biopsychology

what is the structure of the nervous system

what is the function of the central nervous system

central coordinator for all bodyily functions

function of the brain

cerebral cortex is the decision maker

function of the spinal cord

• reflex responses

• relays messages between peripheral nervous system and brain

function of peripheral nervous system

• neurons transmit messages to and from central NS

• collects info from internal and external environment and sends to central NS

function of somatic NS

carries sensory and motor infor to and from spinal cord

-responsible for deliberate, voluntary and conscious actions

function of autonomic NS

• responsible for unconscious, involuntary actions

• eg digestion, heart rate

function of sympathetic NS

• initiates fight or flight response before our conscious mind has recognised threat

• shuts down unnessecary functions eg digestion, immune system

function of parasympathetic NS

• shuts down fight or flight response

• works antagonistically with sympathetic NS

• restarts responses eg decreases heart rate, increase sailva production

what is the steps of the fight or flight response

1. hypothalamus identifies threat, instructs sympathetic NS to act

2. adrenaline released from adrenal glands into blood

3. adrenaline promts physical changes to prepare

4. parasympathetic activated to return body to its normal resting state. (occurs slower than sympathetic)