Unit 3 AOS 1 Psych (Nervous system)

Question 1

What are the main sub- divisions of the human nervous system

Answer 1

• Central nervous system
• Peripheral nervous system

Question 2

What are the main divisions of the Central nervous system. (CNS definition)

Answer 2

• Brain
• Spinal cord
• Consists of the brain and spinal cord. The main function is to process the information sent to it by the body’s internal and external environment

Question 3

What are the main sub- divisions of the peripheral nervous system (PNS definition)

Answer 3

• Autonomic nervous system
• Somatic nervous system
• The PNS is all the nerves outside of the brain that works in a system. These nerves can carry/ transmit information between CNS and the body’s muscles, organs, glands ect.

Question 4

What are the main sub- divisions of the autonomic nervous system

Answer 4

• Sympathetic nervous system
• Parasympathetic nervous system
• Enteric nervous system -

Question 5

What does the Autonomic nervous system do

Answer 5

Connects the CNS to internal organs and glands; self regulating

Question 6

What does the somatic nervous system do

Answer 6

Carries messages from sensory receptors in the body to thr CNS and motor messages from the CNS to skeletal muscles

Question 7

What does the sympathetic nervous system do

Answer 7

Preparis the body for action/ deal with stressful situation (Activates internal organs)

Question 8

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do

Answer 8

Works to maintain a normal state of function (Homostatus) It works to restore the body back to its normal state

Question 9

What does the enteric nervous system do

Answer 9

Dedicated to the functioning od the gastrointestinal (digestive) track. This includes
- Guts and intestine muscle movements
-production of gastric acid
- Change of blood flow
signaling diarrhea when food poisoning

Question 10

What are some types of neurons

Answer 10

• Sensory neurons
• Motor neurons

Question 12

Explain what sensory and motor neurones do when you pick up a hot cup of coffee

Answer 12

1.The sensory receptors detect the heat from the cup which is sent to the sensory neurone
2.sensory neurons carry info to the spinal cord
3. Interneurons in the spinal cord receive info and immediately relay message to the motor neuron
4. Motor neuron carry message to relevant muscle and the muscle reacts by moving the hand away

Question 13

What are interneurons

Answer 13

Interneurons carry messages between the sensory and motor neurones. Interneurons are only found in the CNS when sensory info arrives at the spinal cord.

Question 14

What is the spinal reflex (also referred as reflex arc or withdrawal right)

Answer 14

An unconscious involuntary and automatic response to certain stimuli that doesn’t require involvement of the brain.

Question 15

How do neurons communicate

Answer 15

Neurons communicate with a method called neural synapse (synapse) This is when the terminal button of one pre synaptic neuron then the dendrites of the post synaptic neuron receive the neurotransmitter and pass it on. (The space between is the synaptic gap

Question 16

What is the synaptic gap

Answer 16

The space between the pre synaptic neuron and post synaptic neuron in the process of synapse

Question 17

What is a neurotransmitter

Answer 17

A chemical substance produced by a neuron that carries a specific message to other neurons or cells in the muscle organs or other issues

Question 18

What are excitatory neurotransmitters

Answer 18

A type of neurotransmitter that stimulates or activates post synaptic neurons to preform their functions. In other words they make them more likely to respond to the neurotransmitter received

Question 19

What is glutamate

Answer 19

Primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS. enhances information’s transmission by making post synaptic neurons more likely to respond

Question 20

What are inhibitory neurotransmitters

Answer 20

Neurotransmitters that block or prevent the postsynaptic neuron from responding (Usually occurs after a traumatic experience and your brain what’s the block that experience out)

Question 21

What is Gamma- ammino buyric- acid (GABA)

Answer 21

Is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. Works throughout the brain to keep neural activity at optimal level

Question 22

Define neuromodulator

Answer 22

Are neurotransmitters that can influence the effectives of other neurotransmitters

Question 23

What is Dopamine

Answer 23

A neuromodulator that can have excitatory and inhibitory effects

it can be associated with reward based learning, appetite and addiction.

Question 24

What is serotonin

Answer 24

A neuromodulator that only has inhibitory effects. It is regarded as a ‘good’ neuromodulator

It has stabilizing effects and can counterbalance excessive excitatory effects. It also has an important role in mood and anxiety

Question 25

What is synaptic plasticity

Answer 25

The ability of a synapse to change in response to experience. More specifically an existed synapse can be strengthened weakened and/or eliminated as a result of how often it is used

Question 26

What is Long term potentiation (LTP)

Answer 26

The long lasting strengthening od a synapse due to repeated strong stimulation. When a synapse is repeated stimulated the post- synaptic neuron will be more sensitive and responsive ti the neurotransmitters released by the pre synaptic neuron. (Basically the more tou preform a motor action or remember something the stronger the memory or action will be

Question 27

What is Long term depression (LTD)

Answer 27

Refers to the long lasting decrease in strength of the synaptic connection due to prolong lack of stimulation. Post synaptic neurons becomes less responsive to the neurotransmitters produced by the pre-synaptic neuron. (use it or lose it) (if a memory is not stimulated often it will eventually be forgotten)

Question 28

What are the 3 actions of a neuron

Answer 28

- Sprouting - Rerouting - Pruning

Question 29

What is sprouting

Answer 29

Additional branch's can grow from the dendrites of a neuron. This process allows a neuron to reach and communicate with each other nearby (bushier dendrites)

Question 30

What is rerouting

Answer 30

A neuron can abandon an existing connection and make a new one with a different neuron

Question 31

What is pruning

Answer 31

This is the elimination of the weak, ineffective or unused synapse (Use it or lose it) {related to LTD}

Question 32

What is FFF

Answer 32

FFF or the flight fight freeze response is an involuntary physiology response to a stressor that prepares the body for at least one of the behaviors to occur - Flight confronts and fights off the threat/ stressor - Flight Escape the threat/ stressor by - Freeze stay still and silent

Question 33

What is a specific word for not being able to move

Answer 33

Tonic- immobility

Question 34

Why does the freeze action exist

Answer 34

We don't know but we believe its because both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system are deployed at the same time and the parasympathetic nervous system takes over control

Question 35

What is cortisol

Answer 35

A stress hormone with a wide range of functions. It increases sugar/glucose secretion into the bloodstream (i.e energy) enhances the metabolism has anti-inflammatory properties, slow non -essential functions.

Question 36

Benefits and side effects of cortisol

Answer 36

Benefits - Energizing effects persists for a longer duration of time then the energizing effects of adrenaline and nor adrenaline - Helps regulate blood pressure - Has anti- inflammatory properties side effects - Aches and pain - Impaired immune system - Increased vulnerability

Question 37

What is the gut brain axis

Answer 37

Is a bidirectional (aka 2 way) networks of neural pathways between the CNS and enteric nervous system. It taps into the immune system and endocrine system

Question 38

3 stages of the GAS model

Answer 38

1. Alarm reaction - Shock - counter shock 2. Resistance 3. Exhaustion

Question 39

Strength and weaknesses of the GAS model

Answer 39

Strengths - Recognizes that stress weakens the body's ability to resist infection and illness - It includes biological process associated with the stress response Weaknesses - Assumes everybody has the same general predictable and autonomic response to a stressor 'one size fits all model - Devised from research with rats

Question 40

Who invented the transactional model of stress and coping

Answer 40

Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman