Brain and neuropsychology

Question 1

The Nervous System:

Answer 1

• The Peripheral Nervous System
• The Central Nervous System

Question 2

The Peripheral Nervous System:

Answer 2

• The somatic nervous system = we have control over this system; controls our movement, one part we can’t control is reflexes
• The autonomous nervous system = we have no control over this system, coordinates functions like digestion and heart rate. divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic division

Question 3

The Central Nervous System

Answer 3

• Brain: All decision making takes place here, at base of brain theres the brain stem which controls basic functions
• Spinal Cord: Long structure running down our back, carries incoming and ongoing messages between the brain and body

Question 4

The Autonomous Nervous System:

homeostasis, 2 divisions, automatic

Answer 4

• ANS is responsible for controlling homeostasis; the process by which the body maintains a constant balanced state e.g the CO2 in the blood
• The ANS is automatic and cannot be controlled by us; actions like breathnig and heart beating is required for survival
• The sympathetic division is when the body is in a state of physiological arousal prepping the body for fight or flight
• The parasympathetic division is when the body is in a state or rest

Question 5

How does the fight or flight system work

Answer 5

• Our hypothalumus identifies the threat and activates the sympathetic division in the ANS
• The ANS changes from its normal resting state (parasympathetic) to a state of arousal (sympathetic), this releases adrenaline into the blood
• Bc of the adrenaline, physiological changes occur; heart rate increases, pupils dilate, saliva production stops and digestion stops; all these are to help us confront or run away from the threat
• The ANS changes from the sympathetic state to the parasympathetic state. Heart rate slows, pupils constrict, digestion + saliva productions resumes. This is known as the rest and digest state

Question 6

AO1 of James Lange Theory of Emotion

event, arousal, interpetation, emotion

Answer 6

• The James Lange theory argues that physiological changes occurs first which causes an emotion
• An event activates the hypothalumus which instructs the sympathetic division of the ANS
• This leads to the release of adrenaline which creates physiological arousal ; heart rate increases etc
• Our brain then makes and interpretation about the physiological changes and decides how we feel then
• Depending on the interpretation, we then feel an emotion example fear, excitement