the pancreas.

32
Q

What is the adrenal gland responsible for?

A

The adrenal gland is responsible for producing adrenaline and noradrenaline.

33
Q

Where is the thyroid gland located?

A

The thyroid gland is found in the parathyroid (in the throat).

34
Q

What is the thyroid gland responsible for

A

The thyroid gland is responsible for producing the hormone thyroxin which regulates your heart rate and metabolism. This in turn affects growth.

35
Q

Which two systems work in parallel with one another in response to a stressful event?

A

The endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system work in parallel with one another during a stressful event.

36
Q

How does the endocrine system work in parallel with the autonomic nervous system to generate a fight or flight response?

A

When a stressor is perceived the hypothalamus triggers activity in the sympathetic branch of the ANS.

The ANS changes from its normal resting state (parasympathetic state) to the psychologically aroused state (sympathetic state).

The stress hormone adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla into the bloodstream.

Adrenaline triggers physiological changes in the body which creates the physiological arousal necessary for the high or flight response.

Once the threat has passed, the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to its resting state.

All of this happens in an instant as soon as the threat is detected.

37
Q

How does the sympathetic branch of the ANS interact with the parasympathetic branch?

A

The parasympathetic branch of the ANS works in opposition to the sympathetic nervous system (its actions are antagonistic to the sympathetic system). The parasympathetic system acts as a ‘brake’ and reduces the activities of the body that were increased by the actions of the sympathetic branch. This is sometimes referred to as the rest and digest response.

38
Q

How can the ‘fight or flight’ response be defined?

A

The fight or flight response refers to the way an animal responds when stressed. The body becomes physiologically aroused in readiness to fight an aggressor or, in some cases, flee.

39
Q

What is adrenaline?

A

Adrenaline is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands which is part of the human body’s immediate stress response system. Adrenaline has a strong effect on the cells of the cardiovascular system (e.g. stimulating the heart rate, contracting blood vessels and dilating air passages).

40
Q

What biological changes are associated with the sympathetic response?

A
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased breathing rate
  • Dilated pupils
  • Inhibited digestion
  • Inhibited salvia production
  • Contracted rectum
41
Q

What biological changes are associated with the parasympathetic response?

A
  • Decreased heart rate
  • Decreased breathing rate
  • Constricted pupils
  • Stimulated digestion
  • Stimulated saliva production
  • Relaxed rectum

Psychology, Chapter 4: Approaches in psychology (9 decks)

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