Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology A-Level > Psychology: Biopsychology > Flashcards

Psychology: Biopsychology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of the Peripheral Nervous System?

A

Transmits messages through neurons to and from the CNS. Sends information from outside world to CNS, then from CNS to effector muscles / \glands in body.

PNS is subdivided into:
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Somatic Nervous System

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What’s is the purpose of the Nervous System?

A

A specialised network of cells that is our primary mode of communication. It is made up of the Central and Peripheral nervous system.
- Communicates via electrical impulses: quick acting + short lasting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the two main functions of the Nervous System?

A
  • To collect, process + respond to stimulus from the environment
  • To co-ordinate the working of different organs + systems in the body
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the function of Somatic Nervous System?

A

Controls conscious / voluntary muscle movement. Responsible for receiving info from senses and sending to CNS + transmitting info from CNS to effector organs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the function of Autonomic Nervous System?

A

Controls vital functions in the body e.g. breathing, heart rate, digestion, stress response, sexual arousal that are involuntary. Divided into Sympathetic + Parasympathetic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the function of Sympathetic Nervous System?

A

Prepares the body for flight or flight in the face of stress. Increases HR, breathing rate,stops digestion, dilates pupils etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the function of Parasympathetic Nervous System?

A

Rest and digest state, controls breathing, heart rate, promotes digestion etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the function of the Central Nervous System?

A

Origin of all complex commands + function. Made up of the brain + spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the function of the Spinal Cord?

A

Extension of the brain, responsible for reflex actions. Passes messages to and from the brain + connects nerves to PNS.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the function of the Brain?

A

Centre of all conscious awareness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the two divisions of the Peripheral NS?

A
  • Autonomic NS
  • Somatic NS
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the two divisions of the Autonomic NS?

A
  • Parasympathetic NS
  • Sympathetic NS
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the two divisions of the Central NS?

A
  • Brain
  • Spinal Cord
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the side effects of the Sympathetic NS?

A
  • Increased blood flow
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased breathing rate
  • Dilated pupils
  • Digestion stops (saliva production decreases)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the side effects of the Parasympathetic NS?

A
  • Decreased Breathing
  • Decreased Heart Rate
  • Decreased Blood pressure
  • Constricted pupils
  • Digestion starts
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the function of Fight or Flight?

A

The endocrine system and NS (ANS) work together e.g. to respond to a stressful event.
Fight or Flight: How an animal responds when stressed through the physiological arousal of the body to prepare to fight or flee an aggressor.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the function and hormone that the Pituitary Gland releases?

A

Known as the ‘master gland’ as controls the release of hormones from all other endocrine glands

18
Q

What is the function and hormone that the Adrenal Gland releases?

A

Releases adrenaline + noradrenaline responsible for the activation of the fight and flight system

19
Q

What is the function and hormone that the Pineal Gland releases?

A

Releases melatonin which helps you to sleep

20
Q

What is the function and hormone that the Ovaries releases?

A

Releases Oestrogen which regulates the menstrual cycle

21
Q

The Fight or Flight system

A

Threat - Amygdala –> Hypothalamus –> Activates sympathetic NS –> Message to Adrenal Glands –> Release of adrenaline and noradrenaline –> Body response (fight,flight,freeze) –> Once threat decreases activates Parasympathetic NS which reverses all change.

22
Q

What is the Endocrine System?

A

Controls vital functions in the body alongside the NS through instructing glands to release hormones into the bloodstream –> carried to effector organs.

23
Q

What is the difference between Endocrine System vs NS?

A
  • Chemical messengers vs nerve impulses
  • Slow acting but more widespread + powerful effects that are longer lasting
24
Q

What is a Gland?

A

Organs that produces hormones

25
Q

What are Hormones?

A

Chemical messengers that circulate in the bloodstream to affect target organs. Each hormone has highly specialised function.

26
Q

What is the role of sensory neurons?

A

Registers the input from the senses (PNS) + transports to CNS

27
Q

What is the role of Relay neurons?

A

Decides what to do and passes the message on within the brain. Connects sensory to motor neuron or another relay neuron.

28
Q

What is the role of Motor neurons?

A

Then tells the muscles to move by connecting CNS to effectors

29
Q

What is a neuron?

A

The cells that make up the NS. They are the nervous system’s primary method of communication and process + transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals

30
Q

What does a Relay neuron look like and what does it do?

A
  • Short dendrites and axons
  • Relay info between sensory and motor neurons
31
Q

What does a Sensory neuron look like and what does it do?

A
  • Cell body part way along axon
  • Go from senses towards brain and spinal cord
32
Q

What does a Motor neuron look like and what does it do?

A
  • Have the longest axons
  • Go from CNS to muscles and glands
33
Q

What are Synaptic Transmissions?

A

How neighbouring cells communicate across the synaptic gap that separates them through chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in order to pass on the electrical signal to the neighbouring neuron.

34
Q

What are Neurotransmitters?

A

Brain chemicals that send signals from one neuron to the next through diffusing across the synapses. Can be excitatory or inhibitory.

Examples of neurotransmitters: serotonin + dopamine. Too little serotonin is associated with depression, too much dopamine associated with OCD.

35
Q

Example paragraph of a reflex arc?

A

The knee-jerk reflex is an example of a reflex arc;

A stimulus, such as a hammar, hits the knee. This is detected by sense organs, in the PNS, which convey a message along a Sensory neuron.

The message reaches the CNS, (the spinal cord) where is connects with an Relay neuron. This then transfers the message to a Motor neuron. This then carries the message to an effector, such as a muscle, which causes the muscle to contract and, hence, causes the knee to move or jerk.

36
Q

What does Excitation mean?

A

When a neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the post-synaptic neuron. This increases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse e.g. adrenaline

37
Q

What does Inhibition mean?

A

When a neurotransmitter increases the negative charge of the post-synaptic neuron. This decreases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on an electrical impulse e.g. GABA or serotonin.

38
Q

Excitation + Inhibition

A
  • The excitatory and inhibitory influences are summed (summation). If the net effect on the post-synaptic neuron is inhibitory the neuron will be less likely to fire and pass on the signal, and if the effect is excitatory the neuron will be more likely to fire.
  • The action potential of the post-synaptic neuron is only triggered if the sum of the excitatory and inhibitory signals at one time reach the threshold.
39
Q

What is the process of Synaptic Transmission?

A
  1. Electrical impulses (action potentials) reach the presynaptic ending.
  2. Electrical impulses (action potentials) trigger release of neurotransmitters e.g. serotonin
  3. Neurotransmitters are released from vesicles across the synapse.
  4. Neurotransmitters bind with receptors on the post-synaptic membrane
  5. Stimulation of post-synaptic receptors by neurotransmitters result in either excitation or inhibition of the post-synaptic membrane.
40
Q

What are the components involved in Synaptic transmission?

A
  • Pre-synaptic neuron
  • Post-synaptic neuron
  • Vesicles
  • Neurotransmitters
  • Synapse
  • Post-synaptic receptor site
41
Q

Excitation + Inhibition

A

Excitation - Starting
Inhibition - Stopping
- Neurotransmitters can be excitatory or inhibitory, most can be both. This determines whether the post-synaptic neuron fires an impulse or not (to pass on the message).

42
Q

Synaptic Transmission

A

Is how information is passed neurone to neurone using chemical messengers that diffuse across the synaptic gap.

Psychology A-Level (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions