Biospychology- the nervous system Flashcards
Which two sections is the human nervous system split into?
The central nervous system
The peripheral nervous system
What is the central nervous system made up of?
The brain and spinal cord.
What are the two main roles of the central nervous system?
-Control of behaviour and psychological processes.
-Regulation of physiological processes.
-Coordinates incoming sensory information and sends instructions to other parts of the NS.
What is the role of the spinal cord?
Relays information between the brain and the body. Responsible for reflex actions.
What are the subdivisions of the somatic nervous system?
Somatic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
What is the peripheral nervous system?
-Network of nerve fibres
-Connects parts of the body with the CNS.
What is the role of the peripheral nervous system?
Relays nerve impulses back and forth between the body and central nervous system.
What is the role of the somatic nervous system?
Transmitting and receiving information from senses such as visual information from the eyes and auditory information from the ears. It also controls the movement and reaction of muscles including reflex reactions without the involvement of the central nervous system.
What is the role of the autonomic nervous system?
Transmit information to and from internal organs to sustain life. Involuntary actions such as the heart beating, the digestion of food by the intestines, body temp.
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
The sympathetic nervous system
The parasympathetic nervous system.
What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system?
Primarily involved in the responses that help us deal with emergency situations. Using the neurotransmitter noradrenaline to stimulate it. Lowering digestive activity but increasing heart rate, blood pressure.
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?
Uses acetylcholine which inhibit leading to the lowering of heart rate and blood pressure a the increase of digestive activity. To restore normal functioning.
What is the nervous system?
-The body’s main communication system which is very fast acting.
-It is a complex network of specialise nerve cells (neuron’s) which pass information around the body using electrical signals and chemicals (neurotransmitters).
What is the role of the brain in the central nervous system?
The centre of conscious awareness.
