Week 2: Peripheral nervous systems and basic behaviours

Question 1

Branches of the PNS

Answer 1

Somatic Nervous System & Autonomic Nervous System

Question 2

Somatic Nervous System:

Answer 2

Skeletal muscles, under voluntary control, motor and sensory nerves. Walking, exercising, intentional movements are all ‘controlled’ by the somatic nervous system

Question 3

Autonomic Nervous System:

Answer 3

Parallel to spinal cord, smooth muscles (e.g., heart, blood vessels, intestine, glands), under involuntary control. Digestion, breathing, heartrate, are all ‘regulated’ by the autonomic nervous system.

The ANS is also responsible for homeostasis.

The ANS is further broken down into two main branches: sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Question 4

Sympathetic nervous system:

Answer 4

‘alert system’ - this is what is activated when we need to react to something e.g., stress response/fight-flight. This is the activation/arousal system and gets the body ready for action

Question 5

Parasympathetic nervous system:

Answer 5

‘rest and digest’ system - inhibits activation, or helps the body return to baseline/homeostasis.

Question 6

Infant reflexes

Answer 6

Moro reflex (startle response)
Rooting reflex (to find the nipple)
Sucking reflex (to aid feeding)
Grasping reflex (palmar - hand, plantar - foot)
Diving reflex (hold breath under water, breathe when air flows over face)
Tonic neck position

Question 7

Instincts

Answer 7

Salmon spawning - return to the same breeding grounds every year, not taught.
Turtle hatchlings heading to the sea after hatching
Whales migrating
Birds performing elaborate dances for their prospective mates

Question 8

Animal models in research

Answer 8

The Skinner box: Skinner created a box that was capable of reward and punishment, and was able to demonstrate how these processes led to learning.
Avian: rat studies of reward system
Harlow’s attachment models with Rhesus monkeys