Biopsych - Topic Summary

Question 1

CNS

Answer 1

Coordinates incoming sensory information and sends instructions to other parts of the NS. Made up of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 2

Brain

Answer 2

Centre of conscious awareness

Question 3

Spinal cord

Answer 3

It is responsible for reflex actions.

Question 4

Cerebral cortex

Answer 4

highly developed in humans and distinguishes our higher mental functions from other animals

Question 5

PNS

Answer 5

Consists of network of nerve fibres. Sends information to the CNS from the outside world and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body.

Question 6

SNS

Answer 6

It controls conscious movement as it sends instructions from the CNS to effectors. Made up of myelinated neurons because it needs to act quickly.

Question 7

ANS

Answer 7

Responsible for control of involuntary bodily functions which are not consciously directed such as breathing, digestive processes and sexual arousal.

Question 8

ANS > SNS

Answer 8

works with the endocrine system to get the body prepared for fight or flight by exerting energy.

Question 9

ANS > PNS

Answer 9

works with the endocrine system to return the body to its normal resting state.

Question 10

Reflex arc

Answer 10

• Stimulus detections
• Sensory neuron activation
• Relay neuron
• Motor neuron activation
• Effector response

Question 11

Neurons

Answer 11

neurons are nerve cells which are part of the nervous system they transmit signals two ways electrically or chemically.

Question 12

The structure of neurons

Answer 12

• cell body: includes a nucleus this contains genetic material of the cell.
• Axons: covered in a myelin sheath, which speeds up electrical transmission of the impulse away from the cell body.
• Dendrites: protrude from the cell body these carry nerve impulses from neighbouring neurons towards the cell body.
• Myelin sheath: segmented by gaps called nodes of ranvier these speed up transmission by forcing it to jump across the gaps along the axon.

Question 13

Sensory neurons

Answer 13

they have long dendrites and short axons. Carry messages from the sense receptors in the PNS to the CNS. they convert a specific type of stimulus via their receptors into action potentials. They take information from the receptor to the CNS.

Question 14

Reflex arc

Answer 14

• Stimulus detection:
• Sensory neuron activation:
• Relay neuron:
• Motor neuron activation:
• Effector response:

Question 15

Motor neuron

Answer 15

these neurons communicate information from the brain tissues and organs throughout the body allowing movement they have short dendrites and long axons. Take messages from the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands.