Biopsychology

• what is the nervous system?

  biological basis for psychological experience
• what does the nervous system break down into?

  Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system.
• what is the peripheral nervous system?

  transmits info to and from central nervous system
• what does the PNS split into?

  Somatic nervous system and Autonomic nervous system
• what is the somatic nervous system?

  info to and from senses and CNS
• what is Autonomic nervous system?


  info to and from internal organs
• what does the autonomic nervous system break into?

  Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
• what is the sympathetic nervous system?

  increases bodily functions - fight or flight
• what is the parasympathetic nervous system?

  maintains or decreases bodily functions - rest and digest
• what does the central nervous system do?

  concerned with all life functions and psychological processes
• what is the CNS split into?

  Brain and spinal cord
• what does the spinal cord do?

  recieves and transmits info to and from brain
• what does the brain do?

  maintains life, involved in higher functions and psychological processes
• what are the three types of neuron?

  Sensory, motor, relay
• how many neurons in brain?

  100 billion
• how many neurons in spinal cord?

  1 billion
• what do neurons do?

  transmit info as electrical impulses around the body
• what order do neurons go in?

  sensory, relay, motor
• what do sensory neurons do?

  transmit impulses from receptors to CNS
• what do relay neurons do?

  transmit impulses between sensory and motor neurons
• what do motor neurons do?

  transmit impulses from CNS to effectors
• Describe the process of neurons?

  Stimulus - receptors - CNS - effectors - response
• what does a sensory and motor neurons have that relay neurons don't?

  mylein sheath
• What does the endocrine system do?

  regulates chemical messages to organs of the body
• what does the endocrine control?

  regulation of hormones - growth, sexual development
• what is the endocrine system controlled by?

  Hypothalamus
• What does the pituitary gland do?

  releases hormones - growth - metabolism
• what does the adrenal gland do?


  adrenal cortex - produces cortisol - maintains life functions in body like low blood sugar

  
  

  Adrenal medulla - produces adrenaline - increases heart rate
• what does the Testes do?

  produces testosterone - linked with puberty and sex drive
• what does the ovaries do?

  produce progesterone - heightens sense of awareness & threat
• what is a synapse?


  A synapse is a junction between two nerve cells where electrical or chemical signals are transmitted.
• when one neuron arrives at the end of a neuron what happens?

  it triggers the release of neurotransmitters molecules from vessels
• what happens when neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft?

  they bind with receptors and trigger another impulse
• outline synaptic transmission?

  • electrical impulse reaches end of a neuron
  • neurotransmitters are released into synaptic cleft
  • they diffuse across
  • they bind to a specific receptor sites in post synaptic knob
  • these trigger an electrical inpulse int the next neuron
  • hormone is secreted
• what are excitatory neurotransmitters?

  Neurotransmitters that increase the likelihood of an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron.
• what are inhibitory neurotransmitters?

  block or prevent the chemical message from being passed along any farther.
• what is fight or flight?

  Response to a perceived threat, the body's physiological response to either confront or flee from the danger.
• Explain the role of fight or flight?

  • hypothalamus activates adrenal medulla - part of the ANS
  • Adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline - body is prepared for danger
  • This leads to the arousal of the sympathetic nervous system - and decreases non-essential bodily functions - i.e. digestion
  • once threat is over the parasympathetic nervous system takes over
• what three things do we inhibit when fight or flight takes place?

  salivation

  digestion

  activity of stomach
• what two things are increased when fight or flight takes place?

  heart rate

  blood pressure