These notes outline everything you need to know for AQA year 1 and year 2 bio-psychology. They are extremely well formatted, using images, diagrams, colour and high detail. For students aiming for an A*, there are extensions and under-graduate level material for year 2 topics.
This is for the new...
This topic includes:
1- The Nervous System
2- The Endocrine System
3- Neurons
4- Synaptic Transmission
5- Fight or Flight
6- Biological Rhythms: Circadian Rhythms
7- Biological Rhythms: Ultradian Rhythms
8- Biological Rhythms: Infradian Rhythms
9- Pacemakers and Zeitgebers
10 – Ways of Studying the Brain
11- Localisation of Brain Function
12- Split-Brain Research into Hemispheric Lateralisation
13- Plasticity and Functional Recovery of The Brain
, Psychology Year 1 & Year 2 Biopsychology Samuel Nesbitt
1 - The Nervous System
The Nervous System is a specialised network of nerve cells and our primary communication system. It has
two main functions:
1. To collect, process and respond to information in the environment. (stimuli)
2. To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells to the body.
It is divided into the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
The Central Nervous System:
• CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord
• There are two main functions of the CNS:
o Control of behaviour
o The regulation of the body’s physiological processes
The Spinal Cord
• The spinal cord is an extension of the brain and is responsible for reflect actions.
• It passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS.
• It is connected to different parts of the body by pairs of spinal nerves, which connect with
specific muscles and glands.
The Brain
• The brain receives information from sensory receptors (eyes, ears, skin etc.)
• There are four main areas of the brain:
Look at 1) Cerebrum – split into four different lobes e.g:
Localisation • Frontal lobe Cerebrum
o Location: Front of the brain
o Function: Thought and speech
Diencephalon
• Occipital lobe
o Location: Back of the Cerebrum
Cerebellum
o Function: Processes visual images.
Brain Stem
2) Cerebellum
o Location: Underneath of the Cerebrum
o Function: Controls motor skills and balance (co-ordinates muscles.)
3) Brain Stem
o Location: Bottom of the brain.
o Function: Regulates breathing, heartbeat and swallowing.
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, Psychology Year 1 & Year 2 Biopsychology Samuel Nesbitt
4) Diencephalon
o Location: Above the brain stem
o Function:
▪ Thalamus – relays motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex.
▪ Hypothalamus - Link between endocrine and nervous system.
Controls release of hormones from pituitary glands and regulates body
temperature, hunger and thirst.
The Peripheral Nervous System: (PNS)
• The PNS is made up of all the nerves outside the CNS.
• The PNS transmits messages, via millions of neurons, to and from the nervous system.
• It’s divided into the Somatic Nervous System (SNS) and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
The Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
• It consists of 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves and is made of:
o Motor neurons – relays information from the CNS to other areas of the body
o Sensory neurons – relays messages to the CNS
• It is also involved in reflect actions without the CNS.
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
• The ANS regulates vital involuntary actions – e.g. heart rate, breathing, digestion etc
• The ANS is made up of two parts:
o The Sympathetic Nervous System
▪ Uses neurotransmitter noradrenaline – has stimulating effects.
▪ E.g. Increases heart rate.
o The Parasympathetic Nervous System
▪ Uses neurotransmitter acetylcholine – has inhibiting effects.
▪ E.g. Decreases heart rate.
Human Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System Central Nervous System
Autonomic Somatic
Nervous Nervous Brain Spinal Cord
System System
Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Nervous System Nervous System
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