nervous system and functioning Flashcards
Central nervous system
transmits and receives messages to and from the peripheral nervous system
CNS: Brain
responsible for everything we think, feel and do
CNS: spinal cord
connects brain and peripheral nervous system
peripheral nervous system
carries messages to and from central nervous system
muscles, organs, glands
PNS: somatic nervous system
carries messages from sensory receptors in the body to the central nervous system
and motor messages from the CNS to skeletal muscles
PNS: autonomic nervous system
connects central nervous system to internal organs and glands; self regulating
ANS: sympathetic nervous system
prepares body for action
pupils dilate, increase heart rate, relaxes bladder
ANS: parasympathetic nervous system
relaxes the body after action
pupils constrict, heart rate slows, bladder constricts
conscious responses
communication involves conscious awareness
talking, waving
somatic nervous system functions
unconscious responses
some communication involves unconscious awareness
breathing, stomach contractions
autonomic nervous system functions
spinal reflex
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
communication within a neuron
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
neural communication
synaptic knob/terminal button of pre synaptic neuron releases neurotransmitters across synaptic gap/synapse
received by dendrite of post synaptic neuron
the role of neurotransmitters
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
lock and key process
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
excitatory effect
makes the pos synaptic neuron more likely to fire (trigger action potential
glutamate- esssential for memory formation and learning
inhibitory effect
makes the post synaptic neuron less likely to fire
GABA- essential for motor control, reduces anxiety
parkinson’s disease: motor symptoms
Abnormal Posture/ postural instability
Resting tremor
Reduced coordination & balance
Eustress
positive psychological response to the stressor when the stress is beneficial or desirable
enthusiastic, motivated, excited
(short term)
distress
negative psychological response to the stressor when the stress is undesirable
anger, anxiety, nervousness
(short/long term)
daily pressures
stresses that consist of minor events that occur throughout each day
life events
major significant but relatively rare events that require a change in behaviour within a short time
acculturative stress
a person changing their behaviour to adopt the cultural traits of the dominant culture they have moved to`
catastrophe stress
sudden/unpredictable event that is out of control of the individual and causes suffering
Fight-Flight-Freeze response
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
the role of cortisol
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
G.A.S: stage 1
alarm reaction: shock
first becomes aware of the stressor and the body goes into a temporary state of distress or fright
G.A.S: stage 1 (pt 2)
alarm reaction: counter-shock
sympathetic nervous system activates the muscles, organs, glands to increase the body’s resistance to the stressor
G.A.S: stage 2
resistance
body’s ability to withstand stressor rises above normal
cortisol+adrenaline
if successful parasympathetic NS will return the body to homeostasis
G.A.S: stage 3
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
G.A.S
genereal adaptation syndrome
Seleye
lazarus and folkman
transactional model of stress and coping
transactional model of stress and coping: primary appraisal
evaluation of the significance of the vent/stressor harm/loss threat challenge irrelevant benign
transactional model of stress and coping: secondary appraisal
facing a stressor, it is an assessment of people’s coping options and resources
at this stage person can reappraise
transactional model of stress and coping: reappraise
follows an earlier reappraisal to same stressor and modifies it
context specific effectiveness
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
coping flexibility
a persons ability to effectively modify coping behaviour according to the nature of each stressor
ability to cope
context specific effectiveness + coping flexibility
approach strategy
behaviours that attempt to decrease the stress by reducing the problem
healthy response to stress
(commence homework, apply for jobs)
avoidance strategy
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
exercise strategy
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
parkinson’s disease: non motor symptoms
Sleep disturbances/ Fatigue
Dementia
Anxiety/ depression
problem focused coping
works out ways to manage or change the problem or
stressful situation
emotion focused coping
Involves trying to reduce the
negative emotional feelings
associated with the stressor
sources of stress
major catastrophe acculturative life events daily pressures
dendrites
receive information from other neurons
conduct nerve impulses toward the soma
axon
nerve fibre that carries information away from the soma
toward other cells that communicate with the neuron.
myelin sheath
layer of fatty tissue surrounding the axon of a neuron that acts as an insulator + allows faster transmission of the electrical signal.
axon terminals
initiates the communication between two neuron’s across a synapse (gap)
GAS strengths
measures a predictable pattern that can be measured in individuals
GAS limitation
research conducted on rats, doesn’t account for individual differences
Transactional strengths
Emphasises the importance of cognitive appraisal in determining the stress response
Transactional limitations
difficult to test through experimental research because of the subjective nature
complexity of individual responses to stressful experiences.
sensory neurons
carry sensory information to CNS
Motor neurons
Carry motor commands from cns to muscles, organs, glands
