biopsychology - nervous system n endocrine system.

Question 1

What is meant by the nervous system?

Answer 1

A specialised network of cells in the human body that is our primary internal communication system.

Question 2

What do biological psychologists believe about the nervous system?

Answer 2

Behaviour and experiences are caused by activity in the nervous sytem.

Question 3

Why is the nervous system important?

Answer 3

Allows us to coordinate our actions and respond to change in our environment.

Question 4

What are the 2 main parts of the nervous system?

Answer 4

• the central nervous system (CNS).
• the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Question 5

What are the functions of the nervous system.

Answer 5

• to collect, process and respond to information in the environment.
• to coordinate the working different organs and cells.
• send relay messages from the brain to the body.

Question 6

What is the central nervous system (CNS) divided into?

Answer 6

• the brain.
• the spinal cord.

Question 7

What is the function of the brain?

Answer 7

Centre of all conscious awareness and involved in all psychological processes needed for human function and survival.

Question 8

What is the brain made up of?

Answer 8

The cerebral cortex which is 3mm thick and covers the brain.

Question 9

Why is the human brain separate from those of animals?

Answer 9

Human brain is highly developed.

Question 10

How many hemispheres is the brain divided into?

Answer 10

2.

Question 11

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Answer 11

• relays information from the brain to the rest of the body.
• passes messages to and from the brain.
• connects nerves to the PNS.

Question 12

What is the spinal cord made up of?

Answer 12

Spinal nerves which are connected to certain muscles and glands throughout the body.

Question 13

What does the spinal cord contain?

Answer 13

A circuit of nerve cells which enables us to perform simple reflexes without direct involvement of the brain.

Question 14

What is the function of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

Answer 14

To send relay nerve impulses from the CNS to the body and from the body back to the CNS.

Question 15

What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS) divided into?

Answer 15

• somatic nervous system.
• autonomic nervous system.

Question 16

What are the function of the somatic nervous system?

Answer 16

• to control voluntary muscle movement.
• receive information from sensory receptors.

Question 17

What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 17

Governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate, digestions, sexual arousal and stress responses.

Question 18

What is the autonomic nervous system divided into?

Answer 18

• sympathetic nervous system.
• parasympathetic nervous system.
  [usually antagonist where they work in opposition to each other]

Question 19

What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 19

Create responses that help us deal with emergences such as fight or flight.

Question 20

How does the sympathetic nervous system work?

Answer 20

Neurons travel to every organ and gland preparing the body for rapid action when an individual is under threat.

Question 21

What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 21

Relaxes the individual once the emergency has passed.

Question 22

How does the parasympathetic nervous system work?

Answer 22

Slows down the heartbeat and reduces blood pressure.

Question 23

What happens during the sympathetic state?

Answer 23

• increased heart rate.
• increased breathing rate.
• dilated pupils.
• inhabitation of digestion.
• inhabitation of saliva production.

Question 24

What happens during the parasympathetic state?

Answer 24

• decreased heart rate.
• decreased breathing rate.
• constrict pupils.
• stimulation of digestion.
• stimulation of saliva production.

Question 25

What is meant by the **endocrine system**?

Answer 25

- glands which produce hormones. - released into the bloodstream to the target organs. - each hormone has a specific function.

Question 26

What glands are a part of the *endocrine system*?

Answer 26

- adrenal gland. - ovary. - pancreas. - pituitary gland. - thyroid gland. - testes.

Question 27

What does the *adrenal gland* release?

Answer 27

Adrenalin.

Question 28

What does the *pituitary gland* release?

Answer 28

Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).

Question 29

What does the *thyroid gland* release?

Answer 29

Thyroxine.

Question 30

What does the *ovary* release?

Answer 30

Oestrogen.

Question 31

What does the *pancreas* release?

Answer 31

Insulin.

Question 32

What does the *testes* release?

Answer 32

Testosterone.

Question 33

What does the *adrenal gland* target?

Answer 33

Vital organs such as the liver and heart.

Question 34

What does the *putuitary gland* target?

Answer 34

The kidney.

Question 35

What does the *thyroid gland* target?

Answer 35

The liver and kidneys.

Question 36

What does the *ovary* target?

Answer 36

The uterus.

Question 37

What does the *pancreas* target?

Answer 37

The liver.

Question 38

What does the *testes* target?

Answer 38

The male reproductive organs.

Question 39

What is the function of the *adrenal gland*?

Answer 39

Prepares the body for action - fight or flight.

Question 40

What are the functions of the *pituitary gland*?

Answer 40

- controls the blood water level by triggering uptake of water and producing urine by kidney. - produces hormones and releases hormones from other glands which travel to the bloodstream to their specific target and stimulates these glands to produce other hormones.

Question 41

What is the function of the *thyroid gland*?

Answer 41

Helps control the rate of metabolism.

Question 42

What is the function of the *ovary*?

Answer 42

Controls puberty and the menstrual cycle in females.

Question 43

What is the function of the *pancreas*?

Answer 43

Controls blood sugar levels.

Question 44

What is the function of the *testes*?

Answer 44

Controls puberty in males and production of sperm.

Question 45

What is the *pituitary gland* also known as?

Answer 45

The master gland.

Question 46

How is the *pituitary gland* controlled?

Answer 46

By the hypothalamus which uses information that is received to help regulate its functions.

Question 47

What is meant by **hormones**?

Answer 47

A chemical substance which is circulated in the bloodstream and only affects target organs.

Question 48

How are *hormones* produced?

Answer 48

Hypothalamus sends signal to the pituitary gland ⟶ pituitary gland secretes a 'stimulating hormone' ⟶ target gland releases its hormone ⟶ levels of the target gland's hormone in the bloodstream increase ⟶ hypothalamus stops its signal ⟶ pituitary gland stops secreting a 'stimulating hormone' ⟶ target gland stops releasing hormone. [in large quantities but disappear quickly]

Question 49

What is the process when in fight or flight?

Answer 49

The endocrine system and ANS work together ⟶ stressful event such as exams would lead to the hypothalamus triggering sympathetic branch of the ANS ⟶ ANS changes from the resting state (parasympathetic) to the aroused state (sympathetic) ⟶ the pituitary gland releases ACTH causing the adrenal glands to release adrenaline into the bloodstream ⟶ adrenaline causes physiological changes such as increased heart rate which causes the fight or flight response ⟶ when stressful event is over the parasympathetic nervous system kicks in ⟶ body reaches resting state such as the slowing down of the heart rate.