Topic 7- Biopsychology Flashcards
What is the nervous system divided into?
The central nervous system - brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system - somatic and autonomic nervous systems
Which nervous system contains the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?
AUTONOMIC
What does the central nervous system do?
Processes, interprets, stores information;issues orders to muscles, glands, organs
What does the peripheral nervous system do?
Transmits information to and from the CNS
What does the somatic nervous system do?
Controls skeletal muscles
What does the autonomic nervous system do?
Regulates glands, blood vessels, internal organs
What does the sympathetic nervous system do?
Mobilises body for action, energy output
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?
Conserves energy maintains quiet state
What are neurons?
The Nervous system carries messages from one part of the body to another using individual nerve cells known as neurons. Neurons transmit nerve impulses in the form of electrical signals
What does a typical neuron include? draw a diagram
Dendrite, nucleus, cell body, node of ranvier, myelin sheath, axon, axon terminal
Outline the functions of the endocrine system
To provide a chemical system of communication via the blood stream.- occurs through glands secreting hormones
To secrete the hormones which are required to regulate many bodily functions
Endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body.
Endocrine system acts more slowly but has very widespread and powerful effects. Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone.
The major gland is the pituitary gland which is located in the rain and controls the release of hormones from all other endocrine glands in the body
What is the endocrine system
Works with the NS to regulate physiological processes of the human body, glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.
It is controlled by the hypothalamus
Outline the structure and function of neurons
They transmit electrically and chemically to allow communication in the nervous system
They vary in size- can be a millimetre up to a metre long- but all share the same basic structure
-the cell body (soma) includes a nucleus, which contains the genetic material of the cell. Branch-like structures called dendrites protrude from the cell body, these carry nerve impulses to the cell body. The axon carries the impulses away from the cell body, down the length of the neuron. The axon is covered in a fatty layer of myelin sheath that protects it and speeds up electrical transmission of the impulse. The myelin sheath has gaps called nodes of Ranvier in it, which also speeds up the transmission of impulses by forcing it to “jump” across gaps along the axon. The end of the axon there are terminal buttons which communicate with the next neuron in the chain across the gap (synapse)
What is a motor neuron?
It connects the CNS to muscles and glands
- short dendrites
- long axons
Primarily concerned with generating movement
What is a sensory neuron
They carry messages such as sight, sound and sensations from the PNS to the CNS
- long dendrites
- short axons
What is a relay neuron
It connects sensory neurons to motor neurons or to other relay neurons
- short dendrites
- short axon
Makes up 97% of the CNS -only found here too
Outline the process of synaptic transmission- refer to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition
When a neuron is in a resting state- the inside of the cell is negatively charged compared to the outside.
When a neuron is activated by a stimulus- the inside of the cell becomes positively charged for a split second causing an action potential to occur.
NEURONS DO NOT DIRECTLY TOUCH AND COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER CHEMICALLY THROUGH THE RELEASE OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS AT THE NERVE ENDINGS
Neurotransmitters relay signals between neurons and affect mood - an imbalance can explain certain mental disorders
Excitatory neurotransmitters- increase the chance of adjacent neurons firing
Inhibitory neurotransmitters- decrease the chance of adjacent neurons firing
The excitatory and inhibitory influences are summed and if the net effect is inhibitory, the neuron will be less likely to “fire” and if the net effect is excitatory, the neuron will be more likely to fire
What is the fight or flight response?
The response which occurs when we are threatened/ stressed and our body reacts in specific ways
(muscles tense, breathing becomes faster + heart beats rapidly)
It has evolved as a survival mechanism and is activated in any stressful situation
Outline the role of the amygdala (in relation to fight or flight)
It associates what we hear/see/feel with emotions e.g fear/anger and it sends distress signals to the hypothalamus
In turn, activating the sympathetic branch of the ANS which sends a signal to the Adrenal medulla which secretes Adrenaline leading to f/f
Outline the role of the sympathetic nervous system (in relation to fight or flight)
It immediately prepares us for action and is designed to deal immediately with short-lived stress by channeling resources into the areas of the body where they are needed and diverting resources from areas not needed
Outline the role of adrenaline ( in relation to fight or flight)
Prepares the body for fight or flight by making it ready to run faster or be as strong as possible.
It acts on various organs throughout the body- increased heart rate, constriction of blood vessels, increased rate of blood flow and raised blood pressure, diversion of blood from the skin, kidneys and digestive system, increased blood to brain and skeletal muscle and increased respiration and sweating
Outline the role of the parasympathetic nervous system (in relation to fight or flight)
This returns the body to its resting state.
It works in opposition to the sympathetic division
Often referred to as the rest and digest response
