SAC 1 Flashcards
Neurotransmitter
Chemical - Nerve Cells - Mood
A neurotransmitter is a chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain, affecting mood, thinking, and behavior.
Neuromodulator
Nerve Cells - TEamwork
A neuromodulator is a brain chemical that helps control how nerve cells work together
Central Nervous System
includes the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral NS
Nerves that connect to B and SP-C
The peripheral nervous system is made up of nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.carries information from the sensory and internal organs to the CNS
Somatic NS
Movement you can
The somatic nervous system controls movements you can control, like moving your muscles.
voluntary movement
Motor Neurons (ME)
voluntary movements, through efferent pathways
Sensory Neurons (SA)
sends neural information to the brain about what we feel with our senses through afferent pathways
Autonomic NS
S/PS - Involutary
Controls involuntary movements and contains para/parasympathetic systems
Sympathetic
activates the body and prepares it for activity/movement, with FFF response ready
Parasympathetic
counterbalances the effects of the sympathetic NS, restores the body to a state of calmness after a stressful event
Dopamine
a brain chemical that affects mood, motivation, pleasure and reward
it can have an excitatory/inhibitory effect
Serotonin
a chemical in the brain that helps wit sleep, mood and feelings of happiness, helps increase learning
Conscious Responses
Movement and responses we choose to do, we are conscious whilst doing them
Unconcious Responses
Movements and responses we don’t think about doing, they just happen
Spinal Reflex
an unconscious response, an involuntary response to a certain stimuli without any involvement of the brain
Synaptic Plasticity
Synaptic plasticity is the brain’s ability to change connections between neurons, strengthening or weakening them, helping with learning and memory.
LTD
Long-Term Depression - the long-lasting weakening in the strength of synaptic connections
LTP
The long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections between neurons after repeated stimulation of the same neural pathways
repeated coactivation
Glutamate
Helps the brain
is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS.
help the brain strengthen or weaken neurons
GABA
PRIMARY inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS.
maintain neurotransmission at an optimal, or ‘best possible’, level
Sprouting
Bushier dendrites, Sprouting is when the brain grows new connections between nerve cells, helping it adapt or heal.
Stressors
stimuli that cause stress and are categorised as internal and external
INternal Stressor
A stressor that originates inside the body
External Strresor
A stressor that originates outside the body
Cortisol
A stress hormone
It helps regulate metabolism, immune response, and the body’s fight-or-flight response.
If activated for too long can damage the immune system
Gut-Brain Axis
the bidirectional communications between the gut and the brain with the vagus nerve
Psychological Response to Stress
Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress
Biological Response to Stress
Han’s Selyes GAS
Stages of Han Selyes GAS Response (Bio - SCARE)
1: Alarm Reaction (Shock and Counter Shock) immediate response
2: Resistance - maximise response to cope and adapt
3: Exhaustion - vulnerable and weak with depleted resources
Coping Strategies
Ways of coping with stress
Gut microbiota
refers to the community of good bacteria and other microorganisms living in the digestive system. They help with digestion, immunity, and overall health.
Context-specific effectiveness in dealing with stressors
refers to how well a strategy suits the situation and helps achieve the desired outcome.
