Biopsychology

What is the role of the CNS?

Brain and spinal cord control behaviour and coordinate responses

Processes sensory information and sends instructions to the body

What does the PNS do? (peripheral nervous system)

Transmits messages between the body and the brain

Is divided into two sections (SNS) and (ANS)

Why does the SNS (somatic) do?

Transmits and receives messages from the senses about the external world

Controls voluntary movements

Peripheral neurons send sensory information to the CNS which coordinates and sends messages back to ensure skeletal muscles move appropriately

What does the SNS do in reflexes?

SNS and spinal cord responsible for the reflex arc

Includes the movement of skeletal muscles movement to response to external simuli

What does the ANS (autonomic) do?

Helps transmit and receive messages from the organs

It is involuntary (not under conscious control) and includes internal vital bodily functions such as breathing, heartbeat and digestion

What’s the ANS divided into?

Sympathetic nervous system - also known as the ‘fight or flight’ system, this generally increases body functions

Parasympathetic nervous system - also known as the rest and digest system, this generally conserves the body’s energy

What are the key brain lobes and their functions?

Frontal lobe - decision making, planning, personality

Parietal lobe - sensory processing

Occipital lobe - vision

Temporal lobe - memory, language, auditory processing

What’s limbic system for

Emotion regulation, memory, motivation

Includes hippocampus and amygdala

What’s neurochemistry?

Study of neurotransmitters and brain chemicals that influence neural activity and behaviour

Focuses on how chemical imbalances affect mental processes

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses

Influence mood, movement, cognition and behaviour

What behaviour is serotonin linked to?

Mood regulation, sleep, appetite

Low serotonin is associated with depression and aggression

What behaviour is dopamine linked to?

Reward, motivation and movement

High dopamine activity is linked to schizophrenia

What does the nervous system do?

Collects, processes and responds to information in the environment and body

Co-ordinates the working of different organs and cells

What does the spinal cord do?

Made up of relay neurones that are involved in reflexes

Ensures signals from the rain are transmitted to the rest of the body via PNS

What does the cerebral cortex do?

Carries out essential functions

Memory, thinking and problem-solving, consciousness, sensory functions