Biopsychology

Question 1

What is the function of the nervous system?

Answer 1

Communication hub of the body- sends signals between neurons

Question 2

What is the structure of the nervous system?

Answer 2

Made up of: CNS and PNS

Question 3

What is the function of the central nervous system?

Answer 3

Origin of all complex commands and decisions- receives, processes, and responds to sensory information

Question 4

What is the structure of the CNS?

Answer 4

Made up of: brain and spinal cord

Question 5

What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 5

Transmits messages, via neurons, to and from the CNS

Question 6

What is the structure of the PNS?

Answer 6

Made up of: SNS and ANS (parasympathetic and sympathetic systems)

Question 7

What is the function of the endocrine system?

Answer 7

Instructs glands to release hormones towards target organs

Question 8

What is the structure of the endocrine system?

Answer 8

Made up of: glands (e.g. thyroid, pituitary)

Question 9

What is the function of the ANS?

Answer 9

Transmits info to and from internal organs- does so involuntarily and has 2 divisions

Question 10

What is the function of the SNS?

Answer 10

Transmits info from the receptor cells to the CNS, and receives info from the CNS to muscles to cause action

Question 11

What is the sympathetic state?

Answer 11

A state of fight or flight

Question 12

What is the parasympathetic state?

Answer 12

A state of rest and digestion

Question 13

What happens in the sympathetic state?

Answer 13

• Increases heart rate
• Increases breathing rate
• Dilates pupils
• Inhibits digestion
• Inhibits saliva production
• Contracts rectum

Question 14

What happens in the parasympathetic state?

Answer 14

• Decreases heart rate
• Decreases breathing rate
• Constricts pupils
• Stimulates digestion
• Stimulates saliva production
• Relaxes rectum

Question 15

What are glands?

Answer 15

Organs in the body that synthesise substances such as hormones

Question 16

What are hormones?

Answer 16

Chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs

Question 17

What are neurons?

Answer 17

Nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals

Question 18

What is the role of sensory neurons?

Answer 18

Carry messages from PNS to CNS

Question 19

What is the role of relay neurons?

Answer 19

Connect sensory neurons to motor and other relay neurons

Question 20

What is the role of motor neurons?

Answer 20

Connect CNS to effectors (e.g. muscles and glands)

Question 21

What is the order of neurons?

Answer 21

Sensory > Relay > Motor

Question 22

What is the structure of sensory neurons?

Answer 22

Long dendrites
Short axons

Question 23

What is the structure of relay neurons?

Answer 23

Short dendrites
Short axons

Question 24

What is the structure of motor neurons?

Answer 24

Short dendrites
Long axons

Question 25

Where are sensory neurons located?

Answer 25

Fully PNS

Question 26

Where are relay neurons located?

Answer 26

Fully CNS

Question 27

Where are motor neurons located?

Answer 27

PNS and CNS

Question 28

What is the function of the brain?

Answer 28

The centre of all conscious awareness

Question 29

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Answer 29

Passes messages to and from the brain, and connects nerves to the PNS

Question 30

What does adrenaline trigger?

Answer 30

Physiological changes in the body, during a time of fight or flight

Question 31

Which neuron does not have a myelin sheath?

Answer 31

Relay neurons

Question 32

What is the function of the nucleus (neurons)?

Answer 32

Contains genetic material of the cell

Question 33

What is the function of dendrites (neurons)?

Answer 33

Carry nerve impulses from neighbouring neurons towards cell body

Question 34

What is the function of the axon (neurons)?

Answer 34

Carries nerve impulses away from the cell body, down the length of the neuron

Question 35

What is the function of the myelin sheath (neurons)?

Answer 35

Protects the axon and speeds up electrical transmission of the impulse

Question 36

What is the function of nodes of ranvier (neurons)?

Answer 36

Speed up transmission of the impulse, by forcing it to jump across the gaps along the axon

Question 37

What is the function of terminal buttons (neurons)?

Answer 37

Communicate with the next neuron in the chain, across a synapse

Question 38

How are signals WITHIN neurons transmitted?

Answer 38

Electrically

Question 39

How are signals BETWEEN neurons transmitted?

Answer 39

Chemically

Question 40

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 40

Brain chemicals that relay signals across the synapse from one neuron to another

Question 41

What is excitation?

Answer 41

When a neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron, it increases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will pass on the electrical impulse

Question 42

What is inhibition?

Answer 42

When a neurotransmitter increases the negative charge of the postsynaptic neuron, it decreases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will pass on the electrical impulse

Question 43

What is summation?

Answer 43

The process that determines whether or not action potential will be generated by the combined effects of inhibitory and excitatory signals