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Psych Unit 3 and 4 > Chapter 2 and 3 (nervous system and stress) > Flashcards

Chapter 2 and 3 (nervous system and stress) Flashcards

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1
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

Structure- Comprised of the brain and spinal cord.
Function- receives sensory information from the peripheral nervous system and sends motor information to the peripheral nervous system.

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2
Q

Neurons

A

A cell within the nervous system that transmits messages to and from the brain.

100 billion neurons in the brain
Grow 250000 of them a minute
Neural transmission can occur at 400km/h
The longest one can be one metre in length.

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3
Q

The brain

A

Regulates and guides all other parts of the nervous system
- Vital body functions like breathing, heart rate, and digestion
- Receiving info from the outside world via senses, coordinating an appropriate response.
- Higher-order functions like planning, thinking and learning
- Emotions, personalities, sense of humour

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4
Q

Spinal cord

A

Cable-like column of nerve fibres that extends from the base of the brain to the lower back and is encased by a series of bones called vertebrae
- Two-way highway
○ SAME
○ Sensory
○ Afferent (towards brain)
○ Motor
○ Efferent (away from brain)

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5
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

Structure- everything outside of the central nervous system including MOG (muscles, organs, glands)
Function- sends sensory info to the central nervous system. Receives motor information from the central nervous system.

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6
Q

Somatic nervous system (soma means body)

A

Network of neurons in the body that transmit information from receptor sites to the central nervous system, and then carry information to muscles to initiate voluntary movement.

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7
Q

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

A network of neurons that carry information between the central nervous system, and the organs and glands, to ensure they are regulated without conscious awareness. (respiration…)

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8
Q

Parasympathetic (parachute) Nervous System (PNS)

A
  • Maintains homeostasis (regulates body function)
  • Returns body to a state of calm following stress
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9
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)

A
  • Prepares body for action to deal with potential threat
  • Activates fight-flight-freeze
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10
Q

Neural Process

A
  1. sensory (afferent neurons at receptor site feel the sensation
  2. pass it along afferent pathways through the peripheral nervous system and then central via the spinal cord, toward the brain.
  3. interneurons in the brain communicate with motor neurons
  4. motor neurons send a signal via efferent pathways to an effector site- the muscle
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10
Q

Fight-flight-freeze response

A

Initiated by the sympathetic nervous system and prepares the body to confront a stressful situation to optimise the chance of survival.
- Fight- stay/attack
- Flight- run
- Freeze- go unnoticed

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10
Q

Motor neurons

A
  • Transmit motor information from your body to your brain
  • They do this via efferent pathways (efferent means away)
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10
Q

Sensory neurons

A
  • Transmit sensory information from your body to your brain
  • They do this via afferent pathways (afferent means towards)
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10
Q

Interneurons

A
  • Transmit information between sensory and motor neurons
  • They are the most numerous neurons in the brain
  • They are not found in the PNS
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11
Q

Spinal reflex

A

The body’s ability to respond and react to pain. An automatic response that is initiated by neurons in the spinal cord, independent of the brain.
- When? Pain aid survival
- How? intercepted by interneurons
- Why? Faster reaction.

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11
Q

Dendrite

A

Receives incoming neural messages

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12
Q

Soma

A

The body of the neuron, contains the nucleus with the genetic material for the neuron.

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13
Q

Axon

A

The pathway down which the neural message travels

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14
Q

Myelin sheath

A

Fatty tissue that encases the axon to aid in the speed of transmission, protects from interference

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15
Q

Axon terminals

A

Exit pathways for neural messages to make their way to the next neuron

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16
Q

Terminal buttons

A

Releases a chemical substance known as a neurotransmitter to a receiving neuron for communication purposes; also referred to as synaptic knobs.

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17
Q

Neurotransmission

A

The process of communication between neurons using electrochemical energy.
1. Neural impulse runs from dendrite to axon terminals
2. Synaptic knobs release a chemical substance
3. This neurotransmitter crosses the synapse (space from one neuron to the next)
4. The neurotransmitter is picked up by the next neuron’s dendrites.

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18
Q

synaptic gap

A

the space between the presynaptic neuron and the postsynaptic neuron

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19
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

The chemical substance released by the terminal button of a neuro, is necessary for neural communication.
- Each neurotransmitter binds with a specific type of receptor

20
Q

Excitatory neurotransmitter

A

Increasing the likelihood that the neuron will fire an action potential
- Glutamate- memory and learning, allows our brain to change neurons as we learn

21
Q

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

A

Decreasing the likelihood that the neuron will fire an action potential
- GABA- calming feelings of anxiety, fear and stress

22
Q

Neuromodulator

A

A chemical messenger that enhances signal transmission
- Effective on groups of neurones
- Dopamine- motivation and motor movement
- Serotonins- mood stabiliser, wellbeing and happiness

23
Q

Neuro Plasticity

A

The ability of the brain to physically change in response to experience.
- Developmental- occurs naturally across the lifespan.
○ Certain critical periods
- Adaptive- occurs as a result of brain damage or trauma
○ Uses critical periods to enable adaptive plasticity

24
Q

Synaptic plasticity

A

The ability of synaptic connections to change over time in response to activity or experience.

25
Q

Long term depression

A

The long-lasting and experience-dependent weakening of synaptic connections between neurons that are not regularly activated
The reduction in the efficiency of those neural connections.

26
Q

Long term potentiation (LTP)

A

The increase in synaptic strength through high-frequency stimulation of the neural pathway.
The long-lasted and experience-dependent strengthening of synaptic connections that are regularly activated.
- Hebb’s rule
- Muscle memory
- More dendrites and more knobs which means more neurotransmitters.
- Physical changes in the neurons

26
Q

Sprouting

A

The ability of dendrites or axons to change over time in response to activity or experience (creating new connections)

27
Q

Neural processes

A

Proliferation- creating neurons (when born)
Migration- they need to move to the areas in which they are needed the most
Circuit formation- find a buddy and create a synapse
Circuit pruning- if they aren’t going strong
Myelination-if they are going strong

28
Q

Rerouting

A

The ability of a neuron that is connected to a damaged neuron to create an alternate synaptic connection. (establishing pathways and finding alternate ones)

29
Q

Pruning

A

The elimination of synaptic connections that are not adequately activated. (removing old connections that aren’t being used.

30
Q

Hebb’s rule

A

Neurons that fire together, wire together

31
Q

stress

A

A state of psychological and physiological state of tension in response to a stimulus

32
Q

Eustress

A

A form of stress characterised by a positive psychological state

33
Q

Distress

A

A form of stress characterised by a negative psychological state

33
Q

Acute stress

A

A form of stress characterised by intense psychological and physiological symptoms that are brief

34
Q

Chronic stress

A

A form of stress that endures for several months or longer

35
Q

Stressor

A

The stimulus that prompts stress
- Internal
○ Stimulus from within
○ Hungry
○ Illness
○ Low self-esteem
- External
○ Environmental stimulus
○ Upcoming exam
○ Relationship conflicts
○ Being overworked

36
Q

Cortisol

A

A hormone released in times of stress to aid the body in initiating and maintaining heightened arousal
- Increase glucose to help bodily functions repair damage
- Gives high energy
- More prominent during chronic stress
- Body’s defence mechanism

37
Q

Psychosomatic illness

A

Psychological factors can result in physiological symptoms

38
Q

Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome

A

Explains stress from a BIOLOGICAL perspective.

SCARE
Shock
Counter shock (adrenaline)
Alarm reaction
Resistance (cortisol)
Exhaustion

levels of resistance to stress across a period of time.

39
Q

Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping

A

Explains stress as a subjective transaction between incoming stressors, and the personal and environmental factors specific to an individual.
Explains as a PSYCHOLOGICAL process

40
Q

Primary Appraisal

A

Individual’s assessment of a situation.
Split into 3 kinds of stress
- Harm/loss
- Threat
- Challenge

41
Q

Harm/loss

A

Has happened

42
Q

Threat

A

Could happen

43
Q

Challenge

A

Provides a good opportunity for growth

44
Q

Secondary appraisal

A

Individual’s assessment of resources to deal/cope with demands
- Internal (character)
- External (support network)

45
Q

coping

A

the process of dealing wth stressors

46
Q

strategies for coping

A

Exercise- uses adrenaline that is released when stressed, stops cortisol from being needed
Meditation/relaxation- reduce physiological responses, slow cortisol release
Social support- less likely the demands will outweigh the stress

Alcohol/drugs- dopamine hit

47
Q

Approach strategy

A

Behaviours that attempt to decrease stress by addressing or finding solutions to the problem
- For example, lose a job? Apply for one
- Typically a healthy response

48
Q

Avoidance strategy

A

Failing to engage or deal with the stress by protecting yourself from the distress
- Ignoring/denying the situation
- Typically maladaptive/unhealthy for the individual

49
Q

Self-efficiency

A

The belief in our own ability and that our actions can influence outcomes

50
Q

Resilience

A

Our ability to bounce back following adversity

51
Q

Context-specific effectiveness

A

When the coping strategy used is appropriate for the unique demands of the stressor
Being a good fit for certain situations

52
Q

coping flexibility

A

The ability for someone to look at what is ineffective and replace it with something more effective.
e.g.- this isn’t working, I need to change

Psych Unit 3 and 4 (4 decks)

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