The Nervous System Flashcards
What do psychologists use information about the nervous system for?
Biopsychologists use their knowledge of the nervous system, as well as the peripheral nervous system, to explain our behaviour and actions
What is the nervous system?
The nervous system is a specialised network of cells in a human body.
What is the nervous system’s primary role in our bodies?
The primary function of the nervous system is to act as our primary internal communication system
How many subdivisions is the nervous system split into? What are these subdivisions in the nervous system called?
The two subdivisions in the nervous system are called the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
What does the central nervous system consist of?
The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord
What is the brain’s role in the central nervous system
The brain is the centre of all conscious awareness. The outer layer, cerebral cortex, consists of our higher mental functions (like thinking/memory)
What is the spinal cord’s role in the central nervous system?
The spinal cord’s role in the central nervous system is to be responsible for the body’s reflex actions (like moving your hand quickly from heat). The spinal cord passes message from the brain to the body, visa versa.
What are the three main functions of the central nervous system (CNS)?
1) Pass messages to and from the brain and connect nerves to the peripheral nervous system
2) Collect, respond and process information from the outside world
3) Coordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
What is the main function of the PNS?
The main function of the peripheral nervous system is to send information to the CNS from the outside world and pass on messages from the CNS to the muscles and glands in the body
How many subdivisions are there in the peripheral nervous system? What are these subdivisions in the PNS called?
There are two subdivisions called: The autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the somatic nervous system (SNS)
What is the main role of the autonomic nervous system?
The autonomic nervous system is responsible for vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal an stress responses
What two further subdivisions is the autonomic nervous system subdivided into?
The autonomic nervous system is further subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system? What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
Parasympathetic nervous system: decrease heart rate and blood pressure + increase the digestive system’s activity
Sympathetic nervous system: increase blood pressure and heart rate + decrease the digestive system’s activity
What is the main role of the somatic nervous system (SNS) ?
The SNS controls muscle movement (allowing the brain to control bodily movement)
The SNS receives information from sensory receptors (eyes, ears, touch, smell, taste,pain receptors)
Neurons receive the information from the sensory receptors. What do they do with this information?
These neurons carry the sensory information to the spinal cord to be carried up to the brain and be processed
