General

• What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

  Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
• What does the Central Nervous System (CNS) consist of?

  The brain and spinal cord
• What is the function of the Central Nervous System (CNS)?

  It processes information and sends out instructions
• What does the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) split into?

  Somatic Nervous System (SNS) and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
• What is the role of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?

  It manages tasks without conscious control
• What are the three types of neurons?

  Sensory, Relay, and Motor neurons
• What is the function of sensory neurons?

  They collect information from our senses
• What do relay neurons do?

  Process and transmit information within the CNS
• What is the function of motor neurons?

  They carry signals to muscles and glands
• How does synaptic transmission work?

  It involves neuron communication via neurotransmitters
• What are neurotransmitters?

  Messengers that carry signals between neurons
• What happens when caffeine blocks adenosine?

  Increased alertness and reduced sleepiness
• What is excitement in synaptic transmission?

  It activates a neuron, making it eager
• What is inhibition in synaptic transmission?

  It slows down a neuron, reducing activity
• What is the function of the endocrine system?

  It uses hormones to control body functions
• How does the endocrine system work with the nervous system?

  It provides slower, long-lasting instructions
• What do glands do in the endocrine system?

  Produce hormones and release them into the bloodstream
• What is the fight or flight response?

  Body's reaction to perceived threat or danger
• What role does adrenaline play in the fight or flight response?

  Boosts heart rate and alertness for action
• What does the motor cortex control?

  Voluntary muscle movements
• What does the somatosensory cortex process?

  Sensory information like touch and temperature
• What is the function of the visual cortex?

  Processes visual information for understanding
• What does the auditory cortex handle?

  Sound processing, including speech and music
• What is Broca's area linked to?

  Speech production
• What happens if Broca's area is damaged?

  Difficulty forming words and sentences
• What is Wernicke's area involved in?

  Language comprehension
• What happens if Wernicke's area is damaged?

  Fluent but nonsensical speech
• What happened in the case of Phineas Gage?

  His personality changed after a brain injury
• What does hemispheric lateralisation refer to?

  Specialised functions of each brain hemisphere
• What is the left hemisphere associated with?

  Language and logical reasoning
• What is the right hemisphere linked to?

  Creativity and spatial awareness
• What did Roger Sperry's split brain research reveal?

  Each hemisphere processes information independently
• What limitation exists in split brain studies?

  Small participant groups limit generalisability
• What is plasticity in the brain?

  Brain's ability to adapt after injury
• What are the two types of brain plasticity?

  Structural and Functional Plasticity
• What is structural plasticity?

  Growth of new neurons and synaptic connections
• What is functional plasticity?

  Redistribution of functions from damaged areas
• What did Maguire et al. (2000) study?

  London taxi drivers' hippocampi size
• What did Maguire et al. (2000) find about taxi drivers?

  They had larger hippocampi than control subjects
• What is a limitation of brain plasticity?

  Plasticity declines with age