The Nervous System

Question 1

What are Sensory Neurons responsible for?

Answer 1

Collect information from sensory organs like the skin and carry this information to relay neurons in the brain

Question 2

What are Relay Neurons responsible for?

Answer 2

Analyse the information/sensation and decide how to respond. Then sends it to the motor neuron.

Question 3

What are Motor Neurons responsible for?

Answer 3

Connects with skeletal muscles to allow for a physical response

Question 4

What are the two divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 4

• The Central Nervous System
• The Peripheral Nervous System

Question 5

What does the Central Nervous System comprise of?

Answer 5

• The Brain: Plays a role in psychological processes (visual and auditory perception) and higher mental function like decision making and language
• Spinal Cord: Transmits information to and from the brain, controls reflex responses as well

Question 6

What does the Peripheral Nervous System comprise of?

Answer 6

• Autonomic Nervous System: Involved in unconscious and involuntary life-maintaining processes like heart rate and control of internal organs. Carries commands from brain stem (Only motor pathways)
• Somatic Nervous System: Involved in conscious voluntary movements through the control of skeletal muscles. Carries commands from motor cortex (Both motor and sensory pathways)

Question 7

What does the Autonomic Nervous System comprise of?

Answer 7

• Sympathetic Nervous System: Produces physiological changes preparing the body for fight or flight response (e.g. increased heart rate, pupil dilation, faster breathing, diversion of the blood away from the skin, inhibited saliva production and digestion)
• Parasympathetic Nervous System: Restores normal physiological functioning after threat has passed to conserve energy (everything opposite of what sympathetic nervous system does)

Question 8

What processes touch sensations?

Answer 8

• Parietal lobe

Question 9

What contains decision making and problem solving (CNS)?

Answer 9

• Frontal lobe

Question 10

What processes auditory information?

Answer 10

• Temporal lobe

Question 11

What regulates breathing and heart rate?

Answer 11

• Brain stem

Question 12

What contains co-ordination and balance?

Answer 12

• Cerebellum

Question 13

What processes visual information?

Answer 13

• Occipital lobe