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Year 12 Psych revision > nervous system and functioning > Flashcards

nervous system and functioning Flashcards

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1
Q

Central nervous system

A

transmits and receives messages to and from the peripheral nervous system

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2
Q

CNS: Brain

A

responsible for everything we think, feel and do

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3
Q

CNS: spinal cord

A

connects brain and peripheral nervous system

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4
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

carries messages to and from central nervous system

muscles, organs, glands

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5
Q

PNS: somatic nervous system

A

carries messages from sensory receptors in the body to the central nervous system
and motor messages from the CNS to skeletal muscles

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6
Q

PNS: autonomic nervous system

A

connects central nervous system to internal organs and glands; self regulating

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7
Q

ANS: sympathetic nervous system

A

prepares body for action

pupils dilate, increase heart rate, relaxes bladder

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8
Q

ANS: parasympathetic nervous system

A

relaxes the body after action

pupils constrict, heart rate slows, bladder constricts

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9
Q

conscious responses

A

communication involves conscious awareness
talking, waving
somatic nervous system functions

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10
Q

unconscious responses

A

some communication involves unconscious awareness
breathing, stomach contractions
autonomic nervous system functions

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11
Q

spinal reflex

A

unconscious reactions in the form of autonomic and finely coordinated movements in response to external stimuli
initiated by inter, sensory and motor neurons (in spinal cord)
pain can’t be felt till message reaches the brain

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12
Q

communication within a neuron

A

neuron has resting potential when not activated
negatively charge ions=inside neuron
positively charged ions= outside neuron
action potential is initiated by the soma and travels along axon towards the axon terminals
negative and positive ions swap
all or nothing process
electrical energy

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13
Q

neural communication

A

synaptic knob/terminal button of pre synaptic neuron releases neurotransmitters across synaptic gap/synapse
received by dendrite of post synaptic neuron

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14
Q

the role of neurotransmitters

A

chemical substance made up of small molecules
when the neurotransmitter is released it finds receptor on the post synaptic neuron
each neurotransmitter binds with its specific type of receptor
lock and key process to unlock action potential

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15
Q

lock and key process

A

only the neurotransmitters(key) that are the right chemical shape to fit in to the receptors(lock) on the post synaptic neuron’s dendrites, will be admitted into the neuron

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16
Q

excitatory effect

A

makes the pos synaptic neuron more likely to fire (trigger action potential
glutamate- esssential for memory formation and learning

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17
Q

inhibitory effect

A

makes the post synaptic neuron less likely to fire

GABA- essential for motor control, reduces anxiety

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18
Q

parkinson’s disease: motor symptoms

A

Abnormal Posture/ postural instability
Resting tremor
Reduced coordination & balance

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19
Q

Eustress

A

positive psychological response to the stressor when the stress is beneficial or desirable
enthusiastic, motivated, excited
(short term)

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20
Q

distress

A

negative psychological response to the stressor when the stress is undesirable
anger, anxiety, nervousness
(short/long term)

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21
Q

daily pressures

A

stresses that consist of minor events that occur throughout each day

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22
Q

life events

A

major significant but relatively rare events that require a change in behaviour within a short time

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23
Q

acculturative stress

A

a person changing their behaviour to adopt the cultural traits of the dominant culture they have moved to`

24
Q

catastrophe stress

A

sudden/unpredictable event that is out of control of the individual and causes suffering

25
Q

Fight-Flight-Freeze response

A

involuntary reaction resulting in a state of physiological readiness to deal with an acute stressor or immediate threat.

fight- confronting it
flight- escaping to safety
freeze- staying still/avoiding detection

26
Q

the role of cortisol

A

stress hormone that energises body by increasing energy supplies
produced by adrenaline glands
secrete glucose into bloodstream from muscles to use energy source
anti-inflammatory effect, blocking white blood cells
suppresses activity of immune system to divert energy to body’s stress combating efforts
may increase vulnerability to viral/bacterial infection

27
Q

G.A.S: stage 1

A

alarm reaction: shock

first becomes aware of the stressor and the body goes into a temporary state of distress or fright

28
Q

G.A.S: stage 1 (pt 2)

A

alarm reaction: counter-shock

sympathetic nervous system activates the muscles, organs, glands to increase the body’s resistance to the stressor

29
Q

G.A.S: stage 2

A

resistance
body’s ability to withstand stressor rises above normal
cortisol+adrenaline
if successful parasympathetic NS will return the body to homeostasis

30
Q

G.A.S: stage 3

A

exhaustion
if resistance phase lasts long enough the body will undergo physical signs of wear and tear
high levels of cortisol still in body=vulnerability

31
Q

G.A.S

A

genereal adaptation syndrome

Seleye

32
Q

lazarus and folkman

A

transactional model of stress and coping

33
Q

transactional model of stress and coping: primary appraisal

A 
evaluation of the significance of the vent/stressor
harm/loss
threat
challenge
irrelevant
benign
34
Q

transactional model of stress and coping: secondary appraisal

A

facing a stressor, it is an assessment of people’s coping options and resources
at this stage person can reappraise

35
Q

transactional model of stress and coping: reappraise

A

follows an earlier reappraisal to same stressor and modifies it

36
Q

context specific effectiveness

A

where there is a match or a good fit between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation
physical environment
the stressor
individual involved

37
Q

coping flexibility

A

a persons ability to effectively modify coping behaviour according to the nature of each stressor

38
Q

ability to cope

A

context specific effectiveness + coping flexibility

39
Q

approach strategy

A

behaviours that attempt to decrease the stress by reducing the problem
healthy response to stress
(commence homework, apply for jobs)

40
Q

avoidance strategy

A

avoiding dealing with stress by protect oneself from psychological distress
maladaptive, unhealthy for the individual and unhelpful for relieving the source of the stress
ignore the facts, denial

41
Q

exercise strategy

A

activities to promote or maintain your bodily health
being physically active releases endorphins- chemical that promote feeling of wellbeing
provide an avenue for people to expel built up stress or tension

42
Q

parkinson’s disease: non motor symptoms

A

Sleep disturbances/ Fatigue
Dementia
Anxiety/ depression

43
Q

problem focused coping

A

works out ways to manage or change the problem or

stressful situation

44
Q

emotion focused coping

A

Involves trying to reduce the
negative emotional feelings
associated with the stressor

45
Q

sources of stress

A 
major
catastrophe
acculturative
life events 
daily pressures
46
Q

dendrites

A

receive information from other neurons

conduct nerve impulses toward the soma

47
Q

axon

A

nerve fibre that carries information away from the soma

toward other cells that communicate with the neuron.

48
Q

myelin sheath

A

layer of fatty tissue surrounding the axon of a neuron that acts as an insulator + allows faster transmission of the electrical signal.

49
Q

axon terminals

A

initiates the communication between two neuron’s across a synapse (gap)

50
Q

GAS strengths

A

measures a predictable pattern that can be measured in individuals

51
Q

GAS limitation

A

research conducted on rats, doesn’t account for individual differences

52
Q

Transactional strengths

A

Emphasises the importance of cognitive appraisal in determining the stress response

53
Q

Transactional limitations

A

difficult to test through experimental research because of the subjective nature
complexity of individual responses to stressful experiences.

54
Q

sensory neurons

A

carry sensory information to CNS

55
Q

Motor neurons

A

Carry motor commands from cns to muscles, organs, glands

Year 12 Psych revision (7 decks)

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