Summary
Summary Biopsychology
- Institution
- AQA
Summary of 13 pages for the course Unit 3 PSYA3 - Topics in Psychology at AQA (Biopsychology)
[Show more]
Content preview
Divisions of the Nervous SystemCentral
The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the brain and spinal
cord.
The hindbrain (pons, medulla, cerebellum) is a continuation of the spinal
cord carrying on into the bottom of the brain – the brain stem – mainly
composed of sensory and motor neurons. The cerebellum controls
movement and motor coordination.
The forebrain is divided into 2 parts.
The diencephalon contains the:
Thalamus: concerned with relaying sensory information from the
brainstem to the cortex.
Hypothalamus: controls basic functions such as hunger, thirst, sexual
behaviour; also controls the pituitary gland.
The cerebral hemispheres control higher level cognitive and emotional
processes:
The limbic system is involved in learning, memory and emotions
The basal ganglia is involved in motor activities and movement
The neocortex/cerebral cortex is involved with planning, problem-solving,
language, consciousness and personality
Peripheral (autonomic and somatic)
The portion of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal
cord. The primary function of the peripheral nervous system is to connect
the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body and the external
environment.
This is accomplished through nerves that carry information from sensory
receptors in the eyes, ears, skin, nose and tongue, as well as stretch
receptors and nociceptors in muscles, glands and other internal organs.
The PNS is made up of 31 spinal nerves which radiate out from the spinal
cord and can be divided into the:
Somatic Nervous System
Somatic Nervous System (SNS) connects the central nervous system with
the senses and is composed of:
Sensory nerve pathways bring information to the CNS from sensory
receptors, dealing with touch, pain, pressure, temperature etc.
Motor nerve pathways which control bodily movement by carrying
instructions towards muscles
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 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 liztkd. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £2.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
52928 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now