A2 - Biopsychology. Nervous System and Endocrine System Flashcards Preview

AQA A level Psychology > A2 - Biopsychology. Nervous System and Endocrine System > Flashcards

Flashcards in A2 - Biopsychology. Nervous System and Endocrine System Deck (36)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

What does the Somatic Nervous System control?

A

Muscle Movement and receiving sensory information from receptors

2
Q

What does the CNS consist of?

A

The brain and the spinal cord

3
Q

Define Adrenaline:

A

A hormone produced by the adrenal glands, part of the immediate stress response.
Increases Heart Rate
Contracts Blood Vessels
Dilates Air Passages

4
Q

What happens to a neuron when it is activated?

A

The inside of the cell becomes positively charged for a split second, causing an action potential to occur.

This creates an electrical impulse down the nerve cell

5
Q

What is the Fight or Flight system?

A

The way an animal responds when a threat is perceived, the body becomes ready to either fight a threat, or flee from it.

6
Q

What is an Excitatory Neurotransmitter?

A

A Neurotransmitter that increases the likelihood a neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse

7
Q

What is a dendrite?

A

Long branch like structures that protrude from the cell body, connect to other neurons (connects to their axons)

8
Q

What are axons?

A

A long channel on a neuron, which carries electrical impulses, and has synapses at the end. Can be up to a metre long.

9
Q

List biological changes to the body in the Sympathetic State

A
Heart rate and breathing rate increases
Dilates Pupils
Inhibits Digestion
Inhibits production of saliva
Contracts Rectum
10
Q

What charge does a neuron have in it’s resting state?

A

A negative charge

11
Q

What are nodes of ranvier?

A

Gaps in the Myelin Sheath that speed up transmission of electrical impulses

12
Q

What is the Autonomic Nervous System?

A

part of the Peripheral System, governs functions like breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress response

13
Q

What does the pituitary gland control?

A

The release of other hormones in the body, eg those involved in the menstrual cycle.

14
Q

What is a gland?

A

An organ in the body that synthesises (makes) substances such as hormones

15
Q

What is an Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

A

A neurotransmitter which decreases the likelihood a neuron will fire and pass on an electrical impulse

16
Q

List biological changes in the parasympathetic state

A
Heart rate and breathing rate decreases
Constricts Pupils
Stimulates Digestion
Stimulates production of saliva
Relaxes Rectum
17
Q

What are neurons separated by?

A

Synapses

18
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemicals that relay signals across the synapse from one neuron to another.

19
Q

Which type of neuron is connected to an effector? (Eg a muscle)

A

A motor Neuron

20
Q

What are the three types of Neuron?

A

Sensory
Relay
Motor

21
Q

Why might someone who is permanently stressed, eg has a stressful job, get ill more often?

A

A prolonged stressor stimulates the production of cortisol, which inhibits the immune system, meaning getting ill is easier.

22
Q

What effects does cortisol have?

A

Releases stored glucose from the liver (for energy)
Controls swelling after injury
Suppresses immune system

23
Q

What is the myelin sheath?

A

A fatty layer which coats the axon, insulating the axon, which protects the axon, and increases the speed of the electrical impulses.

24
Q

What does the hormone thyroxine do?

A

Increases heart rate, produced in the thyroid gland

25
Q

What are the two main Nervous Systems?

A

The Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System

26
Q

What is a hormone?

A

A chemical which circulates in the blood stream, and affects certain cells (those with receptors for that hormone)

27
Q

What does the peripheral nervous system consist of

A

All the other nerves in your body, that make up the ANS and the SNS

28
Q

Why are there gaps in the Myelin Sheath?

A

If the Myelin Sheath was constant, it wouldn’t speed up transmission, it would slow it down. The gaps increase the efficiency of the electrical impulses

29
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

The system in which hormones are secreted and received, for example adrenaline

30
Q

What is an SSRI?

A

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor

The drug slows the reuptake of serotonin once it reaches the synapse, ensuring it stays active in the brain for longer

31
Q

Outline the bodily response to an immediate stressor

A

The hypothalamus activates the adrenal medulla
The adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline
This arouses the sympathetic nervous system

Once the threat is over the parasympathetic system is aroused

32
Q

What type of neuron connects the peripheral nervous system and the Central Nervous system?

A

A Relay Neuron

33
Q

Outline the Bodily Response to a Prolonged Stressor

A

The Hypothalamus stimulates the Pituitary Gland
The Pituitary Gland Secretes ACTH
ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce Cortisol
Cortisol helps the body maintain high blood sugar through the stress

34
Q

A* QUESTION

how does an excitatory neurone increase the likelihood of an action potential?

A

It allows sodium ion channels to open, which allows the positively charged sodium ions into the axon, triggering an action potential

35
Q

A* QUESTION

how does an Inhibitory neurotransmitter prevent an action potential from occurring?

A

It either stimulates the closing of sodium ion channels, preventing positively charged sodium ions from entering the neurone, or it opens chloride ion channels, allowing negatively charged ions into the cell

36
Q

Name three neurotransmitters

A

Serotonin
Dopamine
Glutamate

Could also have:

Acetylcholine
Noradrenaline