Biopsychology

Question 1

What is the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 1

sends information to the CNS from the outside world, and transmits messages form the CNS to muscles and glands in the body

Question 2

What are the 2 divisions of the PNS?

Answer 2

Autonomic and Somatic

Question 3

What is the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 3

transmits information to and from internal bodily organs, the system operates involuntarily and has two main divisions, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Question 4

What is the somatic nervous system?

Answer 4

transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS, it also receives information form the CNS that directs muscles to act

Question 5

What are the 2 divisions of the ANS?

Answer 5

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

Question 6

What does the sympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 6

increases bodily functions to prepare for action; fight or flight

Question 7

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 7

decreases bodily functions to conserve energy; rest and digest

Question 8

What is the function of the sensory neuron?

Answer 8

carries information from sensory receptor to spinal cord and brain (CNS)

Question 9

What is the function of the relay neuron?

Answer 9

located in the brain and spinal cord (CNS) allows motor and sensory neurons to communicate

Question 10

What is the function of the motor neuron?

Answer 10

located in the PNS, it directly or indirectly controls muscles

Question 11

What is the structure of the sensory neuron?

Answer 11

looks like an alien; long dendrites and short axon

Question 12

What is the structure of the relay neuron?

Answer 12

looks like a spider web; short dendrites and short axon

Question 13

What is the structure of the motor neuron?

Answer 13

looks a spider web with a long body; short dendrites and long axon

Question 14

What is the structure of a neuron?

Answer 14

• the DENDRITE (receptor) receive a signal
• the signal is carried towards a CELL BODY (which contains the nucleus)
• the signal travels along an AXON (which is protected by MYLEIN SHEATHS) towards the AXON TERMINAL
• TERMINAL BUTTONS at the end of the axon pass the electrical signal to the next neuron in the chain

Question 15

What is the process of synaptic transmission? there are 6 steps

Answer 15

1) electrical impulses travels down the pre-synaptic neuron to the terminal button and reaches the vesicles
2) it stimulates the release of neurotransmitters from the vesicles
3) these bind to receptors, depending on shape
4) receptors are then stimulated
5) the electrical impulse is then reformed in the post-synaptic neuron
6) all neurotransmitters are re-up-taken by the re-up-taker

Question 16

What is excitation?

Answer 16

when a neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the post-synaptic neuron. this increases the likelihood that the neurone will fire and pass on the electrical impulse

Question 17

What is inhibition

Answer 17

when a neurotransmitter increases the negative charge of the post-synaptic neuron. this decreases the likelihood that the neurone will fire and pass on the electrical impulse

Question 18

What is an example of a neurotransmitter that goes through excitation?

Answer 18

adrenaline

Question 19

What is an example of a neurotransmitter that goes through excitation?

Answer 19

serotonin

Question 20

What is the function of the endocrine system?

Answer 20

one of the body’s major information systems that instructs glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream, then the hormones are carries towards the target organs in the body and communicates via chemicals

Question 21

What are glands?

Answer 21

An organ of the body that produces and releases hormones

Question 22

What are hormones?

Answer 22

A chemical produced in a gland of the body that communicates information and has an effect in the body

Question 23

What is an example of a gland?

Answer 23

Pancreas, Pituitary, Adrenal

Question 24

What is an example of a hormone?

Answer 24

ADH, Insulin, Adrenaline

Question 25

What is the fight or flight response?

Answer 25

the way an animal responds when stressed, the body becomes physiologically aroused in readiness to fight an aggressor or in some cases flee

Question 26

What is the process of the fight or flight response? there are 7 steps

Answer 26

1) the amygdala sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus
2) the hypothalamus triggers the autonomic nervous system
3) this triggers the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline form the adrenal gland into the bloodstream
4) the hormone causes numerous physical changes like pupils dilating
5) once the threat has passed the hypothalamus re-signals the autonomic nervous system
6) the ANS signals the parasympathetic nervous system to initiate control of the body
7) as a result the body returns back to rest and digest, undoing any of the previously made physical changes

Question 27

What is the role of adrenaline in the fight or flight response?

Answer 27

it triggers physiological changes in the body which creates the physiological arousal necessary for the fight or flight response

Question 28

What is the Pituitary gland?

Answer 28

‘master gland’ and controls the release of hormones from all other endocrine systems