PSYCHOLOGY | Unit 3 AOS 1: Nervous system & Stress

Question 1

The Nervous System

Answer 1

A communication system between the body’s in eternal cells and organs and the external word.

Question 2

What does the NS control?

Answer 2

Both voluntary and involuntary responses.

Question 3

How does the NS function?

Answer 3

• Receives sensory information from the external and internal environment.
• Processes information and coordinates.
• Organises a response to information.

Question 4

What are the major divisions of the NS?

Answer 4

Central nervous system (CNS) and the Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Question 5

Sensory neurons (in PNS)

Answer 5

Afferent pathways, receives and carries sensory information to the CNS. ( PNS - CNS )

Question 6

Motor neurons (in PNS)

Answer 6

Efferent pathways, carries messages from the CNS to the skeletal muscles, organs and glands to stimulate activity. ( CNS - PNS )

Question 7

Interneurons (in CNS)

Answer 7

Relay messages between sensory and motor neurons.

Question 7

What is the CNA comprised of?

Answer 7

Brain and Spinal cord

Question 7

The Brain

Answer 7

• an organised network of neurons where certain areas and structures have specialised functions.
• receives and processes sensory information from the environment, controlling all bodily actions and functions.

Question 7

Spinal cord

Answer 7

• the long, thin bundle of nerve tissue that extends from the base of the brain to the lower back ( links brain to PNS )
• receives sensory information from the body and sends these messages ( via the peripheral NS ) to the brain for processing.
• receive motor information from the brain and send these messages to relevant parts of the body to control muscles, glands and internal.

Question 8

What is the peripheral NS comprised of?

Answer 8

• All the nerves and neurons within the body that are outside of the CNS.
• The nerves and neurons the brain and spinal cord, and connect with muscles, organs and glands.
• has 2 subdivisions, Somatic NS and Autonomic NS ( ANS )

Question 9

Main functions?

Answer 9

• carries sensory information to the CNS from the body’s muscles, organs and glands (internal) and from the sensory organs (externals).
• carries motor information from the CNS to the body’s muscles, organs and glands.

Question 10

Somatic Nervous system

Answer 10

initiates skeletal muscle movement and allows us to perform conscious or voluntary movement.

Question 10

Comprised of?

Answer 10

neurons that carry sensory information to the CNS and motor information from the CNS

Question 10

Main functions

Answer 10

• carries sensory information detected by sensory receptors in the body ( skin ), along sensory pathways via to the CNS.
• carries motor information from the CNS, along motor pathways to skeletal muscles to control voluntary movements.

Question 10

TEMPLATE RESPONSE

Answer 10

Sensory receptors in the ______ ( sense organ ) detect the ________ ( stimulus ) and transfer the sensory information to sensory neurons in the peripheral nervous system ( somatic NS ) to the brain ( in the CNS ), via the spinal cord. The brain processes the sensory information and coordinates/initiates a motor response to _______ ( voluntary behaviour ) which is relayed to motor neurons in the peripheral nervous system ( somatic NS ) to the skeletal muscles/effector in ___________ ( body part ), causing them to contract/relax and allowing the conscious/voluntary action of ____________________.

Question 11

What are neurons?

Answer 11

Individual nerve cells that are specialised to receive, process and/or transmit information.

Question 12

What is the function of dendrites?

Answer 12

Contain receptor sites which receive specific neurochemicals from the pre-synaptic neuron and transmits it to the cell body.

Question 13

What is the role of the cell body (soma)?

Answer 13

Integrates information received from the pre-synaptic neurons and generates an action potential.

Question 14

What does the axon do?

Answer 14

Conveys the neural impulse away from the cell body towards the axon terminals.

Question 15

What is the function of the myelin sheath?

Answer 15

Speeds up neural transmission and protects the axon.

Question 16

What are axon terminals?

Answer 16

Contains synaptic vesicles that hold neurochemicals.

Question 17

What is the synaptic gap?

Answer 17

Space between pre and post synaptic neuron where neurochemicals are released into.

Question 18

What is a synapse?

Answer 18

Includes axon terminal of pre-synaptic neuron, synaptic gap, and dendrites of post synaptic neuron.

Question 19

What are neurochemicals?

Answer 19

Chemical messages that transmit information within the nervous system.

Question 20

What is an excitatory neurotransmitter?

Answer 20

Makes the post synaptic neuron more likely to fire an action potential. ## Footnote Example: glutamate, which is involved in learning and memory.

Question 21

What is an inhibitory neurotransmitter?

Answer 21

Makes the post synaptic neuron less likely to fire an action potential. ## Footnote Example: GABA, which fine tunes neurotransmission in the brain.

Question 22

What are neuromodulators?

Answer 22

Neurochemicals that are released into the neural tissue in brain regions, which alter the strength of the signal transmission, and affect entire brain regions.

Question 23

What is dopamine?

Answer 23

A neuromodulator primarily responsible for voluntary motor movement, the experience of pleasure, reward-based learning, and motivation.