biopsychology

Created by

evie

Cards (57)

what are the main functions of the nervous system
process and respond to information
co-ordinate the working of organs and cells
what two components make up the nervous system
central nervous system
peripheral nervous system
what does the cns consist of
brain and spinal cord
what lobes does the brain consist of
frontal
parietal
temporal
occipital
what is the role of the occipital lobe
processes visual information
what is the role of the temporal lobe
processes auditory information
what is the role of the parietal lobe
integrates information from senses and play a role in spatial navigation
what is the role of the frontal lobe
higher order functions: planning, reasoning and logic
what is the role of the spinal cord
transfers message to and from brain to rest of body
responsible for simple reflex actions that don’t involve the brain
what are the two components of the peripheral nervous system
somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system
what is the role of the somatic nervous system
communication between cns and outside world to carry sensory information to the brain and provide muscles responses for voluntary movements
what two components make up the autonomic nervous system
sympathetic nervous system
parasympathetic nervous system
what is the role of the autonomic nervous system
important in homeostasis to maintain internal processes
what is the role of the sympathetic nervous system
prepares body for fight or flight, impulses are transmitted to organs to prepare us
increases heart rate and breathing rate
what is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system
returns body to normal resting state
reduces blood pressure and breathing rate
what are the three neurones
sensory
relay
motor
what is the function of sensory neurones
found in receptors (eyes,skin) which carry nerve impulses to spinal cord and brain
what is the function of relay neurones
connect sensory neurones to motor neurones, found in brain and spinal cord to allow communication
what is the role of motor neurones
found in central nervous system, controls muscle movements
causes release of neurotransmitters to trigger a response
what is the process of synaptic transmission
electrical impulse travels down axon of the pre synaptic neurone
impulse reached synaptic terminal
triggers release of neurotransmitters from vesicles
neurotransmitters fired into synaptic gap
neurotransmitters bind with receptors on post synaptic neurone
neurotransmitters are then taken up by post synaptic neurone
what is excitation  
increase positive charge of post synaptic neurone
what is inhibition 
increase the negative charge of post synaptic neurone
(decrease likelihood of electrical impulse being passed on)
what is the endocrine system
glands secrete chemical messages (hormones) to regulate bodily functions
what organs make up the endocrine system
pineal
thyroid
hypothalamus
ovaries
testes
adrenal medulla
adrenal cortex
what is the role of each hormone
melatonin: regulates sleep
thyroxine: regulates metabolism
oestrogen: development of female reproductive system
testosterone: development of sex organs
adrenaline: fight or flight
what is localisation of function
idea that certain functions have certain locations or areas within the brain
what are the areas of the brain
motor
somatosensory
visual
auditory
brocas
wernickes
what is plasticity  
brains ability to change and adapt from a experience and new learning
what is synaptic pruning
rarely used connections are deleted and frequently used are strengthened
what is hemispheric lateralisation
two halves of brain are functionally different
what is the left hemisphere responsible for
language
what is the right hemisphere responsible for
visual motor tasks (drawing)
what’s the role of the corpus callosum
connects two hemispheres to allow communication
what are the ways of studying the brain
fmri
eeg
erp’s
post mortem examinations
what is an fmri
detects change in blood oxygenation due to activity in parts of brain from 3d images
what are strengths and weaknesses
strength: pinpoints differences
non invasive
limitations: slower then eeg
what is eeg 
electrical activity produced brain wave patterns used to detect unusual activity
what are strengths and limitations of eeg
strengths: non invasive
fast
inexpensive
limitations: hard to determine where pattern originates from
what is erp’s
measured response to a stimulus and measures brain activity
what are strengths and limitations of erp’s
strengths: non invasive fast
fast
inexpensive
limitations: hard to determine where pattern originates from