Biopsychology

• Nervous system


  • Collects, processes and responds to info in the environment.
  • Co-ordinates the workings of different organs.
  • Made up of Central Nervous System and the Peripheral nervous system. 
• Central Nervous System (Brain + Spinal cord)


  Brain is centre of all conscious awareness.

  ->Frontal lobe: High order functions.

  ->Temporal lobe: Auditory information.

  ->Occipital lobe: Visual information.

  ->Parietal lobe: Integrates info from 5 senses.
• C.N.S (Spinal cord)

  • "The extension of the brain"
  • Responsible for reflex actions like pulling your hand away from a hot plate.
  • Passes messages to/from the brain and connects nerves to peripheal nervous system.
• Peripheral Nervous system

  • Transmits messages via millions of neurons to/from the central nervous system.
  • Made up of the Autonomic nervous system and the Somatic nervous system.
• Somatic Nervous system

  Carries sensory information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system and controls the muscles in our limbs.
• Autonomic Nervous System(Fight or Flight)

  • Governs vital functions of the body (breathing, heart rate etc.)
  • Made up of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
• Sympathetic nervous system

  • Increases heart rate, blood pressure, inhibits saliva production, bronchi relaxes, inhibits digestion systems and bladder contractions.
• Parasympathetic nervous system

  Reverses the changes made by the sympathetic nervous system. Decreases heart rate, constricts pupils, bronchi constricted.