Psychology midterm

Question 1

what is the nervous system?

Answer 1

its a system where it contains billions of cells called neurons, these neurons communicate with each other through central and peripheral nervous systems

Question 2

what is the difference between the central and peripheral nervous system?

Answer 2

• the central nervous system contains the brain and spinal cord
  -the peripheral nervous system is made up of nerve cells that send message through the central nervous system and the rest of the. body

Question 3

what are the 5 components of a neuron?

Answer 3

1- the cell body (produces energy)
2- dendrites (receives information from other neurons and pass the message through the cell body)
3- axon (transmits information away from the cell body)
4- myelin ( white fatty substance that covers the axon to insulate and protect it, there is also the myelin sheath that helps speed up the work of neurons)
5- axon terminals ( branch out at the end of the axon)

Question 4

what is the communication process between neurons?

Answer 4

communications pass through a synapse which stars at the axon terminals of one neurons and goes to the dendrites of another.

Question 5

what are the steps of synapse communication?

Answer 5

the message enters the dendrites, travels through the cell body and leaves from the axon to the axon terminals across the synapse and enters the dendrites of another neuron

Question 6

what are neurotransmitters?

Answer 6

it is whats released when neurons send a message across the synapse

Question 7

how do neurotransmitters work?

Answer 7

the message is converted from a chemical impulse which is the neurotransmitters that are stored in sacs in the axon terminals to an electrical impulse that travels through the neuron then its transmitted by neurotransmitters until the message arrives

Question 8

what are the 2 types of neurotransmitters?

Answer 8

1- acetylcholine: control of muscles and works with learning and memory
2- dopamine: motor behavior

Question 9

what are the 2 types of peripheral nervous systems?

Answer 9

1- somatic nervous system
2- the autonomic nervous system

Question 10

what is the somatic nervous system?

Answer 10

transmits sensory messages to the central nervous system by carrying messages from voluntary muscles and sense organs, its activated by touch, pain , changes in temperature)

Question 11

what is the autonomic nervous system

Answer 11

it regulates the bodies vital functions such as breathing, heartbeat, digestion and blood pressure.

Question 12

what are the 2 types of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 12

1- sympathetic nervous system (reacts to stress)
2- parasympathetic nervous system (restores peace to the body’s systems)

Question 13

what are the 3 major sectors of the brain?

Answer 13

1- the hindbrain
2- the midbrain
3- the forebrain

Question 14

what is the function of the brain?

Answer 14

the 3 parts work together to coordinate body movement, create thoughts and emotions and shape behavior

Question 15

what is the corpus callosum?

Answer 15

is the structure that connects the 2 hemispheres of the cerebral cortex

Question 16

what is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 16

• it has a left and right side of the brain called hemispheres
  and informations receives from one side of the body will be transmitted to the opposite hemisphere side

Question 17

what are the 4 parts of a hemisphere?

Answer 17

1- frontal lobe
2- parietal lobe
3- temporal lobe
4- occipital lobe

Question 19

what are the association areas? and where?

Answer 19

its part of the cerebral cortex that shapes information into something meaningful
the association areas are in the frontal lobes and function as brains executive centre (retrieves memories that are visual and auditory)

Question 20

how does the 4 lobes play a role in the senses and motor behaviors?

Answer 20

1- frontal lobe (creates memories)
2- parietal lobe (messages received from the skins sensory receptors)
3- temporal lobe (hearing or auditory)
4- occipital lobe (visual)

Question 21

what are the 4 methods of studying the brain?

Answer 21

1- accidents
2- lesions (cutting , removing or destroying parts of the brain)
3- electrical stimulation (not very reliable as is shows specific areas that are associated with specific types of sensations)
4- electroencephalogram EEG (records electrical activity of the brain)

Question 22

what are the 4 techniques pf brain imaging?

Answer 22

CAT, MRI, PET,fMRI scans

Question 23

what can brain imaging help with?

Answer 23

it can provide information about brain damage, cancer, surgeries and identify injuries or abnormalities

Question 24

what is the purpose endocrine system?

Answer 24

it secretes hormones that secretes that stimulate growth and many kinds of reactions

Question 25

what are the 3 glands of the endocrine system?

Answer 25

1- the pituitary gland
2- the thyroid glands
3- the adrenal glands

Question 26

what does the pituitary gland secrete? and where is it?

Answer 26

in the middle of the brain and secretes human growth hormone like prolactin and oxytocin.

Question 27

what does the thyroid gland. secretes and what happens if there is too much or little?

Answer 27

produces the hormone thyroxin which affects the body metabolism
too little: can cause hypothyroidism and cretinism
too much: can cause hypothyroidism

Question 28

what are the adrenal glands and where are they?

Answer 28

• located above the kidneys
• secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline and cortical steroids
• cortical steroids increase resistance to stress

Question 29

what is the difference between nature and nurture?

Answer 29

• nature behavior are things inherited whereas nurture are things from the environmental factors.