Biopsychology

• What is the primary function of the nervous system?

  To help all parts of the body communicate with each other
• What are the two main components of the nervous system?

  • Central Nervous System (CNS)
  • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
• What does the Central Nervous System (CNS) include and what is its main function?

  • Includes: spinal cord and brain
  • Main function: processing sensory information
• How does the CNS respond to sensory input?

  It synthesizes sensory input to compute an appropriate motor response
• What are the main functions of the brain?

  • Provides conscious awareness
  • Involved in all psychological processes
  • Consists of many regions responsible for different functions
• What are the four main lobes of the brain and their functions?

  1. Frontal lobe: Higher-order functions (planning, reasoning, decision making)
  2. Parietal lobe: Integrates sensory information, spatial navigation
  3. Temporal lobe: Auditory information processing
  4. Occipital lobe: Visual information processing
• What is the role of the brain stem?

  To connect the brain and spinal cord and control involuntary processes
• What is the primary role of the spinal cord?

  To transfer messages to and from the brain and the rest of the body
• What type of reflex actions does the spinal cord handle?

  Simple reflex actions that do not involve the brain
• What is the role of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

  • To relay messages (nerve impulses) from the CNS to the rest of the body
• What are the two main components of the PNS?

  • Somatic Nervous System
  • Autonomic Nervous System
• What is the function of the Somatic Nervous System?


  • Facilitates communication between the CNS and the outside world
  • Carries sensory information to the spinal cord and brain
  • Provides muscle responses via motor pathways
• What is the role of the Autonomic Nervous System?

  • Plays an important role in homeostasis
  • Maintains internal processes like body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure
• What are the two components of the Autonomic Nervous System?

  • Sympathetic Nervous System
  • Parasympathetic Nervous System
• What is the role of the Parasympathetic Nervous System?

  • Relax the body and return it to its 'normal' resting state
  • Examples: constricts pupils, stimulates salivation, decreases heart rate
• What physiological changes does the Sympathetic Nervous System induce?

  • Prepares the body for fight or flight
  • Examples: dilates pupils, increases heart rate, inhibits digestive activity
• What are the three main types of neurons?

  1. Sensory Neurons
  2. Relay Neurons
  3. Motor Neurons
• What is the function of Sensory Neurons?

  • Found in receptor cells (e.g., eyes, skin)
  • Carry nerve impulses to the spinal cord and brain
  • Translate nerve impulses into sensations
• What is the role of Relay Neurons?

  • Found between sensory input and motor output
  • Allow sensory and motor neurons to communicate
• What is the function of Motor Neurons?


  • Control muscle movements
  • Release neurotransmitters that trigger muscle responses
• What are the parts of a neuron and their functions?

  1. Dendrites: Receive signals from other neurons or sensory receptor cells
  2. Axon: Carries nerve impulses as an electrical signal (action potential)
  3. Myelin sheath: Insulates the axon for faster impulse travel
  4. Axon terminal: Connects to other neurons or organs via synaptic transmission
• What is synaptic transmission?

  • Process of passing information down the axon as an electrical impulse (action potential)
  • Involves neurotransmitters crossing the synaptic gap to activate postsynaptic receptors
• What are excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters?

  • Excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g., noradrenaline) make the postsynaptic cell more likely to fire
  • Inhibitory neurotransmitters (e.g., GABA) make the postsynaptic cell less likely to fire
• What is the role of the Endocrine System?

  • A network of glands that secrete hormones
  • Uses blood vessels to transport hormones to target cells
• What is the function of the hypothalamus in the endocrine system?

  • Stimulates or controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland
  • Acts as the control system regulating the endocrine system
• Why is the pituitary gland referred to as the master gland?


  • It controls and stimulates the release of hormones from other glands in the endocrine system
• What hormones are released by the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland?

  • Anterior lobe: Adrenocortical trophic hormone (ACTH) stimulates cortisol release
  • Posterior lobe: Oxytocin is responsible for uterine contractions during childbirth
• What is the main hormone released by the pineal gland and its function?

  • Melatonin: Responsible for important biological rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle
• What is the role of the thyroid gland?

  • Releases thyroxine, which regulates metabolism
• What hormones are released by the adrenal gland and their functions?

  • Adrenal medulla: Adrenaline and noradrenaline for fight or flight response
  • Adrenal cortex: Cortisol stimulates glucose release and suppresses the immune system
• What hormones do the ovaries and testes release?

  • Ovaries: Oestrogen regulates the female reproductive system
  • Testes: Testosterone develops male sex characteristics and promotes muscle growth
• What happens when a person enters a stressful situation?

  1. Amygdala activates and sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus
  2. Hypothalamus activates the Sympathomedually Pathway (SAM pathway)
  3. SNS stimulates the Adrenal Medulla
  4. Adrenal Medulla secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline
  5. Physiological changes prepare the body for fight or flight
• What physiological changes occur during the fight or flight response?

  • Increased heart rate: Increases blood flow to organs
  • Increased breathing rate: Increases oxygen intake
  • Pupil dilation: Increases light intake and vision
  • Sweat production: Regulates temperature
  • Reduction of non-essential functions: Increases energy for essential functions
• What is the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic states?

  • Sympathetic state: Physiological arousal (fight or flight)
  • Parasympathetic state: Resting state (rest and digest)
• What is the 'tend and befriend' response in females?

  • A response to stress where females protect their offspring and form alliances with other women
  • Proposed by Taylor et al. (2000)
• What are the limitations of the fight or flight response in modern society?

  • Can have negative effects on health (e.g., increased blood pressure)
  • May not be suitable for modern stressors that are not life-threatening
• What response did Taylor provide evidence for in females?

  Tend and befriend response
• Why is the tend and befriend response significant in understanding female behavior?

  It provides an alternate explanation applicable to females, unlike the fight or flight response.
• What is a limitation of the fight or flight response in modern society?

  It can have a negative effect on health.
• How was the fight or flight response useful for our ancestors?

  It helped them react to genuinely life-threatening situations.