AI - Biopsych

• What is the Central Nervous System primarily composed of?

  Brain and spinal cord
• What are the main roles of the Central Nervous System?

  Communication, control of behavior, and regulating physiological processes
• What does the Peripheral Nervous System do?

  Sends information from the body to the brain and carries out brain commands
• How is the brain divided?

  Into four main areas
• What is the function of the spinal cord?

  It acts as a relay for the brain and body
• What does the Autonomic Nervous System control?

  Involuntary internal processes important for homeostasis
• What is the role of the Somatic Nervous System?

  It carries sensory information to the brain and motor pathways for movement
• What is the function of the Sympathetic Division?

  Involved in fight or flight responses
• What does the Parasympathetic Division do?

  Responsible for slowing down bodily functions
• What are the four areas of the Cerebrum?

  Frontal lobe, occipital lobe, motor cortex, auditory cortex
• What is the function of the Cerebellum?

  Motor skills and balance
• What does the Diencephalon comprise?

  The thalamus and hypothalamus
• What is the role of the brain stem?

  Regulates automatic functions like breathing
• What is a neuron?

  A nerve cell that processes and transmits messages
• How do neurons communicate with muscles?

  By releasing neurotransmitters that bind to receptors
• Where are sensory neurons found and what do they do?

  They carry nerve impulses to the spinal cord and brain, turning them into sensations
• What are the characteristics of sensory neurons?

  Long dendrites and a cell body in the axon

  
• What are the characteristics of relay neurons?

  Short dendrites and axons
• What are the characteristics of motor neurons?

  Short dendrites and long axons
• What is synaptic transmission?

  The process by which neighboring neurons communicate via chemical messages

  
• What happens during an action potential?

  An electrical change travels down the neuron's axon
• What do neurotransmitters do during synaptic transmission?

  They travel across the synaptic gap to bind with receptors on the receiving neuron

  
• What occurs after neurotransmitters bind to receptors?

  The chemical message converts back into an electrical impulse
• What is reuptake in the context of neurotransmitters?

  The process of neurons retrieving neurotransmitters that were not received
• What is the effect of excitatory neurotransmitters?

  They increase the positive charge in the post-synaptic neuron
• What is the effect of inhibitory neurotransmitters?

  They increase the negative charge in the post-synaptic neuron
• What is the result of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters combined?

  They create either a positive or negative post-synaptic potential
• What is the endocrine system?

  A collection of glands that produce hormones regulating various bodily functions

  
• How does the hypothalamus respond to hormones?

  By shutting down the secretion of stimulating hormones
• What is the role of the endocrine system in the fight or flight response?

  It works with the ANS to respond to stressors
• What are the effects of the sympathetic division during fight or flight?

  Increases heart rate, blood pressure, widens bronchi, releases glucose, dilates pupils, slows digestion
• What are the effects of the parasympathetic division?

  Decreases heart rate, blood pressure, narrows bronchi, stores glucose, contracts pupils, restores digestion
• What is lateralisation in the brain?

  The division of the brain into two hemispheres with different functions

  
• What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?

  Frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe

  
• What is the function of Broca’s area?

  Speech production and movement of tongue/lips/air
• What is the function of Wernicke’s area?

  Speech comprehension
• What does the motor cortex control?

  Voluntary movement
• What does the somatosensory cortex detect?

  Feeling and detecting sensations
• What is the role of the visual cortex?

  Processes visual information
• What does the auditory cortex do?

  Understands noise