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psychology 3/4 > unit 3 aos1 nervous system > Flashcards

unit 3 aos1 nervous system Flashcards

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1
Q

what does the human nervous system do? (+2 types)

A

enables the brain and the body to exchange neural messages and communicate with one another. Includes the central and peripheral nervous system)

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2
Q

neuron

A

an individual nerve cell that is specialised to receive, process and/or transmit information within the nervous system

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3
Q

3 types of neurons

A

motor, sensory and interneurons

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4
Q

motor neurons (efferent)

A

transmit neural messages about motor movement from the central nervous system to the peripheral

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5
Q

sensory neurons

A

transmit neural messages about bodily sensations from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system

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6
Q

interneurons

A

transfer neural messages between sensory neurons and motor neurons. the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) is made up of interneurons

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7
Q

what are the 2 types of responses the nervous system can make

A

conscious and unconscious

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8
Q

conscious responses

A

deliberate and voluntary actions that are intentionally initiated by the brain and performed by the body

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9
Q

unconscious responses

A

automatic and involuntary actions that are performed by the body independently of the brain in response to external and internal sensory stimuli.

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10
Q

the role of the central nervous system (+2 organs)

A

the brain and the spinal cord; processes and coordinates responses to sensory stimuli

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11
Q

ascending tracts

A

transmit sensory messages from the peripheral nervous system to the brain

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12
Q

descending tracts

A

transmit motor messages from the brain to the peripheral nervous system

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13
Q

3 steps of the brain as a control centre

A
  1. the brain recieves the sensory info. 2. processes it, integrates it and organises it. 3. initiates a bodily response to the skeletal muscles to respond to the stimuli.
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14
Q

role of the peripheral nervous system

A

all the nerves outside of the central nervous system that carry messages between the central nervous system and muscles, organs and glands throughout the body.

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15
Q

what are the 2 divisions of the peripheral nervous system

A

somatic and autonomic

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16
Q

somatic nervous system

A

subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information to the central nervous system and motor information to the body

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17
Q

5 steps of the conscious response

A
  1. the sensory stimulus comes into contact with sensory receptors 2. the sensory neural message is transmitted through afferent pathways to the brain 3. the brain then processes the sensory info and coordinates a conscious motor response 4. this motor neural message is then sent via efferent pathways to the skeletal muscles 5. the skeletal muscles carry out the motor response
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18
Q

sensory receptors

A

nerve endings that detect internal sensations in the body and external sensations from the environment.

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19
Q

the autonomic nervous system

A

subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that controls visceral muscles, organs and glands which are not connected to the skeleton and are predominantly self-regulating and do not require conscious control.

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20
Q

what are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?

A

sympathetic and parasympathetic

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21
Q

sympathetic nervous system and its main physiological response

A

becomes dominant when a person is confronted with a threat or stressor. it’s main physiological response is to energise the body (preparing it to confront or escape the threat or stressor)

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22
Q

parasympathetic nervous system and its main physiological response

A

becomes dominant during rest and physical inactivity. it’s main physiological response is to maintain optimal and balanced functioning.

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23
Q

8 sympathetic responses

A

heart rate increases, breathing rate increases, pupils dilate, adrenal glands secrete stress hormones, sweat glands are activated, digestionn is inhibited, the bladder relaxes, the body releases more glucose

24
Q

why does heart rate increase during the sympathetic response?

A

to increase blood flow as it enables high levels of physical activity

25
Q

why do the pupils dilate during the sympathetic response?

A

to allow more light to enter the eyes, improving vision

26
Q

why do the adrenal glands secrete stress hormones?

A

they secrete stress hormones such as adrenaline to energise the body

27
Q

8 parasympathetic responses

A

heart beats at a steady rate, lung airways constrict, pupils constrict, adrenal glands do not secrete stress hormones, sweat glands are regulated, digestion occurs normally, the bladder constricts, the body releases less glucose

28
Q

how does the heart beat during the parasympathetic response?

A

at a steady and regular rate that supports optimal and balanced functioning

29
Q

what happens to the lungs during the parasympathetic response?

A

lung airways constrict enabling a steady and regular breathing rate

30
Q

why does the body release less glucose during the parasympathetic response?

A

to allow the body to rest and prevent the depletion of energy stores

31
Q

spinal reflex

A

an unconscious response to sensory stimuli that is initiated by interneurons in the spinal cord independently of the brain.

32
Q

what is the spinal reflex’s purpose?

A

to protect the body from injury/harm and increase chances of survival. This is why it is an adaptive response.

33
Q

3 steps of the spinal reflex

A
  1. a dangerous or harmful sensory stimulus is detected by sensory receptors and this message is sent to the spinal cord via the somatic nervous system 2. an interneuron in the spinal cord immediately relays this signal to a motor neuron, initiating an unconscious response 3. motor message is transmitted via motor neurons in the somatic nervous system to skeletal muscles
34
Q

neural transmission

A

an electrical impulse that occurs when a neuron is activated or fires

35
Q

neurochemicals

A

neurons communicate with one another through the release of neurochemicals.

36
Q

2 types of neurochemicals

A

neurotransmitter and neuromodulator

37
Q

4 steps of neurotransmission

A
  1. Neurochemicals are produced in the axon terminals of the presynaptic neuron.
  2. Neurochemicals are released from the axon terminals of the presynaptic neuron into the synaptic gap.
  3. Neurochemicals bind to receptor sites on the dendrites of the postsynaptic neuron.
  4. Neurochemicals affect the postsynaptic neuron, either triggering or inhibiting a response.
38
Q

neurotransmitter (+2 types)

A

a chemical produced by neurons that carries messages to other neurons or cells within the nervous system. it directly effects change in the neuron it is binded to. exitatory and inhibitory

39
Q

excitatory neurotransmitters

A

neurotransmitters, which have an excitatory effect on the postsynaptic neuron – more likely to fire action potential. includes glutamate

40
Q

inhibitory neurotransmitters

A

which have an inhibitory effect on the postsynaptic neuron – less likely to fire an action potential. includes gaba

41
Q

glutamate’s role in functioning

A

an important role in learning and memory. the excitatory effects form and strengthen synaptic connections between neurons that are repeatedly activated during learning. enables synaptic plasticity

42
Q

GABA’s role in functioning

A

an important role in regulating post synaptic activation, preventing the overexcitement of neurons. GABA reduces anxiety by inhibiting neural signals that contribute to anxiety.

43
Q

neuromodulators (+2 examples)

A

alters the inhibitory or excitatiory functions of neurotransmitter signals. effects change in multiple neurons and creates a long lasting response. includes dopamine and serotonin

44
Q

dopamine’s effect

A

they can have exitatory and inhibitory effects on the post synaptic neuron depending on the type of receptor sites present at the particular brain location.

45
Q

dopamine’s role in functioning

A

has an important role in coordinating voluntary motor movement and reward-based learning. behaviours that cause the release of dopamine include any behaviour that recieves a reward. increases motivation to undertake these reward based activities.

46
Q

serotonin’s effect

A

inhibitory effects on the postsynaptic neuron

47
Q

serotonin’s role in functioning

A

role in mood regulation and stabilisation. low levels of serotonin are associated with depression. role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle, therefore serotonin influences the quality and quantity of your sleep

48
Q

synaptic plasticity (+2 types)

A

the ability of synaptic connections to change over time in response to activity or experience. changes include the formation, strengthening or weakening of synaptic connections. two forms are long term potentiation and long term depression.

49
Q

long term potentiation

A

the long lasting and experience dependent strengthening of synaptic connections that are regularly activated at high intensity stimulation

50
Q

what happens during learning and memory?

A

neurotransmitters are repeatedly released into the synaptic gap by axon terminals of the presynaptic neuron and recieved by receptor sites on the dendrites of post synaptic neurons.

51
Q

3 structural changes during LTP

A

increased number of receptor sites on the postsynaptic neuron. bushier dendrites and increased synaptic connections on the postsynaptic neuron due to sprouting

52
Q

long term depression

A

the long lasting and experience based weakening of synaptic connection between neurons that are not regularly coactivated

53
Q

3 structural changes during LTD

A

decreased number of receptor sites of the post synaptic neuron, decreased number of dendrites and synaptic connections on the postsynaptic neuron due to pruning

54
Q

3 mechanisms of synaptic plasticity

A

sprouting, rerouting, pruning

55
Q

sprouting

A

the ability of dendrites or axons to develop new extensions or branches

56
Q

pruning

A

the elimination of synaptic connections that are not adequately activated

57
Q

rerouting

A

the formation of new connections between neurons to establish alternative neural pathways

psychology 3/4 (2 decks)

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