A complete in-depth summary of the entire AQA biopsychology unit including the assumptions and information for each spec point as well as the evaluation points that can then be used in essays.
, o Chemical messengers in the body that transmit signals from nerve to target cells (muscles, glands,
or nerves)
o Messages relayed by traveling between cells attaching to receptors on target cells.
o After messages are delivered, the body breaks down/recycles them.
o Functions: heart rate, sleep, digestion, mood, appetite, concentration, and appetite.
DOPAMINE:
o Important for memory, learning, behaviour, and movement
o Released in pleasurable activities.
o Deficiency can cause Parkinson’s.
o Healthy diet helps balance these levels.
SEROTONIN:
o Helps regulate mood, appetite, and blood clotting.
o Plays a rule in depression and anxiety and can be naturally increased through bright light or
exercise.
o Serotonin reuptake inhibitors can relieve depression by increasing serotonin levels.
ACTION POTENTIAL:
o An explosion of electrical activity
o When a neuron sends information down the axon away from the cell body
Process:
o Electrical impulse travels through causing the membrane sacks to move through the axon terminal.
o Membrane of the vesicles fuse thru the membrane of the axon terminal allowing vesicles to release
contents (neurotransmitters) in the synaptic space.
o Once drifted across the synaptic space, they bind to special proteins called receptors.
o Electrical signal - action potential moves towards the body.
o Message has been relayed and its then released from the receptor in synaptic space where some of the
neurotransmitter is degraded by enzymes.
o Through transport proteins, some are transported into the presynaptic space.
o Neurotransmitters taken back are repackaged into the vesicles that can be released the next time
action potential reaches the axon terminal. Process then repeats.
SUMMATION:
o Excitatory and inhibitory influences on the post synaptic neuron are summed.
o If the net effect is inhibitory the neuron will be less likely to fire
o If its excitatory, then it’s more likely to fire.
Why information can only travel in one direction at the synapse:
o Synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitter are only released from the presynaptic membrane.
o Receptors for neurotransmitter are only present on the postsynaptic membrane.
o The binding of the neurotransmitter to the receptor enables info to be passed onto the next
neuron.
o Diffusion of the neurotransmitter means they can go from a high to low concentration so can only
travel from presynaptic to postsynaptic neuron.
THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM:
o Helps regulate the activity of cells and organ in the body.
o Communicates chemical messengers to organs in the body via the blood.
HORMONES:
o Chemicals in the blood stream that communicate between brain and body and are carried to
target organs.
o Only affects a certain number of targets cells.
o Each hormone affects the behaviour in a
different way.
FIGHT OR
FLIGHT
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