The Nervous System Flashcards
What does biopsychology use to explain behaviour?
Uses biology to explain behaviour
What does the nervous system allow you to do?
Respond to changes in your environment
What do receptors do?
Detect stimuli
WhAt do effectors do?
Bring about response to a stimulus
How do receptors communicate with effectors?
Via the nervous system or endocrine system
What is the nervous system split into?
Central nervous system and the peripherial nervous system
What is the CNS made up of?
Made up of brain and spinal chord
What is the pns made up of?
The neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
What is the pheripheral nervous system split into?
The autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system
What does the autonomic nervous system do?
Controls unconscious activities e.g digestion
What does the somatic nervous system do?
Controls conscious activities such as walking
What is the autonomic nervous system split unto?
The sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system
What does the sympathetic nervous system do?
Gets the body ready for action. Fight or flight
What does the parasympathetic do?
Calms the body. It is the rest and digest system
What are the cells of the nervous system called?
Neurons
What do neurons transmit information as?
Electrical impulses around the body
How are electrical impulses sent around the body?
- cell body has dendrites that receive info from other neurons
- Info passes along axon that ends up at synaptic knob.
- there is a small gap before the next neuron called a synapse
- Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are released form the synaptic knob
What are sensory neurons?
Nerve cells that transmit electrical impulses from receptors to CNS
What is the relay neuron?
Nerve cells that transmit electrical impulses between sensory and Mortor neurons
What are motor neurons?
Nerve cells that transmit electrical impulses from CNS to effectors
What do reflexes prevent?
Injury
What is the transmission of information to and from the CNS
Stimulus Receptors CNS Effectors Stimulus
What are reflexes?
Reflexes are fast automatic responses to certain stimuli
Nervous system diagram
Nervous system
CNS. PNS
ANS. SNS
SNS. PSNS
What can nuerotransmitters be?
Excitatory or inhibitory
What are excitatory nuerotransmitters?
Increase the likelihood that an electrical impulse will be triggered in the post synaptic neuron
What are inhibitory neurotransmitters?
Decrease the likelihood that an electrical impulse will be triggered in the post synaptic neuron
