Biopsychology Flashcards
(47 cards)
central nervous system
comprises of the brain and spinal cord and has two functions: control behaviour and regulate the body’s physiological processes
the brain
-Receives information from the sensory receptors
-Responsible for coordinating sensation, intellectual and nervous activity
-Sends signals to the muscles and glands of the body
the spinal cord
-Bundle of nerve fibres enclosed within the spinal column
-Main function is to relay information between the brain and the rest of the body
-Also contains circuits of nerve cells that allow us to perform simple reflex actions eg. pulling hand away from something hot
PNS
the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, that connect to the CNS.
⤷The peripheral nervous system has two branches - the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
⤷The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary, vital functions of the body, which can be further split into 2 branches.
⤷The somatic nervous system receives transmits and receives information from the senses and direct muscles to react and move (voluntary movements).
endocrine system
⤷Consists of glands that release hormones into the bloodstream
⤷Pituitary gland = master gland
⤷Other important glands = adrenal glands, ovaries, testes
hypothalamus
controls the pituitary gland
⤷The hypothalamus receives information from many sources around the body and responds when the body deviates from normal conditions.
⤷One of the ways it does this is by regulating the hormones produced by the pituitary gland.
pituitary gland
produces hormones.
⤷Some of these hormones directly bring about physiological reactions in cells, others cause other glands to produce hormones
negative feedback
High levels of a pituitary hormone in blood
Receptors in the hypothalamus detect the high levels
Pituitary gland stops releasing hormones
sensory neurons
carry impulses from sensory receptors to the CNS. when impulses from sensory neurons reach the brain they are translated into sensations so the organism can react appropriately
relay neurons
connects sensory and motor neurons found in the CNS
motor neurons
found in CNS, connected to the muscles or glands and bring about responses
relay action
⤷Automatic, rapid responses that do not involve conscious areas of the brain.
⤷Consist of just three neurons.
⤷Protective responses that occur in response to certain stimuli.
synaptic transmission
⤷Action potential reaches the the synaptic knob and causes vesicles containing neurotransmitter to move towards presynaptic membrane.
⤷Vesicles fuse with presynaptic membrane and release neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft.
⤷Neurotransmitter diffuses across cleft and binds to receptors on postsynaptic membrane.
⤷The binding causes an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron
excitatory
Involves a neurotransmitter than upon binding to the receptors increases the likelihood of an action potential occurring in the postsynaptic neuron. (EPSP - Excitatory postsynaptic potential)
inhibitory
Involves a neurotransmitter that upon binding to the receptors decreases the likelihood of an action potential occurring in the postsynaptic neuron. (IPSP - Inhibitory postsynaptic potential)
acute stress
⤷Amygdala sends stress signals to the hypothalamus
⤷Hypothalamus activates sympathetic nervous system
⤷Sympathetic nervous system causes the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline
⤷When threat has passed parasympathetic nervous system becomes active and reduces adrenaline release
adrenaline
⤷Increased heart beat (increases blood flow to organs)
⤷Breathing rate increases (increased oxygen intake)
⤷Triggers release of glucose and fats (more energy release)
chronic stress
HPA Axis (Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis)
⤷Hypothalamus releases corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)
⤷CRH causes anterior pituitary to release adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
⤷ACTH causes the adrenal cortex to release cortisol`
end-and-befriend response
⤷Women respond to stress by tending to offspring and befriending other women - Taylor et al (2000).
⤷Women have higher levels of oxytocin that could be responsible for this.
⤷SRY gene on Y chromosome is responsible for promoting aggression and resulting in a fight or flight response.
⤷Von Dawans et al (2012) challenge the argument that only women exhibit the tend and befriend response.
⤷Human connections are formed between men and women during crisis (9/11)
fight or flights evaluations
-poor real world validity (Everyday stressful situations dont regularly need you for fight or flight.Can cause strain on your heart if stress is constant)
-external validity (Freeze response.Meaning you are hypovigilant to danger)
-low population validity
localisation of function
Simple organisms don’t have the nervous system divided
Complex organisms evolved specialised nerves and connections for important tasks - resistant to damage
Functions are associated with activity in specific areas
motor cortex
stimulates and controls conscious physical movements
somatosensory
Synthesises sensory information from the peripheral neurons to create physical sensations
visual cortex
Has 5 layers, orients stimuli, depth perception, shapes
