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psychology units 3 & 4 > Unit 3 AOS 1 > Flashcards

Unit 3 AOS 1 Flashcards

Nervous System Functioning and Stress as a Psychobiological Process (96 cards)

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1
Q

Central Nervous System

A

A major division of the nervous system comprised of the brain and spinal cord. It receives sensory information from the PNS and sends motor information to the PNS.

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2
Q

Brain

A

A complex organ contained within the skull that coordinates mental processes and behaviour, and regulates bodily activity

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3
Q

Spinal Cord

A

A cable of nerve fibres that extends from the brain, connecting it to the PNS.

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4
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

A major division of the nervous system comprising every neuron in the body outside the CNS

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5
Q

Role of the PNS

A

Sends sensory information to the CNS, receives motor information from the CNS

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6
Q

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

A

A division of the PNS that transmits neural messages related to voluntary motor movement

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7
Q

The somatic nervous system comprises…

A
  • sensory neural pathways, made up of sensory neurons
  • motor neural pathways, made up of motor neurons
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8
Q

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A

A division of the PNS that regulates visceral muscles, organs and glands and transmitted neural messages to the CNS about their activity

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9
Q

Visceral muscles, organs and glands

A

Muscles, organs and glands not connected to the skeleton that are predominantly self-regulating and do not require conscious control
e.g. lungs, heart, stomach

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10
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

A division of the ANS that activates visceral muscles, organs and glands, preparing the body to respond to a threat or stressor

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11
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

A division of the ANS that maintains the optimal and balanced functioning of visceral muscles, organs and glands

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12
Q

Neuron

A

A nerve cell that receives and transmites neural information

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13
Q

Motor neurons (efferent neurons)

A

Neurons that transmit neural messages about motor movement from the CNS to the PNS

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14
Q

Sensory neurons (afferent neurons)

A

Neurons that transmit neural messages about bodily sensation from the PNS to the CNS

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15
Q

Interneurons

A

Neurons that transfer neural message between sensory neurons and motor neurons

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16
Q

Dendrites

A

Detect and receive information from other neurons

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17
Q

Axon

A

A single, tubelike extension from the soma (cell body) to the axon terminals that transmits neural information to other neurons

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18
Q

Conscious response

A

A deliberate and voluntary action that is initiated by the brain and performed intentionally by the body

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19
Q

Unconscious response

A

An automatic and involuntary action that is performed without conscious awareness

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20
Q

Spinal reflex

A

An unconscious response to sensory stimuli that is initiated by interneurons in the spinal cord independently of the brain

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21
Q

Neural synapse

A

The region that includes the axon terminals of the presynaptic neuron, the synaptic gap, and the dendrites of the postsynaptic neuron

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22
Q

Presynaptic neuron

A

The neuron that releases neurochemicals into the neural synapse (from axon terminals)

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23
Q

Synaptic gap

A

The space between the presynaptic neuron and the postsynaptic neuron

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24
Q

Postsynaptic neuron

A

The neuron that receives neurochemicals from the neural synapse (from receptor sites on dendrites)

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25
Neurochemical
A chemical substance that transmits neural information within the nervous system (released by the presynaptic neuron)
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Synaptic transmission
The chemical conveyance of neural information between two neurons across a neural synapse.
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Two types of neurochemicals
- neurotransmitters - neuromodulators
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Neurotransmitter
A chemical molecule that has an effect on one or two postsynaptic neurons
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Action potential
An electrical impulse that travels down the axon of a neuron
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Excitatory effect
When the neurotransmitter increases the likelihood of the postsynaptic neuron firing an action potential
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Glutamate
The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous
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Effect of glutamate
Increases the likelihood of a postsynaptic neuron firing an action potential
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Glutamate's role in functioning
Important role in learning and memory. It enables synaptic connections to form and strengthen between neurons that are repeatedly coactivated during learning
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Inhibitory effect
When the neurotransmitter decreases the likelihood of the postsynaptic neuron firing an action potential.
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GABA
The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system
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Effect of GABA
Decreases the likelihood of the postsynaptic neuron firing an action potential.
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GABA's role in functioning
Important role in regulating postsynaptic activation in neural pathways, preventing overexcitation of neurons. GABA reduces anxiety by inhibiting excitatory neural signals that contribute to anxiety
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Neuromodulator
A chemical molecule that has an effect on multiple postsynaptic neurons
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Neuromodulation
The process by which the synaptic transmission between 2 neurons is either enhanced or decreased through the action of a third substance, called a neuromodulator
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Dopamine
A neuromodulator responsible for voluntary motor movement, the experience of pleasure, and reward-based learning
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Effect of dopamine
It can have excitatory and inhibitory effects on the postsynaptic neuron
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Serotonin
A neuromodulator primarily responsible for the regulation of mood and sleep.
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Effect of serotonin
Has inhibitory effects on postsynaptic neuron
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Serotonin's role in functioning
Regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Appropriate levels of serotonin in the brain enable the experience of positive and stable moods.
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Synaptic plasticity
The ability of synaptic connections to change over time in response to activity or experience
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Sprouting
The ability of dendrites or axons to develop new branches. - This enables formation of new synaptic connections
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Rerouting
Ability of a neuron that is connected to a damaged neuron to create an alternative synaptic connection with an undamaged neuron
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Pruning
Elimination of synaptic connections that are not adequately activated - necessary to accommodate more essential synaptic connections, thus enhancing efficiency of brain functioning
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Learning
The process of acquiring knowledge, skills or behaviours through experience
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Memory
The process of encoding, storing and retrieving information that has been previously encountered
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Long-term potentiation (LTP)
The long-lasting and experience-dependent strengthening of synaptic connections that are regularly coactiviated.
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How is LTP an experience-dependent form of synaptic plasticity?
Because neural synapses are strengthened in response to frequent and repeated use during learning and memory
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Structural changes that occur due to LTP
- increased number of receptor sites on dendrites of post-synaptic neuron - increased number of synaptic connections between neurons (sprouting) - bushier dendrites on postsynaptic neuron (sprouting)
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Long-term depression (LTD)
The long-lasting and experience-dependent weakening of synaptic connections between neurons that are not regularly coactivated
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How is LTD an experience-dependent form of synaptic plasticity?
Because neural synapses are weakened in response to infrequent use
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Structural changes that occur due to LTD
- decreased number of receptor sites on dendrites of postsynaptic neurons - decreased number of dendrites on postsynaptic neurons (pruning)
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How is the weakening of connections due to LTD a good thing?
Enables the brain to focus on more necessary neural pathways that represent more useful information
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Stress
A psychological and physiological experience that occurs when an individual encounters something of significance that demands their attention and efforts to cope
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Stressor
A stimulus (internal or external) that prompts the stress response
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Why is stress considered a psychobiological process?
There are psychological components, which include an individual's personal assessments of what constitutes a stressful situation, and biological components, which relate to the body and how it responds to stress
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Internal stressor
A stimulus from within a person's body that prompts the stress response
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Examples of internal stressors
Rumination (repeatedly thinking about the negative components of an event), low self-esteem, attitude
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External stressor
A stimulus from outside of a person's body that prompts the stress response
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Eustress
A form of stress characterised by a positive psychological state
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Distress
A form of stress characterised by a negative psychological state
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Acute Stress
A form of stress characterised by intense psychological and physiological symptoms that are brief in duration
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Fight-or-flight-or-freeze response
An involuntary and automatic response to a threat that takes the form of either escaping it, confronting it, or freezing in the face of it
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Chronic stress
A form of stress that endures for several months or longer
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Cortisol
A hormone that is released in times of stress to aid the body in initiating and maintaining heightened arousal
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General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
A biological model involving 3 stages of physiological reactions that a person experiences in response to a persistent stressor
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Alarm reaction
The first stage of GAS involving the initial decrease and subsequent increase in bodily arousal in response to an immediate stressor
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Shock
The first substage of the alarm reaction stage involving decreased bodily arousal for a brief period of time following the initial exposure to a stressor
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Counter shock
The second substage of the alarm reaction stage in which sympathetic nervous system responses occur that energise the body to respond to a stressor
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Resistance
The second stage of GAS involving maintaining high levels of bodily arousal in response to a persistent stressor
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Exhaustion
The third stage of GAS involving the depletion of energy levels and bodily resources, resulting in an inability to cope with the stressor
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What does the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping propose?
That individuals experience stress when their available coping resources outweigh the demands of the stressor
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Primary Appraisal
The initial process of evaluating the nature of an incoming stressor, specifically the kind of stress it might cause
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Benign-positive
An initial appraisal of a stimulus as neutral, or good that does not cause stress for the individual
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Irrelevant
An initial appraisal of a stimulus as a non-issue for the individual − the stimulus does not cause stress
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Stressful
An initial appraisal of a stimulus as a source of worry or emotional significance for the individual
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Harm/loss
A further appraisal of a stressor as having caused some damage to the individual
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Threat
A further appraisal of a stressor as potentially causing damage to the individual in the future
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Challenge
A further appraisal of a stress as potentially providing a positive opportunity for growth or change for the individual
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Secondary appraisal
The process of evaluating the resources required and available in order to cope with a stressor
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The gut-brain axis
The bidirectional connection between the gut and the brain through the enteric and central nervous systems
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Gut microbiota
All of the microorganisms that live in the gut
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Gut microbiota symbiosis
When the gut microbiota is balanced
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Gut microbiota dysbiosis
When the gut microbiota is imbalanced
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Vagus nerve
A column of nerve fibres that connects the brain and the gut
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Role of the vagus nerve
Bidirectionally conveys information between the gut and the brain. Controls vital bodily functions including mood, immune response and digestion
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Coping
The process of dealing with stress
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Context-specific effectiveness
When the coping strategy or mechanism used is appropriate for the unique demands of the stressor
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Coping flexibility
An individual's ability to adjust or change their coping strategies depending on the unique and changing demands of a stressor
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Coping strategies
The ways that people deal with stress
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Approach strategies
Coping strategies that directly confront the source of stress
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Avoidance strategies
Coping strategies that evade the stressor, seeking to indirectly reduce stress.

psychology units 3 & 4 (5 decks)

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