Biopsychology key term revision
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- Created by: nxtaliasoltyss
- Created on: 03-11-21 14:09
1. Peripheral nervous system
Governs all activity outside of the CNS - sends and receives messages to/from the CNS - it is split into 2 parts - somatic (voluntary) and autonomic (involuntary) - it has
sensory neurons (travel to the CNS) an
sensory neurons (travel to the CNS) an
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2. Central nervous system
Consists of the brain & spinal cord - makes decisions about behaviour & regulates
physiological processes - contains relay neurons, which receive messages from the
PNS via sensory neurons and sends out action decisions to the motor neuro
physiological processes - contains relay neurons, which receive messages from the
PNS via sensory neurons and sends out action decisions to the motor neuro
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3. Autonomic nervous system
Part of the PNS - a self-regulating system which maintains homeostasis in the body -
involves involuntary activities eg shivering to maintain core temperature - it is split into
2 parts - the sympathetic (arousal) and parasympathetic (do
involves involuntary activities eg shivering to maintain core temperature - it is split into
2 parts - the sympathetic (arousal) and parasympathetic (do
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4. Motor neurons
These are within the PNS and receive messages from the relay neurons in the CNS -
they control muscle movements directly & indirectly by forming synapses with the
muscles and releasing neurotransmitters that bind to the muscle receptors
they control muscle movements directly & indirectly by forming synapses with the
muscles and releasing neurotransmitters that bind to the muscle receptors
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5. Relay neurons
These are within the CNS - they allow for communication between the sensory neurons
and motor neurons after decisions are made within the brain neuronsregarding action -
those in the spinal cord are also involved in the reflex arc which
and motor neurons after decisions are made within the brain neuronsregarding action -
those in the spinal cord are also involved in the reflex arc which
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6. Neurotransmitter
Chemical messengers that are released into the synaptic gap when the neuron has a
positve action potential - they carry electrical charges to receptor cells, which may be
positve or negative & which travel to the receptor cell body for sum
positve action potential - they carry electrical charges to receptor cells, which may be
positve or negative & which travel to the receptor cell body for sum
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7. Sensory neurons
These are within the PNS - they carry messages from the environment through the
sensory receptors - eg taste, touch etc - to relay neurons in the CNS - some terminate
in the spinal cord for reflex actions
sensory receptors - eg taste, touch etc - to relay neurons in the CNS - some terminate
in the spinal cord for reflex actions
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8. Synaptic transmission
Process by which a nerve impulse passes from one neuron to the next, across the
synaptic gap - neurotransmitters released carry a + or - charge - these are received in
post-synaptic receptors and are summed to determine if the action po
synaptic gap - neurotransmitters released carry a + or - charge - these are received in
post-synaptic receptors and are summed to determine if the action po
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9. Endocrine system
A network of glands throughout the body that manufacture and secrete hormones
under the control of the pituitary gland - give a relevant example
under the control of the pituitary gland - give a relevant example
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10. Pituitary gland
This is the master gland of the endocrine system under the control of the hypothalamus-
it influences the release of hormones from all other endocrine glands - give a relevant
example
it influences the release of hormones from all other endocrine glands - give a relevant
example
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11. Sympathetic nervous system
Part of the ANS (within the PNS) - it functions alongside the parasympathetic branch
to regulate homeostasis in the body - the sympathetic branch activates when a threat is
perceived - releases adrenaline & noradrenaline to activate the
to regulate homeostasis in the body - the sympathetic branch activates when a threat is
perceived - releases adrenaline & noradrenaline to activate the
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12. Parasympathetic nervous system
Part of the ANS (within the PNS) - it works alongside the sympathetic brach to maintain
homeostasis - once a threat is dealt with it restores homeostasis by slowing down the
heart & breathing rate etc
homeostasis - once a threat is dealt with it restores homeostasis by slowing down the
heart & breathing rate etc
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1. Somatic nervous system
Part of the PNS responsible for voluntary actions - consists of sensory & motor neurons -
eg if I want to pick up an item, sensory neurons send a message to relay neurons, so
the brain can make decisions about grip & send a message to mo
eg if I want to pick up an item, sensory neurons send a message to relay neurons, so
the brain can make decisions about grip & send a message to mo
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2. Fight/flight response
AHANSAMAN - the Amygdala sends a threat message to the Hypothalamus - it alerts
the Autonomic Nervous System (in the brainstem) which sends a message to the
Adrenal Medulla, causing the release of Adrenaline & Noradrenaline to boost hea
the Autonomic Nervous System (in the brainstem) which sends a message to the
Adrenal Medulla, causing the release of Adrenaline & Noradrenaline to boost hea
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3. Adrenal medulla
Part of the adrenal gland above each kidney - it is controlled by the sympathetic branch
of the ANS to release adrenaline & noradrenaline when a threat is perceived, to initiate
a fight/flight response
of the ANS to release adrenaline & noradrenaline when a threat is perceived, to initiate
a fight/flight response
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4. Localisation of function
The concept that all brain functions are localised to specific brain areas eg motor
cortex controls all physical movements, Broca's area is reponsible for speech production
etc
cortex controls all physical movements, Broca's area is reponsible for speech production
etc
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5. Broca's area
An area of the brain thought to be responsible for the production of speech - written
as well as spoken - located in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere - thought to
communicate with Wernicke's via the auditory cortex
as well as spoken - located in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere - thought to
communicate with Wernicke's via the auditory cortex
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6. Wernicke's area
An area of the brain thought to be responsible for the understanding of speech -
located in the temporal lobe of the left hemisphere - thought to communicate with
Broca's via the auditory cortex
located in the temporal lobe of the left hemisphere - thought to communicate with
Broca's via the auditory cortex
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7. Hemispheric lateralisation
The concept that the two hemispheres, linked by the corpus callosum, have different
functions - the left for language & reasoning, the right for spatial & visual activities -
motor & sensory cortex are crossed over as left hemisphere con
functions - the left for language & reasoning, the right for spatial & visual activities -
motor & sensory cortex are crossed over as left hemisphere con
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8. Brain plasticity
The concept that the brain can modify its own structure when damaged or when
stimulated by new experiences eg cab drivers & hippocampal volume - growing
body of evidence to support this through fMRI investigations
stimulated by new experiences eg cab drivers & hippocampal volume - growing
body of evidence to support this through fMRI investigations
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9. Neuronal unmasking
This is when dormant neurons, not normally used, are triggered due to damage - they
create new pathways to replace damaged ones - give a relevant example
create new pathways to replace damaged ones - give a relevant example
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10. fMRI
A 3D scan of the brain in real time - measures the blood flow in different areas of the
brain, inferring that an increase in blood flow means that area is active in a specific
task - can show activity at deep levels of the brain
brain, inferring that an increase in blood flow means that area is active in a specific
task - can show activity at deep levels of the brain
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11. EEG
This is when electrodes are attached to the skull to measure electrical activity in the
surface areas of the brain - can measure activity in real time, but not at depth
surface areas of the brain - can measure activity in real time, but not at depth
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12. ERP
This is when electrodes are also attached to the skull to measure electrical activity in
the brain - but this time, a specific task is set and a large number of recordings are done and
averaged to pinpoint the specific area of brain invol
the brain - but this time, a specific task is set and a large number of recordings are done and
averaged to pinpoint the specific area of brain invol
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13. Circadian Rhythm
A biological rhythm wich completes over a 24-hour period eg sleep-wake cycle, which
is regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) - we sleep for around 8 hours in a
24 hour period
is regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) - we sleep for around 8 hours in a
24 hour period
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14. Chronotherapeutics
A real world application of research into biological rhythms - drugs are administered
at a time that will best synchronise with the rhythm - eg giving aspirin at night to Ps
susceptible to heart attack, as night time is when BP is lowest
at a time that will best synchronise with the rhythm - eg giving aspirin at night to Ps
susceptible to heart attack, as night time is when BP is lowest
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15. Ultradian Rhythm
A biological rhythm which completes in less than 24 hours eg the stages of sleep cycle -
each cycle lasts around 90 minutes and continues throughout the day as the basic
rest activity cycle (BRAC)
each cycle lasts around 90 minutes and continues throughout the day as the basic
rest activity cycle (BRAC)
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16. Infradian Rhythm
A biological rhythm which takes longer than 24 hours to complete - eg menstruation,
which repeats on a 28 day cycle ( on average) or hibernation, which completes
annually
which repeats on a 28 day cycle ( on average) or hibernation, which completes
annually
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17. Endogenous pacemaker
An internal mechanism that regulates biological rhythms even in the absence of
external cues - the main one is the SCN, located in the hypothalamus
external cues - the main one is the SCN, located in the hypothalamus
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18. Exogenous zeitgeber
External factors that help to fine-tune our internally-set rhythms to keep them in
synch with the outside world - eg light, clocks etc
synch with the outside world - eg light, clocks etc
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19. Suprachiasmatic nucleus
The main endogenous pacemaker - it maintains our biological rhythms even in the
absence of external cues - it is located in the hypothalamus & regulates the release of
melatonin by the pineal gland to maintain the sleep-wake cycle
absence of external cues - it is located in the hypothalamus & regulates the release of
melatonin by the pineal gland to maintain the sleep-wake cycle
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Consists of the brain & spinal cord - makes decisions about behaviour & regulates
physiological processes - contains relay neurons, which receive messages from the
PNS via sensory neurons and sends out action decisions to the motor neuro
physiological processes - contains relay neurons, which receive messages from the
PNS via sensory neurons and sends out action decisions to the motor neuro
Back
2. Central nervous system
Card 3
Front
Part of the PNS - a self-regulating system which maintains homeostasis in the body -
involves involuntary activities eg shivering to maintain core temperature - it is split into
2 parts - the sympathetic (arousal) and parasympathetic (do
involves involuntary activities eg shivering to maintain core temperature - it is split into
2 parts - the sympathetic (arousal) and parasympathetic (do
Back
Card 4
Front
These are within the PNS and receive messages from the relay neurons in the CNS -
they control muscle movements directly & indirectly by forming synapses with the
muscles and releasing neurotransmitters that bind to the muscle receptors
they control muscle movements directly & indirectly by forming synapses with the
muscles and releasing neurotransmitters that bind to the muscle receptors
Back
Card 5
Front
These are within the CNS - they allow for communication between the sensory neurons
and motor neurons after decisions are made within the brain neuronsregarding action -
those in the spinal cord are also involved in the reflex arc which
and motor neurons after decisions are made within the brain neuronsregarding action -
those in the spinal cord are also involved in the reflex arc which
Back
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