U3 AOS1 Flashcards
Central NS
Receives information from peripheral nervous system, processes and then responds
Brain and spinal
Peripheral NS
Complete network of neutrons outside of the CNS
consist of glands, organs and muscles, carries messages to and from the CNS
Somatic NS
Network of neutrons within body that transmit information from the receptor sites on the sense organs to the CNS and carries information from CNS to muscles to control movement
Autonomic NS
Transmit motor messages from the brain to the body’s internal organs and glands resulting in their involuntary activity
Operates independently of the brain
Sympathetic NS
Alter the activity levels of internal muscles, organs and glands to physically prepare our body for increased activity during high physical arousal
Fight Flight Freeze
Involuntary reaction resulting in a state of physiological readiness to deal with an acute stressor or immediate threat
Conscious Response
Voluntary, controlled by the cognitive processes of the brain
Unconscious Response
Involuntary (stomach contractions)
Spinal Reflex
- automatic process initiated by inter neurons in spinal cord rather than brain
- sensory message intercepted and split at spinal cord
- motor response generated and sent back to sensory site resulting in rapid response
- sensory message continues to brain and hence pain/effects noticeable only after reaction
Neuron
Basic building blocks of nervous system, specialised to communicate information around the body
Motor, inter and sensory
Dendrites
Receive messages from other cells
Soma
Cells life and support centre
Nucleus
Processes incoming information
Myelin Sheath
White fatty coating that covers axon of some neutrons to help speed up neural impulses and prevents interference with other neurons
Axon
Passes impulses away from the cell body towards other neurons
Terminal buttons/Axon Terminal
Form a junction with other cells
Initiates communication between two neurons across synapse
Release neurotransmitters to convey message to next Neuron
Neural communication
Is an electro chemicals process
Electrical when travelling along axon
Chemical at axon terminal through neurotransmitters
Neural communication in depth
- Axon potential reaches tip axon terminal pre syn Neuron, neurotransmitters released synaptic gap
- neurotransmitters stored in synaptic vesicles, action potential reaches axon terminal, vesicles move to membrane surface, release
- neurotransmitters carry chemical message across synapse to post syn neuron receptor sites
- receptor sites work in lock and key process
Lock and key process
Only the neurotransmitters that are the right chemical shape to fit into the receptors on the post synaptic neurons dendrites will be admitted into that Neuron
Excitatory effect
Increases the likelihood of the post synaptic Neuron firing (trigger an action potential)
Glutamate is the most common excitatory neurotransmitter
Inhibitory effects
Decreases the likelihood of the post synaptic Neuron firing (triggering an action potential)
GABA (gama amino butyric acid) is the major inhibitory Neuron of the brain
Parkinson’s disease
- Progressive neurodegenerative disease
- neurons of substantia Nigra begin degenerating
- substantia Nigra is located within the basal ganglia
- basal ganglia works with motor cortex to control voluntary movement, ensuring it is smooth and coordinated
- neurons of substantia Nigra responsible for release of dopamine
- dopamine is a neurotransmitter controlling motor information
- degeneration of neurons in SN results in less dopamine
- less dopamine results in nerves tending to fire in an uncontrollable manner, leading to difficulty controlling movement
Parkinson’s motor symptoms
Bradykinesia: slowness of vol movement Akinesia: lack of voluntary movement Abnormal posture Reduced coordination and balance Tremors
Non motor symptoms of Parkinson’s
Anosmia: decrease or loss of smell Sleep disturbance and fatigue Dementia Anxiety and depression Cognitive side effects: impaired memory, thinking slowness
Stressor
Any stimulus that produces stress Physical: temperature Psychological: break up Internal: within the body (thoughts) External: outside the body (environment)
Stress
A state of psychological and physiological arousal/tension
Produced by internal and external forces
Perceived to challenge or exceed a persons ability/resources to cope
Eustress
Positive psychological response to a stressor, when stress is beneficial or desirable
Feeling: enthusiastic, motivated, excited
Distress
Negative psychological response to a stressor, when stress is undesirable
Feeling: angry, nervous, anxious
Types of stressors
Daily pressure Life events Acculturative Major Catastrophe
Daily pressure
Irritating, frustrating, distressing demands that typically characterise everyday transactions with the environment
(Homework)
Life events
Often involves changes and strain and create demands to which people must adjust
(Giving birth)
Acculturative
Stress people experience in trying to adapt to a new culture
(Migration)
Major
An event that is extraordinarily stressful or disturbing for almost everyone who experiences it
(Death)
Catastrophe
Sudden, unpredictable, large scale events that nearly everyone appraises as threatening
(Natural disaster)
Freeze Response
Staying still or silent to avoid detection
- muscles don’t function properly, known as tonic immobility
- enhances survival by avoiding detection till an opportunity to escape arises
- proposed that both sympathetic and parasympathetic are both in high state of arousal
Cortisol
- Stress hormone, energises body, increasing energy supply and enhancing metabolism in long term
- produced in adrenal glands, act upon liver to secrete glucose into blood for muscles to use as energy
- Has anti inflammatory effect by blocking activity of white blood cells that contribute to inflammation
- suppresses immune system (immunosuppresant) activity to divert energy to body’s stress combating efforts, may increase vulnerability to viral and bacterial infection
Selyes General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Biological Model
Stage 1: Alarm Reaction, Shock and Countershock
Stage 2: Resistance
Stage 3: Exhaustion
Stage 1: Alarm Reaction: Shock
Person/animal first becomes aware of the stressor and the body goes into a temporary state of distress or fright
Stage 1: Alarm Reaction: Countershock
Sympathetic NS activates the muscles, organs and glands to increase body’s resistance to stressor
Stage 2: Resistance
- body’s ability to tackle stressor rises above normal
- all unnecessary physiological processes shut down
- blood glucose, cortisol and adrenaline circulate at elevated levels
- immune system suppressed: vulnerable to viral/bacterial infection
Stage 3: Exhaustion
- resources to resist stress deplete, resistance to stress falls below normal level
- signs of wear and tear evident
- physiological defences break down, greatly increased vulnerability to serious or life threatening diseases (ulcers, acne)
Strengths of GAS
- measures a predictable pattern that can be measured in individuals
- tracks a biological pattern in different types of stress
Limitations of GAS
- research conducted on rats, difficult to generalise
- does not account for individual differences or psychological factors
Chronic stress
Prolonged physiological arousal in response to a persistent stressor,
negative effect on health and wellbeing
Acute stressor
Brief but intense physiological arousal in response to an immediate perceived stressor
Normally no negative effect
Lazarus and Folkmans Transaction Model of Stress and Coping
Stress involves a transaction between the individual and environment
Coping will depend on the appraisal of the situation by the individual and their ability to cope
Primary Appraisal
Evaluation of the significance of a stressor/event
Harm/Loss: some type of damage has already been done
Threat: may be future harm or loss
Challenge: opp for personal growth or possible positive outcome
Neutral/irrelevant/benign: little or no importance and therefore no stress
Secondary Appraisal
An assessment of people’s coping resources and options
Appraisal is made on more of a conscious level
Reappraisal: appraisal that follows earlier appraisal to the same stressor and modifies it
Coping
Process of constantly changing cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage specific internal and/or external stressors that are appraised as taxing or stressful
Problem focused coping
Looks at the causes of the stressor from a practical perspective and works out ways to manage or change the problems/stressful situation
(Pros vs Cons, taking control, information seeking)
Used when we perceive some control over stressor
Emotion focused coping
Trying to reduce the negative emotional feelings associated with the stressor
(Meditation, relaxation, physical exercise)
Used when perceive to have little or no control over stressor
Strengths of Transaction model
- emphasise active role individuals have in stress as opposed to passive role in GAS
- emphasis the personal and individual nature of cognitive appraisal, helps explain difference in responses by individuals to same stressor
Limitations of transaction model
- subjective nature, variability, and complexity of individual responses means less reliable
- primary and secondary appraisal can occur simultaneously
- did not account for cultural, social or environmental factors
Approach strategies
Focusing affective, behavioural and cognitive towards stressor
May involve encountering, attending to or acknowledging stressor
Can be both emotion and problem based copying
Avoidance strategies
Focus ABC’s away from stressor
May include denial, repression, distraction, etc
Context specific effectiveness
A good fit between coping strategy used and the stressful situation
Factors to consider: physical environment, stressor and individual
Coping flexibility
Ability to effectively modify coping behaviours according to stressor
Discontinue ineffective coping strategies (evaluate coping)
Produce and implement alternative coping strategy (adaptive coping)
Context Specific Effectiveness + Coping Flexibility
Equals no stress
Physical exercise
Releases endorphins (chemicals that promote a feeling of wellbeing)
Provides an avenue for people to expel built up tension or stress
Uses up stress hormones which reduces stress levels
