The nevous system

Question 1

The nervous system

Answer 1

the nervous system is a communication system between the body’s internal cells and organs and the external world
it receives and processes and coordinates a response to information
it is divided into two main divisions central and peripheral NS

Question 2

Central NS (CNS)

Answer 2

is comprised of the brain (organises and intergrates info) and spinal cord (highway for info).
This divisons major funtion is to transmit and receive information to and from the PNS

Question 3

Peripheral NS (PNS)

Answer 3

carries messages to and from the CNS.

It is further divided into Autonomic and Somatic NS

Question 4

Autonomic NS

Answer 4

self regulation of the bodys organs, visceral muscles and glands which occurs involuntarily (unconcious) eg. controls breathing, heart rate and other important involuntary movements
It is further divided again into sympathetic NS and parasympathetic NS

Question 5

Somatic NS

Answer 5

carries sensory (afferent) info that is received at sensory receptor sites in the body (skin, joints, tendons) and carries messages along sensory neural pathways by sensory neurons to the CNS.

Carries and motor (EFFERENT) information from the CNS. Motor information is carried along motor neural pathways by motor neurons to skeletal muscles (attached to the skeleton) to control their activity.

Question 6

Sympathetic NS

Answer 6

fight or flight response, it prepares the body for action

pupils dilate, heart rate and blood pressure increase as well as breathing

Question 7

Parasympathetic NS

Answer 7

maintains the bodys internal environment in a steady, balanced state of funtioning
counterbalces the sympathetic NS activation by returning the body to a state of calm.
homeostasis
increased saliva, sweat glands reduce production and pupils contract

Question 8

Spinal reflex

Answer 8

unconsious, involuntary and automatically occuring response to a certain stimuli without any involvement of the brain.
the spinal cord responds to the message directly, causing an increased reaction just before sensory info in the brain is received
it is an adaptive response

Question 9

Neurons

Answer 9

an individual cell that is specialised to receive, process and or transmit infomation
they carry messages in the form of action potentials to the appropriate parts of the NS to interprete and form a response.

Question 10

Neurotransmitter

Answer 10

a chemical sunstance that is produced by a neuron and is then carried to other neurons. neurotransmitters in the pre synaptic neuron work by attatching (binding) to receptor sites of the post synaptic neuron, that specialised to recieve that specific neurotransmitter.
they either have a excititory effect (increase the chance of post synaptic neuron firing) or inhibitory effect (decrease the chance of the post synaptic neuron firing)
they have a distinct shape which binds to the receptor sites in the denrites of the post synaptic neuron (lock and key process)

Question 11

Parkinsons disease

Answer 11

is a chronic and degenerative neurological condition that affects both motor and non motor funtions
motor symptoms inclue - tremors, muscle stiffness, unstable posture, bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
non-motor symptoms include - slower cognitive funtions, reduced sense of smell
there is no known cure but there is treatment to manage motor symptoms

Question 12

Role of dopamine in Parkinsons disease

Answer 12

dopamine (neurotransmitter) is produced in the substantia nigra in the brain. when diseased or damaged, the amount of dopaminebeing produced is reduced. dopamine sends messages that allow smooth and coordinated funtion of the bodys muscles and movement. there for resulting in tremors, muscle stiffness and unstable posture.

Question 13

Consious responses to stimuli

Answer 13

reaction involves awareness
voluntary or intentional reaction
purposful or goal directed 
more complex response
tend to vary and can be learnt 
can be controlled

Question 14

Unconsious response to stimuli

Answer 14

reaction does not involve awareness
involuntary and unintentional
simple responses which doesnt require it to be learnt 
may not be able to control
eg. spinal reflex

Question 15

Neuron structures - dendrites

Answer 15

branches, that receive info from other neurons, then carry from synapse to the soma.

Question 16

Neuron structures - soma

Answer 16

‘cell body’ controls maintenance and receives messages from other neurons

Question 17

Neuron structures - axon

Answer 17

extends from soma, carries info towards cells that communicate with that neuron

Question 18

Neuron structures - myelin sheath

Answer 18

coating around axom, protects from chemical and physical interference to impulses that travel along it, and insulates

Question 19

Neuron structures - axon terminals

Answer 19

end of axon branch, it transmits messages to next neuron they have terminal buttons that secrete the neurotransmitter.

Question 20

Glutamate

GABA

Answer 20

glutamate = your mate. is excititory (increases chance of the post synaptic neuron to fire)
GABA is inhibitory (decreases chance of post synaptic neuron to fire)

Question 21

Process of neural transmition with reference to glutamate. exam question

Answer 21

terminal buttons from the pre-synaptic neuron release neurotransmitters (glutamate).

glutamate is then released into the synapse which then acts as a key, it has a specific shape that binds with the corresponding shape of a receptor site in the dendrites of the post synaptic neuron which acts as the lock.

glutamate is excititory which means it increases the chance of the post synaptic neuron to fire (4 marks)

Question 22

Stress/ stressor

Answer 22

a state of biological & psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individual as challenging or that exerts the individuals ability and resources to cope, it is a subjective experience.
a stressor is stimuli that causes or produces stress can be internal or external

Question 23

Acute stress

Answer 23

brief and specific to the demands of a particular situation.

Question 24

Chronic stress

Answer 24

ongoing demands, pressures and worries that are long lasting, with what seems like little hope of letting up.

Question 25

Eustress

Answer 25

a positive response to a stressor, may feel like enthusiasm or excited or alert
short term and provides the body with energy to complete whats needed to acheive the goal with peak performance.

Question 26

Distress

Answer 26

a negative psychological response to a stressor, like anxiety or anger.
short term but may be present from weeks to years, prolonged stress can have serious and debilitating effects of physical and mental health

Question 27

Daily pressures - stress

Answer 27

little problems of everyday living. events that annoy or bother us that can make us upset or angry
eg. boredom, sleeping in, losing things

Question 28

Life events - stress

Answer 28

a stressor in everyday life that forces the individual to adapt to new circumstances
eg. break up, death of loved one, starting new career

Question 29

Major stress

Answer 29

involves an event that is extraordinarily stressful or disturbing for almost everyone involved.
eg. winessing a crime, workplace accident, having a terminal illness

Question 30

Catastrophes - stress

Answer 30

an event that causes widespread damage or suffering
stressor of a massive proportion
eg. bushfire, cyclones

Question 31

Acculturative stress

Answer 31

stress people (immigrants or refugees) experience in trying to adapt to new culture when living in it for a period of time
eg. language differences, adapting to new customs, racial discrimination

Question 32

models of stress - biological

Answer 32

fight flight freeze response - an involuntary physical response to sudden and immediate threat (stressor)
fight and flight - sympathetic NS - increased heart rate and blood pressure, increased breathing and dilated pupils.
freeze - parasympathetic NS - body movements and vocalisation stops, heart rate slows and blood pressure drops, tense muscles become still and collapse

Question 33

Role of cortisol - biological

Answer 33

if a stressor needs to be dealt with over a prolongued period of time, additional physiological resources are required.
a brain to body response pathway is activated called the HPA-axis
the HPA-axis puts into motion a slower but long lasting chain of reaction including the release of cortisol.
this energises the body by increasing energy supplies
anti inflammatory by blocking white blood cells that contribute to that.

Question 34

General adaption syndrome - stage one

SCARE

Answer 34

stage 1 - alarm reaction - shock counter shock
stressor is perceived, body temporarily enters state of shock & the bodys ability to deal with stressor is lowered.
a state of counter shock follows - sympathetic NS is activated & the fight or flight response.
the body is now prepared to deal with stress or

Question 35

body systems involved in changes occuring with stress

Answer 35

perception 
amygdala 
hypothalamus 
sympathetic NS
adrenal glands and adrenal cortex

Question 36

General adaption syndrome - stage 2

SCARE

Answer 36

stage 2 - resistance

if stressor remains the bodys level of resistance is higher than normal