Cards AO1

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

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

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

  Controls voluntary movements
• What is the role of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?

  Manages involuntary body functions
• What are the three types of neurons?

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

  Collect information from senses
• What is the function of relay neurons?

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

  Carry signals from CNS to muscles
• How does synaptic transmission work?

  Neurons communicate via neurotransmitters
• What are neurotransmitters?

  Messengers that carry signals between neurons
• What happens when caffeine is consumed?

  Caffeine blocks adenosine, increasing alertness
• What is the difference between excitement and inhibition in synaptic transmission?

  Excitement activates neurons; inhibition slows them
• What is the function of the endocrine system?

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

  Nervous system sends fast messages; endocrine sends slow
• What are glands in the endocrine system?

  Organs that produce and release hormones
• How does the pancreas gland function?

  Releases insulin to regulate blood sugar
• 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
• 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
• What is the function of the auditory cortex?

  Handles sound processing
• 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?

  Personality changed after brain injury
• What does hemispheric lateralisation refer to?

  Specialized functions of each brain hemisphere
• What did Roger Sperry's split brain research reveal?

  Each hemisphere processes information independently
• What is a limitation of 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?

  Taxi drivers had larger hippocampi
• What is a limitation of brain plasticity?

  Plasticity declines with age
• What are maladaptive changes in brain plasticity?

  Plasticity leading to chronic pain