Psychology A4 - concept four - biological

Question 1

nervous system

Answer 1

-complex network of cells in human body
-our main internal communication system and uses electrical and chemical signals
-two main functions of the nervous system:
1. collect, process and respond to information in the environment
2. coordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body

Question 2

central nervous system (CNS)

Answer 2

-made up of brain and spinal cord

Question 3

central nervous system (CNS): brain

Answer 3

-brain: centre of conscious awareness and where decision-making takes place
-divided into two halves called hemispheres
-right hemisphere controls left side of body and left hemisphere controls right side
-called contralateral control
-two hemispheres are connected by several structures
-brain = covered by outer layer called cerebral cortex, 3mm thick and highly developed in humans
-where higher mental processes like problem solving and thinking takes place
-base of brain = brain stem, controls basic functions such as sleep and breathing
-connects brain with spinal cord

Question 4

central nervous system (CNS): spinal cord

Answer 4

-tube-like extension of the brain, runs down the middle of the spine
-controls reflex actions like pulling your hand away from a hot plate
-passes signals back and forth between brain and rest of body via automatic nervous system

Question 5

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Answer 5

-collections of nerves that send and receive signals between spinal cord and body organs
-‘automatic’ as it operates involuntarily
-controls functions that are vital for survival and do not require conscious attention (breathing and heart rate)
-plays a key role in body’s response to stress
-has two parts, work in opposition to keep body in balance:
1. sympathetic divisions – activates physiological arousal – prepares body for fight or flight
2. parasympathetic divisions – activates rest and digest response to bring body back to its normal resting state after stress has passed

Question 6

evaluation: practical applications (+)

Answer 6

-understanding organisation of nervous system has some useful real-world applications
-example, musicians and actors have problems with anxiety before performing – ANS causes this
-sympathetic division of ANS is activated creating physiological arousal that interferes with performance
-arousal can be lowered by drugs which reduce activity of sympathetic division
-shows that understanding organisation of nervous system has led to effective treatments to help reduce anxiety and stress

Question 7

evaluation: research support (+)

Answer 7

-organisation of nervous system is supported by research
-researchers study people who have experienced damage to parts of their nervous system
-example, damage to spinal cord results in body paralysis
-damage to ANS can cause different problems like difficulties responding to stress
-also investigate nervous system on non-human animals
-therefore, researchers over time have built up a ‘map’ of the nervous system, how it’s organised and the functions of various components

Question 8

evaluation: other systems are involved (-)

Answer 8

-nervous system doesn’t operate on its own
-in behaviours, the nervous system work in tandem with the endocrine system = collection of glands on the body that produce hormones
-fight or flight response is a good example of this joint cooperation
-response begins in the brain with the perception of danger
-signal is then sent to the endocrine system which produces several hormone like adrenaline
-means that our understanding of the role of nervous system is incomplete without considering the endocrine system