This document is detailed revision notes with all you could ever need to know on the whole AQA A-level Psychology Biopsychology topic, including AO1 and AO3 content. The notes are subdivided into the subtopics used by the textbook. They include the content from the textbook, which has been combined...
PNR206 / PNR 206 EXAM 2 (LATEST 2024 / 2025 UPDATE) MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING II EXAM WITH NGN QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE 100%CORRECT ANSWERS WITH VERIFIED AND WELL EXPLAINED RATIONALES ALREADY GRADED A+...
TEST BANK FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AN INTRODUCTION 2ND EDITION BY MARC HOLZER, RICHARD SCHWESTER EXAM WITH ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE 100% CORRECT ANSWERS WITH VERIFIED AND WELL EXPLAINED RATIONA...
TEST BANK FOR GLOBAL BUSINESS 5TH EDITION MIKE W. PENG 9780357716403 CHAPTER1-17 COMPLETE GUIDE EXAM WITH ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE 100% CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES WELL EXPLAINED BY ...
All for this textbook (160)
Written for
A/AS Level
AQA
Psychology
Biopsychology
All documents for this subject (347)
Seller
Follow
eilisboden
Content preview
Biopsychology
The nervous system and the endocrine system
The nervous system
Human nervous system
Peripheral nervous system Central nervous system
Autonomic nervous Somatic nervous Brain Spinal cord
system system
Sympathe Parasympath
tic etic nervous
nervous system
system
The nervous system is our primary internal communication system, based on
electrical and chemical signals.
2 main functions:
1. To collect, process and respond to information from the environment
2. Coordinate different organs and cells
CNS:
o Brain – centre of all conscious awareness, cerebral cortex (outer later, 3mm
thick, covers brain, only in mammals), highly developed, distinguishes our
higher mental functions from other animals, 2 hemispheres
o Spinal cord – extension of brain, passes messages to and from brain, connects
nerves to PNS, reflex actions
PNS:
Transmits messages via neurons to and from the CNS.
ANS: governs vital functions in body e.g. breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual
arousal, stress responses
SNS: governs muscle movements and receives information from sensory
receptors
The endocrine system
Works alongside NS, acts more slowly (hormones have to travel) but has more
widespread and powerful effects.
Glands and Hormones
Glands e.g. thyroid gland produce hormones, which are secreted into the blood
stream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone.
,As most hormones affect multiple organs, they have diverse and powerful responses.
e.g. Thyroid gland produces thyroxine – this hormone affects cells in the heart
(increases heart rate) and increases metabolic rates elsewhere, which affects growth
rates.
The pituitary gland located in the brain is often called the ‘master gland’ because it
controls the release of hormones from all the other endocrine glands in the body.
Fight or flight
Endocrine and ANS work in parallel when a in a stressful situation.
1. Stressor is perceived
2. Hypothalamus activates the pituitary gland
3. Activity triggered in sympathetic branch of the ANS
4. ANS changes from resting (parasympathetic) to physiologically aroused
(sympathetic)
5. Adrenaline (stress hormone) released from adrenal medulla into bloodstream
and triggers physiological changes – physiological arousal for fight or flight
This is an immediate, acute, automatic response.
Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Increases heart rate Decreases heart rate
Increases breathing rate Decreases breathing rate
Dilates pupils Constricts pupils
Inhibits digestion Stimulates digestion
Inhibits saliva production Simulates saliva production
Contracts rectum Relaxes rectum
These changes explain why stress is often experienced as a ‘sick’ feeling.
6. Parasympathetic NS returns body to resting state
The actions of the Parasympathetic NS are antagonistic to the sympathetic – acts as a
‘brake’ and reduces activities increase by the sympathetic. It is known as ‘rest and
digest’.
Neurons and synaptic transmission
Neurons transmit signals electrically and chemically, thus giving the nervous system
its primary means of communication.
Sensory Relay Motor
Images
, Dendrites Long Short Short
Axons Short Short Long
Connecti PNS to CNS Sensory to motor/relay CNS to effectors e.g.
on muscles/glands
Structure of neurons:
Cell body (soma) has a nucleus containing the genetic material of the cell.
Branchlike dendrites protrude from the cell body, carrying nerve impulses from
neighbouring neurons to the cell body.
Axon carries impulses away from cell body down neuron. Covered in fatty layer of
myelin sheath segmented by gaps (nodes of Ranvier) which speed up transmission by
forcing impulse to ‘jump’ across the gaps.
At end of axon are terminal buttons, communicate across synapse with next neuron in
chain.
Location of neurons:
Cell bodies of motor neurons in CNS, axons part of PNS.
Sensory neurons outside CNS, in the PNS in clusters (ganglia).
Relay neurons make up 97% of all neurons and most are found in brain/visual system.
Electrical transmission – the firing of a neuron:
1. When a neuron in resting state, the inside of cell is negatively charged
compared to the outside
2. Neuron activated by a stimulus
3. Inside of cell becomes briefly positively charged, causing an action potential to
occur
4. Creates an electrical impulse that travels down the axon towards the end of the
neuron
Synaptic transmission
Chemical transmittion:
Neurons communicate in groups (neural networks), each separated by gap (synapse).
Signals within neurons are transmitted electrically, but between chemically.
1. Electrical impulse reaches the end of the neuron (presynaptic terminal)
2. Triggers the release of neurotransmitter from tiny sacs – synaptic vesicles
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller eilisboden. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $9.31. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
