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Summary Breakdown of biopsychology for AQA Psychology
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In-depth notes for biopsychology in psychology, including content and evaluation from an A* student - includes exam questions for revision too.
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BiopsychologyThe nervous system and endocrine system:
The nervous The nervous system:
system - Specialised network of cells in the human body that is our primary internal
communication system.
- Two main functions:
o Collect, process and respond to information in our environment.
o Co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body.
- Two sub-systems:
o Central nervous system (CNS)
o Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Central nervous Central nervous system (CNS):
system - The origin of complex commands and decisions in the body.
- Made up of the brain and spinal cord.
- The brain:
o Centre of conscious awareness. The cerebral cortex (outer layer of the
brain) is highly developed and distinguishes our higher mental function
from those of animals. Two hemispheres with different functions.
- The spinal cord:
o An extension of the brain, responsible for reflex actions.
- Passes messages to and from the brain, connecting the nerves to the PNS.
Peripheral Peripheral nervous system:
nervous system - Transmits messages via millions of neurons to and from the CNS to the muscles
and glands in the body.
- Subdivided into:
o Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Transmits information to and from internal bodily organs.
Operates involuntarily (automatic).
Governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart
rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses.
Subdivided into:
Sympathetic nervous system – physiologically aroused
–increases heart rate/breathing rate, dilates pupils,
inhibits digestion and saliva.
Parasympathetic nervous system – regulates systems
and returns to normal – decreases heart rate/breathing
rate, constricts pupils, stimulates digestion and saliva.
o Somatic nervous system (SNS)
Transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs
to the CNS and directs muscles to act.
Controls muscle movement and receives information from
sensory receptors.
The endocrine The endocrine system:
system - A major information system in the body that instructs the glands to release
hormones directly into the bloodstream which are carried towards organs in
the body.
- Works alongside the nervous system to control the vital functions in the body.
- Endocrine system acts more slowly as it has more widespread and powerful
effects.
, Glands and hormones:
- Organ in the body that synthesises substances such as hormones.
o Hormones – chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream
targeting specific organs – produced in large quantities but disappear
quickly – effects are very powerful.
- Most hormones will affect cells in several organs with diverse powerful
responses.
o E.g. the thyroid gland produces thyroxine which affects cells in the
heart (increasing heart rate) and metabolic rates in the body (chemical
processes in cells) which contributes to growth rates.
- Major endocrine gland is the pituitary gland in the brain which controls the
release of hormones from all other endocrine glands in the body.
- Other endocrine glands include the hypothalamus, parathyroid and thyroid,
adrenal, pancreas, ovaries and testes.
Endocrine and Fight or flight response:
ANS working - A stress response where the body becomes physiologically aroused in readiness
together: fight or to fight and aggressor or flee.
flight - The endocrine system and ANS work in parallel in stressful events.
- A stressor is received which causes the hypothalamus to trigger activity in the
sympathetic branch of the ANS. This changes the body from a resting
(parasympathetic) state to a sympathetic state.
- The stress hormone adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla (part of
the adrenal gland) which triggers physiological arousal, causing increases in
heart rate/breathing rate, dilated pupils and inhibits digestion and saliva. This
physiological arousal is necessary for fight or flight – basically preparing the
body parts needed to fight or run (more blood flow to hands and feet).
o Adrenaline – strong effect on cardiovascular system, stimulating the
heart rate, contracting blood vessels and dilating air passages.
- When threat passes, the body returns to its resting state from the
parasympathetic nervous system taking back over, using antagonistic
(opposing) actions, reducing levels of adrenaline and other actions of the
sympathetic nervous system.
EXAM 2 marks:
QUESTIONS Define the term gland. Give one example.
Define the term hormone. Give one example.
Outline one difference between the nervous system and endocrine system.
Outline the role of adrenaline in the fight or flight response.
Define what is meant by the endocrine system.
Outline one function of the peripheral nervous system.
3 marks:
Using an example, explain what is meant by the fight or flight response.
4 marks:
Name and briefly outline two divisions of the human nervous system.
Identify and describe two glands of the endocrine system.
Briefly outline two hormones and explain the function of each of these.
(AO2 question) You are walking home at night. It is dark and you hear someone running
behind you. Your breathing quickens, your mouth dries and your heart pounds. Then
you hear someone call out, 'Excuse me! You dropped your scarf'. Your breathing slows
, down and after a couple of minutes you are walking home calmly. Explain the actions of
the autonomic nervous system. Refer to the description above in your answer.
Neurons and synaptic transmission:
Structure and Neurons:
function of - Nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and
neurons chemical signals – basic building blocks of the nervous system, acting as its
primary means of communication.
- There are 100 billion neurons in the human nervous system, of which 80% are
located in the brain.
Types of neurons:
- Three types of neurons:
o Sensory neurons
Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS.
Long dendrites and short axons.
o Relay neurons
Connect sensory neurons to motor neurons or other relay
neurons.
Short dendrites and short axons.
o Motor neurons
Connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands.
Short dendrites and long axons.
Structure of a neuron:
- Neurons vary in size from < 1mm up to 1m long but all have the same
structure.
- The cell body (or soma) contains a nucleus which holds the genetic material of
the cell.
- Branch like structures, dendrites, protrude from the cell body, carrying nerve
impulses from neighbouring neurons towards the cell body.
- The axon carries impulses away from the cell body down the length of the
neuron. It is covered in a fatty layer of myelin sheath (protects the axon and
speeds up electrical transmission of impulses).
- Myelin sheath is segmented by gaps called nodes of Ranvier because
continuous myelin sheath would reverse the effect/slow down electrical
transmission – these nodes speed up the impulse as it is required to ‘jump’
across the gaps.
- At the end of the axon is the axon terminal that communicates with the next
neuron across the synapse.
Electrical transmission – firing of the neuron:
- Resting state neuron = negatively charged on the inside.
- When activated by a stimulus, the inside becomes positively charged for a split
second causing an action potential to occur.
- Creating an electrical impulse that travels down the axon.
Synaptic Synaptic transmission:
transmission - Process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other –
sending chemical messages across the gap (synapse).
- When the electrical impulse reaches the end of the neuron (presynaptic
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