SAC 1 Unit 3

Question 1

Role of the CNS

Answer 1

Receiving sensory information from the peripheral nervous system and sending motor messages to the peripheral nervous system

Question 2

Role of the brain

Answer 2

Regulates and guides all other parts of the nervous system

Question 3

The spinal cord is a…

Answer 3

cable-like column of nerve fibres that extends from the base of the lower back and is encased by a series of bones called vertebrae

Question 4

What is the PNS comprised of

Answer 4

Muscles, organs and glands

Question 5

PNS role

Answer 5

Send sensory messages to the brain and receives motor information from the brain

Question 6

What is the Autonomic NS

Answer 6

A network of neurons that carries information between the CNS, and the organs and glands, to ensure that the body can be regulated without conscious awareness

Question 7

What is the Somatic NS

Answer 7

A network of neurons within the body that transmits sensory messages to the CNS and then sends motor messages back down to initiate muscle movement. Is involved in voluntary movement.

Question 8

Sympathetic NS role

Answer 8

Prepares the body for action to deal with a potential threat. Activates the fight-flight-freeze response.

Question 9

Parasympathetic NS role

Answer 9

Maintains the body in a state of homeostasis. Returns the body to calm after heightened stress or arousal.

Question 10

Physical symptoms of sympathetic NS activation

Answer 10

Contracts pupils
Adrenaline and noradrenaline released
Accelerated heartbeat
Inhibits digestion

Question 11

Enteric NS role

Answer 11

Responsible for the process of digestion

Question 12

Sensory neuron

Answer 12

Transmits sensory information from your body to your brain

Question 13

Motor neuron

Answer 13

Transmits motor messages from your brain to your body

Question 14

Interneuron

Answer 14

Transmits information between sensory and motor neurons

Question 15

Conscious response

Answer 15

A response to a sensory stimulus that involves awareness

Question 16

Unconscious response

Answer 16

A response to a stimulus that does not involve awareness

Question 17

Spinal reflex

Answer 17

An automatic response that is initiated by neurons in the spinal cord, independent of the brain

Question 18

What division of the nervous system controls the spinal reflex

Answer 18

Somatic nervous system

Question 19

Synaptic plasticity definition

Answer 19

The ability of synpatic connections to change over time in response to activity or experience

Question 20

Two types of synaptic plasticity

Answer 20

Adaptive (in response to experience or recovery from damage)
Developmental (occuring according to our genetic footprint)

Question 21

Long term potentiation (LTP)

Answer 21

The long lasting and experience-dependent strengthening of synaptic connections that are regularly activated

Question 22

Long term depression (LTD)

Answer 22

The long lasting and experience-dependent weakening of synaptic connections between neurons that are not regularly activated

Question 23

Sprouting

Answer 23

The growth of additional branches on axons or dendrites to enable new connections

Question 24

Rerouting

Answer 24

Occurs when an undamaged neuron that has lost a connection with a damaged neuron so it forms a new connection with a neighbouring neuron

Question 25

Pruning

Answer 25

The elimination of synaptic connections that are not adequately activated

Question 26

Stress definition

Answer 26

A psychological and physiological experience that occurs when an individual encounters something that demands their attention and/or their efforts to cope

Question 27

Distress

Answer 27

A form of stress characterised by a negative psychological state

Question 28

Eustress

Answer 28

A form of stress characterised by a positive psychological state

Question 29

Stressor

Answer 29

A stimulus that prompts a stress response

Question 30

Internal stressor

Answer 30

A stimulus from within someones body that initiates a stress response

Question 31

External stressor

Answer 31

A stimulus from outside a persons body that initiates a stress response

Question 32

Fight-flight-freeze response

Answer 32

An involuntary and automatic response to a threat that takes the form of either confronting it, escaping it, or freezing in the face of it

Question 33

Cortisol

Answer 33

A hormone released in the time of stress to aid the body in initiating and maintaining heightened arousal.

Question 34

Coping

Answer 34

The process of dealing with stress

Question 35

Approach strategies

Answer 35

Coping strategies that directly confront the source of the stress

Question 36

Avoidance strategies

Answer 36

Coping strategies that avoid or evade the source of the stress, seeking to indirectly reduce stress

Question 37

Context-specific effectiveness

Answer 37

When the coping strategies used are appropriate for the unique demands of the stressor

Question 38

Coping flexibility

Answer 38

The ability to adjust or change one's coping strategies depending on the unique and changing demands of a stressor

Question 39

Synapse

Answer 39

Where dendrites and axon terminals join

Question 40

Receptor sites

Answer 40

Locations at the end of the dendritic spines and receive neurotransmitters before they are released into the soma

Question 41

Axon

Answer 41

A single, tube-like extension that transmits neural information to other neurons

Question 42

Synaptic vesicle

Answer 42

The sacs in the axon terminal that contain neurotransmitters

Question 43

Synaptic gap/cleft

Answer 43

The space between the pre-synaptic and post-synaptic neuron

Question 44

Changes that occur to the neuron during LTP

Answer 44

-Number of receptor sites increases -Number of neurotransmitters released by the pre-synaptic neuron increases -Action potential is stronger

Question 45

Between subjects design

Answer 45

Individuals are divided into different groups and are only exposed to one experimental condition

Question 46

Within subjects design

Answer 46

Where participants complete every experimental condition

Question 47

Ethical concepts

Answer 47

-Respect -Integrity -Justice -Beneficience -Non-maleficence

Question 48

Ethical guidelines

Answer 48

-Voluntary participation -Debriefing -Withdrawal rights -Informed consent -Use of deception -Confidentiality