Biopsychology - The Nervous System

• What are the two main roles of the central nervous system?

  Control of behaviour and regulation of physiological processes
• What are the two main components of the central nervous system?


  The brain and the spinal cord
• What is the largest component of the brain?

  The cerebrum
• How is the cerebrum divided?


  It is split into two halves called cerebral hemispheres
• What are the four lobes of the cerebrum?

  • Frontal lobe
  • Occipital lobe
  • Parietal lobe
  • Temporal lobe
• What functions are associated with the frontal lobe?


  Speech, thought, and learning
• What is the role of the temporal lobe?

  Involved with hearing and memory
• What does the parietal lobe process?

  Sensory information
• What is the function of the occipital lobe?

  Processes visual information
• What is the primary responsibility of the cerebellum?

  Controlling motor skills, balance, coordination, and muscles
• What are the two substructures of the diencephalon?

  • Thalamus
  • Hypothalamus
• What is the role of the thalamus?

  Acts as a relay station for nerve impulses from the senses
• What does the hypothalamus regulate?

  Body temperature, hunger, and thirst
• How does the hypothalamus connect the nervous system and the endocrine system?

  By releasing hormones from the pituitary gland
• What functions does the brain stem regulate?


  Automatic functions essential for life such as breathing and heartbeat
• What is the role of motor and sensory neurons in the brain stem?


  They allow impulses to pass between the brain and spinal cord
• Motor neurons have a cell body, short dendrites and a long axon. Their function is to conduct impulses to an effector (muscle or gland). Sensory neurons, on the other hand, have a cell body, long dendrites and a short axon. Their function is to conduct impulses to the Central Nervous System.
• What is synaptic transmission?


  It is the process where messages from one neuron are passed to another neuron.
• How do neurons communicate during synaptic transmission?


  They communicate through neurotransmitters that bridge the synapse gap.
• What is the synapse?

  The synapse is a gap between neurons that neurotransmitters bridge.
• What happens when a nerve impulse reaches the axon terminal?

  It stimulates the release of neurotransmitter molecules into the synapse.
• What do neurotransmitters do after being released into the synapse?

  They diffuse over the postsynaptic membrane of the closest neuron.
• What are synaptic receptors?

  They are structures on the postsynaptic neuron that recognize and are activated by neurotransmitters.
• Name four neurotransmitters mentioned in the study material.

  Dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, and acetylcholine.
• What effects do receptor molecules produce on the postsynaptic neuron?

  They produce either excitatory or inhibitory effects.
• How long does synaptic transmission take?

  It takes only a fraction of a second to occur.
• What is the process called that terminates the effects of neurotransmitters?

  The process is called "re-uptake."
• What happens during re-uptake?

  The neurotransmitter is taken up by the pre-synaptic neuron.
• How does the length of time before re-uptake affect neurotransmitter effects?

  Quicker re-uptake results in shorter effects, while slower re-uptake results in longer effects.
• The spinal cord relays information between the brain and the body, allowing the brain to monitor and regulate bodily processes such as digestion, breathing, and movement coordination.
• The spinal cord also contains reflex arcs, which allow for rapid responses without involving higher brain centers.
• The spinal cord connects to different parts of the body through spinal nerves, which connect to specific muscle groups and glands.
• Spinal nerves from the thoracic region carry messages to the chest and abdomen.
• Circuits of nerve cells enable simple involuntary movements without the brain's direction.
• The peripheral nervous system consists of all the nerves outside the central nervous system.
• The peripheral nervous system relays nerve impulses back and forth between the body and the central nervous system.
• The peripheral nervous system is subdivided into the somatic nervous system (SNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
• The somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary actions like moving your arm or leg.
• The autonomic nervous system controls automatic functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.
• The somatic nervous system transmits visual information from the eyes and auditory information from the ears.