psych unit 3 + 4

Question 1

central nervous system

Answer 1

A major division of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord, which receives neural messages from and transmits neural messages to the peripheral nervous system

Question 2

brain

Answer 2

a complex organ contained within the skull that coordinates mental processes and behaviour and regulates bodily activity

Question 3

spinal cord

Answer 3

a cable of nerve tissue that extends from the brain, connecting it to the peripheral nervous system

Question 4

peripheral nervous system

Answer 4

A major division of the nervous system comprising every neuron in the body outside the central nervous system

Question 5

somatic nervous system

Answer 5

a division of the peripheral nervous system that transmits neural messages related to voluntary motor movement.

Sensory neural pathways -> sensory neurons
Motor neural pathways -> motor neurons

Question 6

skeletal muscles

Answer 6

muscles connected to the skeleton that carry out voluntary motor movements

Question 7

autonomic nervous system

Answer 7

a division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates visceral muscles, organs and glands, and transmits neural messages to the CNS about their activity

Question 8

visceral muscles, organs and glands

Answer 8

muscles, organs and glands not connected to the skeleton that are predominantly self-regulating and do not require conscious control

Question 9

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 9

a division of the autonomic nervous system that activates visceral muscles, organs, and glands, preparing the body to respond to a threat or stressor

Question 10

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 10

a division of the autonomic nervous system that maintains the optimal and balanced functioning of visceral muscles, organs, and glands.

Question 11

neuron

Answer 11

a nerve cell that receives and transmits neural information

Question 12

Motor neuron (efferent)

Answer 12

neurons that transmit neural messages about motor movement from the CNS to the peripheral nervous system

Question 13

Sensory neuron (afferent)

Answer 13

neurons that transmit neural messages about bodily sensations from the peripheral nervous system to the CNS

Question 14

interneurons

Answer 14

neurons that transfer neural messages between sensory neurons and motor neurons

Question 15

conscious response

Answer 15

a deliberate and voluntary action that is initiated by the brain and performed intentionally by the body; Involve CNS and Somatic NS (internal and external environment)

Question 16

Sensory receptor

Answer 16

a nerve ending that detects internal sensations in the body and external sensations from the environment

Question 17

steps of sensory reception

Answer 17

1. Sensory stimulus contacts sensory receptors
   
   2. Sensory neural message is transmitted via afferent pathways to the brain
   3. Brain processes sensory info, coordinating and initiating a conscious motor response
   4. Motor neural message is transmitted via efferent pathways to skeletal muscles
      Skeletal muscles carry out the conscious motor response

Question 18

Unconscious response

Answer 18

automatic and involuntary action that is performed by the body independently of the brain

Question 19

Physiological responses of the autonomic nervous system

Answer 19

when the sympathetic nervous system is dominant, physiological responses occur to energise the body.

When the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant, physiological responses occur that maintain optimal and balanced functioning.

Question 20

spinal reflex

Answer 20

an unconscious response to sensory stimuli that is initiated by interneurons in the spinal cord independently of the brain
* Automatic and involuntary
* Requires less processing
Protect humans from harm - enabling them to quickly and immediately respond to danger

Question 21

spinal reflex steps

Answer 21

1. A dangerous or harmful sensory stimulus is detected by sensory receptors -> transmit the sensory message via sensory neurons in the somatic nervous system
   
   2. Interneuron in the spinal cord immediately relays the sensory neural signal from a sensory neuron to a motor neuron as a motor neural signal, initiating an automatic and unconscious motor response.
   3. The motor message is transmitted via motor neurons in the somatic nervous system to skeletal muscles, which carry out this unconscious motor response to the dangerous or harmful sensory stimulus
2. The sensory message continues to travel via afferent tracts in the brain. Then, the brain independently registers the sensation that triggered the spinal reflex.

Question 22

reflex arc

Answer 22

the path along which the neural signal is transmitted as part of the spinal reflex