Biopsychology

Biopsychology

The ways in which biological factors influence mental processes, emotions and behaviours.

What are the 2 major systems used to gain and respond to information from the environment

The nervous and endocrine system

What diagram is this

The organisation of the human nervous system

What are the divisions/branches of the nervous system

The central and peripheral nervous system

What is the central nervous system (CNS)

It is the system that passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the peripheral nervous system

What are the divisions of the central nervous system

The brain and spinal cord

The brain

The centre of conscious awareness, decision making and is involved in all psychological processes

What is the cerebral cortex

It is found in the brain and is what distinguishes our higher mental functions from those of animals

The spinal cord

It transports messages to and from the brain to the peripheral nervous system and is responsible for reflex actions.

What is the peripheral nervous system

The PNS transmits messages throughout the whole body from the brain and also relays messages back to the brain

What is the PNS made up of

31 spinal nerves, containing millions of sensory and motor pathways

What are the divisions of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Autonomic and somatic nervous system

What is the somatic nervous system (SNS)

It is a system that controls voluntary movements, and transmits and receives messages from the senses apart from sight

Why does the SNS not receive message from sight

Because the retina and optic nerve are connected directly to the brain

What are the two components that make up the somatic nervous system

The sensory pathway and motor pathway

What is the sensory (afferent) pathways

They bring sensory information towards the central nervous system

How does the sensory pathways work

• The sensory receptors make up these pathways and trigger nerve impulses (action potentials) in sensory neurons

• These neurons carry the sensory information into the spinal cord (CNS) via the spinal nerves (PNS)

• In the spinal cord, they make synaptic connections on to the relay neurons that carry the information up to the spinal cord, to the brain where it is processed

What is the motor (efferent) pathways

They carry motor commands away from the central nervous system to the effectors

What are effectors and examples

Biological components that produce a response to a stimulus or signal, causing a physical or chemical change e.g. muscles, glands, cells, or molecules

How does the motor pathways work

• The commands needed to move our muscles are formulated in the cerebral cortex of the forebrain

• Then they travel down through the brain and spinal cord to the spinal nerves

• The axons of motor neurons travel in spinal nerves out to the skeletal muscles of the body, allowing the brain to control bodily movement

What is the automatic nervous system (ANS)

It is a system that controls involuntary movements, and transmits and receives messages from the organs

How does the automatic nervous system work

• It’s centres are located in the brain stem and the pathways run down through the spinal cord

• These are then distributed throughout the body by the spinal nerves

What are other functions of the ANS

• Plays a central role in states of bodily arousal

• Responsible for vital functions such as heartbeat, digestions

• It only has motor (efferent) pathways and operates automatically

What are the two branches of autonomic nervous system that helps it carry out its functions

Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system

What is sympathetic nervous system (SPNS)

It is involved in “the fight or flight response” and leads to bodily arousal like increased heart rate, blood pressure and a decrease in activity in the digestive system

What is Parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)

It is involved in “the rest and digest response” and leads to body relaxation like decreased heart rate, psychological calm, lower blood pressure and increase in digestive activity

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