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Psychology > Unit 3 AOS 1 > Flashcards

Unit 3 AOS 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the central nervous system made up of

A

The brain and spinal cord

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1
Q

What is the peripheral nervous system made up of

A

Everything else, eg. muscles, organs, glands

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2
Q

Central nervous system function

A

Receives sensory information from the peripheral nervous system and sends motor messages to the peripheral nervous system

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3
Q

Brain main functions

A

receives, processes and integrates info from the rest of the body and generates a response to it.

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4
Q

What is the spinal cord

A

A cable-like column of nerve fibres that extends from the base of the brain to the lower back and is encased in a series of bones called vertebrae

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5
Q

Spinal cord function

A

Sends sensory/afferent messages towards the brain and motor/efferent messages away from the brain

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6
Q

SAME

A

Sensory
Afferent
Motor
Efferent

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7
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

A network of neurons within the body that transmit information from receptor sites to the CNS and then carry information to the muscles to initiate voluntary movement

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8
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

A network of neutrons that carry information between the CNS and the organs and glands to ensure they are regulated without conscious awareness

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9
Q

Two subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system

A

Somatic NS and autonomic NS

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10
Q

Three parts of the autonomic nervous system

A

Sympathetic NS, parasympathetic NS and enteric NS

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11
Q

Sympathetic NS

A

Prepares the body for action, activates fight or flight responses

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12
Q

Parasympathetic NS

A

Maintains the body in a state of homeostasis, returns the body to a state of calm after stress or heightened arousal

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13
Q

Sensory neuron

A

Transmits sensory information from the body to the brain via afferent pathways

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14
Q

Motor neuron

A

Transmits motor information from your brain to your body via efferent pathways

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15
Q

Interneuron

A

Transmits information between sensory and motor neurons

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16
Q

Which neurons does the spinal cord contain

A

Sensory neurons, motor neurons, interneurons

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17
Q

Spinal reflex

A

An unconscious, involuntary and automatically occurring response to certain stimuli without any involvement of the brain.

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18
Q

Enteric NS

A

Gut control, mesh of sensory and motor neurons lining the wall of the digestive organs. Receives and sends messages to the sympathetic and parasympathetic NS, controls many functions of the digestive system.

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19
Q

What part of the nervous system controls the spinal reflex

A

Somatic NS and CNS

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20
Q

Dendrites

A

an extension of a neuron that detects & receives info from other neurons

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21
Q

Receptor sites

A

these are locations on the end of the dendritic spines that receive the chemical form of the neural message (neurotransmitters) before it is sent to the soma (cell body)

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21
Q

Axons

A

a single, tubelike extension that transmits neural information to other neurons

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22
Q

Axon terminals

A

the location where the neurotransmitter is released into the synapse

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23
Synaptic vesicle
the sacs in the Axon terminal that contain neurotransmitters.
24
Synaptic gap/cleft
the space between the neurons.
25
Synapse
The area that contains the presynaptic axon terminal + the synaptic gap + the post synaptic dendrite.
26
Lock
Receptor site on the dendrite of the post-synaptic neuron
27
Key
Neurotransmitters from the pre-synaptic neuron
28
Agonist
Activates receptor
29
Antagonist
Blocks receptor
30
Neurotransmitters
chemical messages passed across the synaptic gap by the pre-synaptic neuron to the post-synaptic neuron.
31
Inhibitory neurotransmitters
Chemical messages that make the post-synaptic neuron less likely to fire it's action potential
32
Excitatory neurotransmitters
Chemical messages that make the post-synaptic neuron more likely to fire it's action potential
33
GABA
he main inhibitory neurotransmitter. GABA slows neural transmission; thus, it has a calming effect, e.g. anti-anxiety medication
34
Glutamate
the main excitatory neurotransmitter. Glutamate aids in fast transmission of neural information; essential for memory formation
35
Neuromodulators
chemical messages released from a neuron that affect a large number of neurons at the same time. e.g. dopamine or seratonin
36
Dopamine
A neuromodulator responsible for a variety of actions (excitatory effects) including smooth, coordinated movements and motivating behaviour in pursuit of a reward
37
Seratonin
an inhibitory neuromodulator that in produced within the CNS and intestines. serves as important function in regulating mood, sleep and responses to pain.
38
Synaptic plasticity
the brain’s ability to reorganise its neural pathways when damaged or when adapting to new experiences.
39
Synaptic plasticity structural changes
Sprouting and pruning A change in the number of receptors on a post-synaptic neuron
40
Synaptic plasticity functional changes
Changes in the ability of the post-synaptic neuron to be excited by neurotransmitters Changes to the amount of neurotransmitters released by the pre-synaptic neuron
41
LTP (long term potentiation)
a process where synaptic connections between neurons become stronger with frequent activation.
42
Sprouting
The growth of additional branches on axons or dendrites to enable new connections
43
Rerouting
Occurs when an undamaged neuron loses connection with a damaged neuron and forms a new connection with another undamaged neuron
44
LTD (long term depression)
a change to the connection between neurons that results in a long- lasting reduction in the strength of a neural response due to persistent weak stimulation
45
Synaptic pruning
The removal of unnecessary and unused neurons as a result of LTD in order to increase efficiency in the brain
46
Stress
the physiological and psychological response that a person experiences when confronted with a situation that is threatening or challenging.
47
Stressor
A person, object or event that is threatening or challenging
48
Internal stressors
Factors that originate from within a person e.g. low self-esteem
49
External stressors
Factors that originate outside the body e.g. moving to a new country
50
Distress
A negative psychological response to a stressor
51
Eustress
A positive psychological response to a stressor
52
Acute stress
The body's immediate response to a perceived stressor
53
Chronic stress
The body's response to a long-term or persistent stressor
54
Fight response
Confront the threat. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system
55
Flight response
Flee from the source of danger. Escaping is perceived as the safest option. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system,
56
Freeze response
Immobility and shock in response to a threat. Freezing may be the best guarantee of safety. Brief activation of the parasympathetic NS. The sympathetic NS is also activated so the body is ready to spring into action.
57
What hormones do the adrenal glands release in the fight flight or freeze response
Adrenaline and nonadrenaline
58
Cortisol
The primary stress hormone, porduced by the adrenal glands and is released into the bloodstream.
59
Short term increase in cortisol
provides an immediate burst of energy to respond to a stressor.
60
Long term increase in cortisol
supresses the immune system, increases fatigue, sleep disturbances, emotional hypersensitivity, anxiety, and mild depression.
61
Hypothalamic-pituatary-adrenal axis
1. Sympathetic NS 2. Hypothalamus releases CRH 3. Pituitary glands release ACTH 4. Adrenal glands release cortisol into the bloodstream
62
Explanatory power
The ability of a model or theory to explain subject matter effectively
63
General adaptation syndrome (GAS) model
Describes the physiological changes that the body automatically goes through when it responds to stress
64
Alarm reaction
Body becomes aware of the stressor Shock-Ability to deal with stressor is below normal level, body may display symptoms of injury Countershock-Body rebounds, sympathetic NS activates, adrenaline and noradrenaline is released, resistance to stress increases
65
Resistance
Body's resistance to stressor rises above normal, cortisol is released, individual appears as if everything is normal, all unnecessary physiological processes are shut down
66
Exhaustion
Resistance to stress is below average again, body's resources are depleted, alarm reaction changes may appear again, resistance to disease is weak.
67
Limitation of GAS model
Was primarily based on research using animals, may have limited relevance to the human stress response
68
Strength of GAS model
Makes an important connection between stress and an increased risk of illness
69
What is the gut-brain axis
A bi-directional neural pathway that enables communication between bacteria in the GI tract and brain
70
The vagus nerve
Communicates between the gut and the brain, runs from the brain stem to the intestines
71
% vagus nerve fibres afferent vs efferent
90% afferent 10% efferent From gut to brain
72
What sort of information is transmitted from the gut to the brain
-Hormones -Neurotransmitters -Pain -Movement in muscles -Tension in cells and muscles
73
What occurs when microbiota is disrupted
Increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression Decreased memory and cognition
74
Microbiota
A diverse system of 100 trillion bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the GI tract.
75

Psychology (10 decks)

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