Biopsychology Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is the central nervous system comprised of and what does it do?
A complex of nerve tissues comprised of the brain and the spinal cord.
The central nervous system controls activities in the body.
What does the peripheral nervous system do?
Sends information to the CNS from the outside world and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands
The PNS is outside the central nervous system.
What are the two divisions of the peripheral nervous system?
- Somatic nervous system
- Autonomic nervous system
What is the role of the somatic nervous system?
Carries sensory and motor information to and from the CNS and is associated with skeletal muscle voluntary control of body movements.
What functions does the autonomic nervous system govern?
It is responsible for vital functions and regulates involuntary actions such as heart beats and digestion
What is the sympathetic nervous system responsible for?
Reduces digestive secretions, speeds up heart rate, and contracts blood vessels and responsible for fight or flight.
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?
Stimulates digestive secretions, slows heart rate, constricts pupils, and dilates blood vessels
Fill in the blank: The central nervous system controls _______ in the body.
[activities]
True or False: The somatic nervous system is responsible for involuntary actions.
False
The somatic nervous system is associated with voluntary control.
Fill in the blank: The autonomic nervous system has two parts: the sympathetic and the _______.
[parasympathetic]
What is a neuron?
A neuron is a nerve cell that processes and transmits messages via electrical and chemical signals. It is a basic building block of the nervous system.
What are the 3 types of neurons?
Sensory neurons, relay neurons, and motor neurons.
What is the role and structure of a sensory neuron?
It carries nerve impulses from sensory receptors (PNS) to the spinal cord and brain (CNS).
Structure: Long dendrites, short axons.
What is the role and structure of a relay neuron?
It connects sensory and motor neurons within the CNS.
Structure: Short dendrites, short axons.
What is the role and structure of a motor neuron?
It carries impulses from the CNS to effectors like muscles and glands.
Structure: Short dendrites, long axons.
What is a neurotransmitter?
A chemical substance that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse by diffusing across the synaptic cleft and binding to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.
What happens during synaptic transmission?
An electrical impulse triggers the release of neurotransmitters from the presynaptic neuron, which cross the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.
What is excitation in synaptic transmission?
Excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g., noradrenaline) increase the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire.
What is inhibition in synaptic transmission?
Inhibitory neurotransmitters (e.g., GABA, serotonin) decrease the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire.
What is the endocrine system?
A network of glands that regulate the body’s physical processes by instructing glands to produce and secrete hormones.
What is a gland?
An organ that produces and secretes hormones to target cells.
What is a hormone?
A chemical messenger carried in the bloodstream that stimulates target cells with matching receptors to produce a physiological response.
What two key parts of the brain are involved in the endocrine system?
The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.
What is the fight or flight response?
A survival mechanism that prepares the body to respond quickly to life-threatening situations.
