biospsychology

Question 1

what is the nervous system divided into?

Answer 1

central and peripheral nervous system

Question 2

what does the central nervous system consist of and what does it do?

Answer 2

consists of the brain and spinal cord
the brain is the command centre for the nervous system and coordinates bodily functions, processing info and making decisions

Question 3

what does the peripheral NS contain and do?

Answer 3

it contains nerves outside of the CNS and has two sub-branches

Question 4

what are the two subbranches of the PNS?

Answer 4

autonomic and somatic

Question 5

what does the somatic nervous system do?

Answer 5

carries messages from the CNS to muscles throughout the body, controlling body movement. the brain triggers the movement but the somatic nervous system conducts it

Question 6

what nervous system has two sub-branches within the PNS?

Answer 6

autonomic NS
sympathetic and parasympathetic NS

Question 7

what does the sympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 7

controls the 4 f’s, flight, fight, fright and fornicate. so it activates the fight or flight response

Question 8

which NS is incharge of the rest and digest function?

Answer 8

the parasympathetic NS

Question 9

what do neurons do?

Answer 9

are specialised cells that facilitate communication within the brain -> intercellular communcaiton

Question 10

what are the main components of a neuron?

Answer 10

axon, soma, axon hillock, dendrites, myelin sheath, axon terminals, terminal buttons (on the ends of dendrites)

Question 11

what allows for faster signals to be sent along the axon?

Answer 11

myelin sheath

Question 12

what is the synapse?

Answer 12

is the gap between two connective neurons (also the synapse cleft)

Question 13

what part of the neuron cannot be damaged otherwise it leads to neuron death

Answer 13

Soma

Question 14

what are the spheres within the axon that release neurotransmitters? and what unlocks them

Answer 14

synaptic vesicles
calcium unlocks them

Question 15

what are glial cells?

Answer 15

they are nerve cells that allow for the formation of the blood brain barrier, myelin sheath, respond to injury, remove debris and enhance learning and memory

Question 16

what is the oligodendrocyte?

Answer 16

a glial cell that aids with promoting new connections among nerve cells and release chemicals to aid in healing

Question 17

what are astrocytes?

Answer 17

glial cells within the BBB, and allow for better communication amongst neurons, control blood flow in the brain

Question 18

how are neurotransmitters removed?

Answer 18

removed by enzymes or transported back to the synaptic cleft within terminal buttons by transporter proteins for recycling

Question 19

what is the resting membrane potential of the axon?

Answer 19

-70mV and is caused by negative proteins and ions

Question 20

what is the activation threshold for action potentials

Answer 20

-55Mv

Question 21

once the firing threshold is met what occurs?

Answer 21

depolarisation (the entering of sodium ions rapidly

Question 22

what is the stimulus for action potentials?

Answer 22

neurotransmitters

Question 23

what gates open at -55mV and what happens?

Answer 23

the sodium and potassium gates open. sodium floods in and potassium leaves

Question 24

how many potassiums are let in and how many sodiums are let out by sodium-potassium pumps?

Answer 24

3 sodiums are kicked out and one potassium is let in during resting potential

Question 25

what are the stages of an action potential?

Answer 25

resting potential, stimulus, firing threshold is met (-50mV), depolarisation, action potential, repolarisation and absolute refractory period, hyperpolarisation and relative refractory period, resting potential

Question 26

what is the absolute refractory period?

Answer 26

occurs after an action potential is fired and another action potential cannot be fired

Question 27

what is the lock and key model of neurotransmission?

Answer 27

neurotransmitters have to fit the receptor site to unlock the sodium channels causing depolarisation

Question 28

what is an agonist?

Answer 28

enhance receptor site activity or drugs mimic their function

Question 29

what is an antagonist?

Answer 29

decrease receptor site activity, inhibit neurotransmitter functions

Question 30

what is neural plasticity?

Answer 30

the nervous systems ability to reshape or reconnect neural interconnections

Question 31

what is synaptogenesis?

Answer 31

formation of new synapses

Question 32

what is neurogenesis?

Answer 32

formation of new neurons in the adult brain

Question 33

what is spatial summation?

Answer 33

post synaptic neurons receive excitatory signals from other neurons

Question 34

what is temporal summation?

Answer 34

pre synaptic neuron sends excitatory signals to other neurons

Question 35

what does serotonin do? what can too little and too much do? is it inhibitory or excitatory?

Answer 35

regulates mood, hunger and sleep too much: hallucinations too little depression and mood disorder inhibitory

Question 36

what does dopamine do? what can too little and too much do? is it inhibitory or excitatory?

Answer 36

regulates mood, emotion, arousal too much: schizophrenia and addictions too little: Parkinson's

Question 37

what does acetylcholine do? what can too little and too much do? is it inhibitory or excitatory?

Answer 37

muscle function, learning and memory, attention too much: muscle problems too little alzheimers

Question 38

what does glutamate do? And what can too much do? is it inhibitory or excitatory?

Answer 38

excitatory and increases likelihood of neurons talking to eachother, helps with learning and memory too much: linked with schizophrenia

Question 39

what does GABA do? is it inhibitory or excitatory?

Answer 39

inhibitory plays a role in anxiety, learning, memory and sleep.

Question 40

what bathes the brain and spinal cord to provide nutrients and provide cushioning for injuries?

Answer 40

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Question 41

what are stem cells?

Answer 41

unspecialised cells that have the potential to become specialised

Question 42

what does the basal ganglia do?

Answer 42

motor control and decision making

Question 43

if there damage to the basal ganglia what disorders occur?

Answer 43

schizophrenia and parkinsons

Question 44

what is apart of the limbic system?

Answer 44

hippocampus, hypothalamus, amygdala, thalamus

Question 45

what does the limbic system do?

Answer 45

emotional processing and motivation

Question 46

thalamus function?

Answer 46

conveys sensory info to cortex

Question 47

hypothalamus function?

Answer 47

oversees endocrine and autonomic NS

Question 48

amygdala function?

Answer 48

regulates arousal and fear

Question 49

hippocampus function?

Answer 49

memory, spatial location, and emotion

Question 50

people with ptsd have miscommunication between what?

Answer 50

amygdala and hippocampus

Question 51

what is within the hindbrain?

Answer 51

reticular activating system, brain stem, cerebellum

Question 52

what is the function of the hind brain?

Answer 52

allows for homeostasis of involuntary fucntions and relays motor info from brain to spinal cord

Question 53

what does the spinal cord do?

Answer 53

allows for communication between brain and body

Question 54

how does the two-way central nervous system work?

Answer 54

sensory info is carried through sensory nerves to the brain, and motor nerves carry down the motor command

Question 55

what are interneurons and what do they allow?

Answer 55

they connect sensory and motor nerves within the spinal cord without having to report back to the brain, allows for reflexes

Question 56

what does the endocrine system do?

Answer 56

works with the nervous system to release hormones (molecules) into the bloodstream

Question 57

what are hormones released from?

Answer 57

glands

Question 58

are hormones long last or short lasting?

Answer 58

long lasting because they are carried through the blood vessels

Question 59

what is the pituitary gland and what does it do?

Answer 59

controls other glands in the body controlled by the hypothalamus releases hormones that regulate growth, control BP, and water retainment in kidneys

Question 60

what is oxytocin?

Answer 60

hormone released by pituitary gland responsible for love (romantic and maternal), and stretching out cervix during birth

Question 61

what do the adrenal glands do?

Answer 61

manufactures adrenaline hormones and cortisol

Question 62

what does adrenaline do?

Answer 62

boosts energy production in muscles

Question 63

what does cortisol do?

Answer 63

increases response to physical and psychological stressors, regulates BP, body's use of proteins carbs and fats, and heart function

Question 64

what hormone causes high levels of anxiety and children with low levels have conduct issues?

Answer 64

cortisol

Question 65

what sexual hormones are linked to females and their sex glands?

Answer 65

ovaries, and oestrogen

Question 66

what sexual hormones are linked to males and their sex glands?

Answer 66

testosterone, testes