The Nervous System Flashcards
What is a neurotransmitter?
Natural chemical messengers that can alter activity of nearby neurons
What is the synapse
The site of communication between adjacent neurons
What is the role of sensory neurons?
To transfer sensory info from the PNS to the CNS
What is the role of interneurons?
To transfer information within the CNS and to connect sensory and motor neurons
What are four examples of a neurotransmitter?
Adrenaline, Dopamine, Endorphins, GABA
What effect does adrenaline have?
Increases heart rate and blood flow, physical boost and heightened awareness
Define psychology
The scientific study of behaviour and the mind
Who is the father of modern psychology?
William Wundt
How long do psychologists study for?
A minimum of 6 years, undergraduate 4 years, post graduate 2 years and registration
How long does a psychiatrist study for?
Minimum of 9 years. 5 years for medical degree, 4 for specialisation.
What is a key difference between psychologists and psychiatrists?
Psychologists cannot prescribe medication, psychiatrists can prescribe medication.
Do psychologists have a broad or narrow field?
Broad, they work with people with and without mental illness.
Do psychiatrists have a broad or narrow field?
Narrow, they only work with people with mental illnesses.
What do forensic psychologists deal with?
Criminal behaviour in legal situations and prisons.
What do sports psychologists focus on?
Enhancing sporting performance.
What do clinical psychologists focus on?
People with mental illness or behavioural disorders
What are the two divisions of the peripheral nervous system?
Autonomic and Somatic
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
What are the three main functions of the nervous system?
To receive and process information and coordinate a response.
What is the spinal cord?
The long, thin bundle of nerve tissue from the base of the brain to the lower back
What is the main function of the PNS?
To transmit information to and from the CNS
What is the role of the somatic nervous system?
To carry sensory info to the CNS and motor info from the CNS
What is the role of the autonomic nervous system?
To connect the CNS to the body’s internal organs and glands and provide feedback to the brain about their activities
Is the somatic nervous system responsible for voluntary of involuntary movement?
Voluntary
Is the autonomic nervous system responsible for voluntary of involuntary movement?
Involuntary
Does the sympathetic nervous system increase/decrease the activity of muscles, organs, glands etc.
Increases activity
Does the parasympathetic nervous system increase/decrease the activity of muscles, organs, glands etc.
Decreases activity
Is the sympathetic nervous system fight/flight or rest/digest?
Fight/flight
Is the parasympathetic nervous system fight/flight or rest/digest?
Rest/digest
Does the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system return the body to homeostasis?
The parasympathetic nervous system
What effects do the sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system have on heart rate?
Sympathetic - increases heart rate
Parasympathetic - decreases heart rate
What effects do the sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system have on pupils and why?
Sympathetic - pupils dilate to allow for better vision
Parasympathetic - pupils contract to return to normal state
What effects do the sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system have on adrenal glands?
Sympathetic - stimulates hormone secretion
Parasympathetic - inhibits hormone production
What effects do the sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system have on stomach/digestion?
Sympathetic - decreases contractions
Parasympathetic - increases contractions
What is the function of the spinal cord?
Allows your brain to communicate with the rest of your body
List the four structures of the brain
Forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain and reticular formation
List three components of the hindbrain
Pons, Medulla, Cerebellum
What is part of the brain is the pons in and what is it primarily involved in?
Part of the hindbrain. Primarily involved in relaying info between diff brain areas and regulating the respiratory system
What part of the brain is the medulla in and what is is primarily involved in?
Part of the hindbrain. Primarily involved in regulating autonomic functions.
What part of the brain is the cerebellum in and what is is primarily involved in?
Part of the hindbrain. Primarily involved in skeletal muscle movement and coordination
The midbrain is a part of brain stem in the middle of the brain. True or False
True
The midbrain is responsible for…
Processing sensory info
Regulating sleep
Motor movement
What is the reticular formation responsible for?
Filter of information to the brain
Regulating the sleep-wake cycle and consciousness
Regulating physiological arousal and alertness
What are the three components of the forebrain?
Cerebrum, Thalamus, Hypothalamus
What is part of the brain is the cerebrum in and what is it responsible for?
Part of the forebrain. Responsible for a range of sophisticated functions.
What is part of the brain is the thalamus in and what is it primarily involved in?
Part of the forebrain. Primarily a relay and filtering system for sensory and motor signals.
What is part of the brain is the hypothalamus in and what is it primarily involved in?
Part of the forebrain. Primarily involved in homeostatic functioning and motivated/emotional behaviours.
What does contralateral mean in relation to the brain?
The right side of the brain controls movement and sensation of the left side of the brain and vice versa
What is the corpus callosum?
The thick band of nerve fibres connecting the left and right brain hemispheres
What is the cerebral cortex?
The tissue that forms the outer layer of the upper part of cerebrum
What are the four lobes?
Frontal, Parietal, Occipital and Temporal
What is the frontal lobe responsible for?
Speaking, planning, judging, abstract thinking, personality aspects and voluntary physical movement.
What is the parietal lobe responsible for?
Sense of touch and body position
What is the occipital lobe responsible for?
Interpretation of visual information
What is the temporal lobe responsible for?
Comprehension, sound and speech
What are three components of a synapse and their roles?
Presynaptic - sends neurotransmitters
Synaptic gap - the gap neurotransmitters are sent across
Postsynaptic - receives neurotransmitters
What is hemispheric specialisation?
The idea that each hemisphere of the brain exerts control over specific functions.
What are the two types of human responses?
Conscious and unconscious
What is a conscious response?
A voluntary, intentional response to sensory stimuli that involves awareness of the brain.
What is an unconscious response?
An automatic, involuntary response to sensory stimuli that does not involve awareness of the brain
What are the 5 steps involved in conscious response?
- Sensory receptors register info
- Sensory neurons send this info towards CNS
- Brain makes a decision about how to respond
- Motor neurons send this info away from CNS
- Skeletal muscles move
What are the 6 steps involved in unconscious response?
- Sensory receptors register info
- Sensory neurons send this info towards spinal cord
- Interneurions in spinal cord relay info about movement
- Motor neurons send this info away from CNS
- Skeletal muscles move
- The brain receives info
What are three kinds of conscious responses?
Thought, feeling and behaviour.
Define quadriplegia
Four limbs affected by impaired sensation and movement.
Define paraplegia
Two limbs affected (legs) by impaired sensation and movement.
Define triplegia
Three limbs affected by impaired sensation and movement.
List some symptoms of spinal cord injury
- muscle weakness/paralysis
- sensory dysfunction such as loss of sensation/pins and needles
- sexual dysfunction
- digestive problems
- problems regulating heart rate and blood pressure
- loss of control over bowel and bladder function
Spinal injuries above the C8 vertebrae result in…
Quadriplegia
Spinal injuries between the T1-L5 vertebrae result in …
Paraplegia
