Brain and Neuropsychology Flashcards
what is the central nervous system?
- the central nervous is made up of the brain spinal cord
- it coordinates sensory info from the sense organs and sends instructions to other parts of the human nervous system
- the brain has many functions including memory and decision making.
- the brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls basic functions like sleep
what is the peripheral nervous system?
- The PNS connects different parts of the body to CNS contains two branches somatic NS and autonomic NS
- collects info from and sends info to different parts of the body
what is the somatic nervous system?
- connects the CNS to our sense organs and internal organs. Contains sensory and motor neurons.
- this branch of the NS collects sensory info from the world and controls our deliberate movements
what is the autonomic nervous system?
- takes info from the CBNS and has 2 divisions - the parasympathetic NS and sympathetic NS
- uses info from the internal organs to help with important functions like digestion and breathing help us react quickly if threats appear
- control homeostasis which means it keeps the body in a balanced and controlled state.
what is the sympathetic nervous system?
Creates a feeling of arousal and controls fight or flight response
what is the parasympathetic nervous system?
controls the rest and digest response so we can store energy when not under threat.
what is the fight or flight response?
when confronted with a threat we have a choice to make, run away (flight) or attack (fight). Either of these options will require all the strength and energy you can manage, so that you can survive.
what is the first step in the fight of flight response?
under normal circumstances the parasympathetic division is in control allowing us to store energy
what is the second step in the fight of flight response?
however, this changes when a stressor is perceived and seen as a threat
what is the third step in the fight of flight response?
the hypothalamus activates the sympathetic branch or autonomic nervous system
what is the fourth step in the fight of flight response?
sympathetic nerves transmit the signals to parts of the peripheral NS which connect to the adrenal glands
what is the fifth step in the fight of flight response?
the adrenal glands release the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline into the blood stream
what is the sixth step in the fight of flight response?
Adrenaline release causes us to breathe more deeply, our heart rate quickens to increase energy levels and also constricts blood vessels in the skin to divert blood to the muscles
what is the seventh step in the fight of flight response?
once the threat has gone away the ANS switches back to having the parasympathetic NS in control
outline The James Langue theory of emotion:
James Langue believes that physical arousal comes before we experience emotion
he believes that when an event is experienced, activating the sympathetic division of the ANS which causes the release of adrenaline. This leads to a state of physical arousal such as a quicker heart rate. The brain then has to interpret the meaning of these physiological changes. the result of this interpretation is the feeling of an emotion, for example, the feeling of fear.
Eval n.o. 1 of the James Langue theory of emotion:
- refuting theory
- cannon-Bard theory argues we feel emotion at the same time as physiological arousal
- e.g. we feel embarrassed at the same time we blush
- reduces validity of theory
Eval n.o. 2 of the James Langue theory of emotion:
- reductionist
- ignores the role of social cues
- Schachter and Singer argue social cues are important because the same physiological response can be interpreted in very different ways depending on the situation and these cues help us decide how we should be feeling
- this shows the theory is incomplete as it does not take into account the social cues that can also influence our emotions
- this decreases the validity of the theory
what are neurons?
specialised nerve cell which sends and receives electrical impulses
what are sensory neurons?
neruons that info from the sense organs to the CNS. have a cell body in the missle two ‘stems’. one receives info from the sense organs, and the other passes it on. Each stem ends in small branches called dendrites, which connects to other cells
what are relay neurons?
pass meddages to other neurons within the CNS they have a cell body surrounded by dendrites and connect sensory neurons and motor nuerons
what are motor neurons?
they stimulate the muscles for movement, the send messages from the CNS to the muscles. they begin in the spinal cord and have a long axon that leads to the muscle. dendrites at the end of motor neuron are connected with the muscles.
what does synaptic transmission mean?
the process by which messages are passed from one neuron to another
what is a synapse?
small gap between the dendrites of one neuron and the receptor site of the next one.
