Psych unit 3 AOS1: how does the nervous system enable psychological functioning?

studied byStudied by 29 people
5.0(5)
Get a hint
Hint

Central nervous system (CNS)

1 / 46

flashcard set

Earn XP

Description and Tags

47 Terms

1

Central nervous system (CNS)

-Receives and processes sensory info from the body’s INTERNAL & EXTERNAL environments → to coordinate a response.

-Comprises of the brain and spinal cord.

New cards
2

Brain (CNS)

-Control centre of the entire NS.

-Responds to sensory info & is responsible for everything that we think/do.

New cards
3

Spinal cord (CNS)

-Connects brain & peripheral NS.

-Receives sensory info from the body & carries the messages to the brain for processing.

-Motor info from brain is carried to organs/glands via peripheral NS.

-Initiates involuntary spinal reflex.

New cards
4

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

-Carries info about body’s peripheral & external environments towards the CNS.

-Carries info from CNS to the muscles, organs & glands.

New cards
5

Somatic nervous system (PNS)

-Carries motor info from CNS to skeletal muscles → signals them to expand/contract.

-Carries sensory info from receptor sites towards CNS to enable voluntary coordinated response to stimuli.

New cards
6

Autonomic nervous system (PNS)

-Connects the CNS to the body’s internal organs & glands (self-regulating).

-Changes visceral muscles, organs & glands in response to demands placed on the body.

New cards
7

Sympathetic nervous system (ANS)

-Increases activity of internal muscles, organs & glands to prepare body for action or a stressor.

-Eg. increased heart beats, increased secretion of glucose in liver (energy), dilated pupils, expanded airways.

New cards
8

Parasympathetic nervous system (ANS)

-The counter-balance activity of the sympathetic NS.

-Helps restore body to its normal state after action/stressor.

-Eg. constricted pupils, resting heartbeat, constricted airways.

New cards
9

Enteric nervous system (ANS)

-Monitors physiological conditions of the digestive tract.

-Integrates digestive tract’s info about its muscle contractions, gastric acid secretion and blood flow.

-Can function independently of the brain.

New cards
10

Conscious response

-Reaction to sensory stimuli that involves awareness (voluntary).

-Eg. shielding your eyes when its too sunny.

New cards
11

Unconscious response

-Reaction to sensory stimuli that doesn’t involve awareness (involuntary).

-Eg. blinking when eyes get too dry.

New cards
12

Spinal reflex

-Unconscious and automatic response controlled by nerual circuits in the spinal cord.

-Reflex arc: sensory info is reflected back from the spinal cord.

-Helps body react quickly to pain.

New cards
13

Neurotransmitter

-Chemical substance produced by a neuron that carries a message to other nearby neurons.

New cards
14

Synaptic gap

-Tiny space b/w axon terminals of presynaptic neuron and dendrite of postsynaptic neuron.

  1. Excitatory - stimulates a postsynaptic neuron to perform its functions.

  2. Inhibitory - blocks/prevents a postsynaptic neuron from firing and functioning.

New cards
15

Glutamate

-Main excitatory neurotransmitter in CNS → enhances info transmission (postsynaptic ready to fire).

New cards
16

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)

-Main inhibitory neurotransmitter in CNA → makes postsynaptic less-likely to fire.

New cards
17

Neuromodulator

-A neurotransmitter that works/influences with other neurotransmitter.

-Can affect a large number of neurons at the same time.

New cards
18

Dopamine

-Modulatory neurotransmitter (mainly excitatory) with main functions of: moving, learning and behaviour that’s ‘rewarding’.

-Produced in Substantia Nigra.

New cards
19

Serotonin

-Inhibitory modulatory neurotransmitter with functions such as: mood, emotions, processing, sleep and pain.

-Can be described as ‘mood stabiliser’ → keeps us calm, positive and prevents anxiety.

New cards
20

Synaptic plasticity

-Ability of the synapse to change in response to experience.

-Strengthening/weakening of connections b/w neurons at a synapse.

-SYNAPSE IS SMALL AREA B/W 2 NEURONS.

New cards
21

Sprouting

-Creations of new extensions on a neuron to allow new connections with other neurons.

New cards
22

Rerouting

-New connections are made b/w neurons to make alternative neural pathways.

New cards
23

Pruning

-Elimination of weak, imperfect or unused synapses.

-Synaptic gap is destroyed.

New cards
24

Hebb’s rule

-Neurons that fire/wire together. Presynaptic & presynaptic neurons can be so closely/tightly linked & frequently used = the fire at the same time (more efficient).

New cards
25

Long-term potentiation

-Long-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmission due to repeated strong transmission.

-Enables postsynaptic neurons to be more easily activated.

-Enhances memory storage of info.

New cards
26

Long-term depression

-Long-lasting decrease in the strength of synaptic connections & transmission.

-Results from a lack of stimulation of pre/postsynaptic neurons.

-The basis of blocking/erasing unwanted thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

New cards
27

Stress

-A psychological/physiological response produced by internal OR external stressors.

New cards
28

Stressor

-Stimulus that produces stress.

-Can be physiological (noise, temp) or psychological (running late).

New cards
29

Internal stressor

-Originates from the individual (personal problems or physical pain).

-Eg. stomach pain or anxiety.

New cards
30

External stressor

-Originates outside the individual from environmental factors.

Eg. having too much homework.

New cards
31

Acute stress

-Stress that lasts for a short amount of time.

New cards
32

Chronic stress

-Stress that lasts for a prolonged period of time.

New cards
33

Flight-or-flight-or-freeze response

-An involuntary, bodily response to a sudden and immediate threat in readiness to fight (confront), flight (run away) or freeze (be silent and unseen).

-Fight-flight uses sympathetic NS → increased heart rate etc.

-Freeze uses parasympathetic → movements stop.

New cards
34

Cortisol

-Primary stress hormone which acts slowly but effects are long-lasting on stressors.

-Sourced by the adrenal cortex.

-Can shut down functions not needed to deal with stressor (reproductive system).

-Immediate effects in response to stressor is energising body (secretion of glucose in liver).

New cards
35

Having excessive cortisol

-Impaired immune system (vulnerable to disease).

-Weight gain (increased appetite).

-Physiological: high blood tension, digestive problems, heart attack and strokes.

-Psychological: impaired cognitive performance, impaired memory & learning difficulties.

New cards
36

Gut-brain axis (GBA)

-Bidirectional neural pathways that enable communication b/w bacteria in gastrointestinal tract and the brain.

-Vagus nerve helps the communication (neurotransmitter) between the gut & brain.

-Chronic stress affects gut microbiome → illness.

New cards
37

Gut microbiota OR microbiome

-Highly diverse and dynamic system of trillions of bacteria & other microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract.

-Disruptions to gut microbiota such as infections can trigger reactions in the body that affects physiological & psychological health.

-Affects gut and brain → even your health!

New cards
38

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

-A 3-staged physiological response to stress.

1st stage → alarm reaction

2nd stage → resistance

3rd stage → Exhaustion

New cards
39

Alarm reaction (stage 1 of GAS)

-Occurs when individual initially becomes aware of stressor.

  1. SHOCK happens → drop in blood pressure, body temp and muscle tone.

  2. Body rebounds from shock into COUNTER SHOCK → sympathetic NS (fight/flight) is activated, highly aroused & alert, adrenaline is released into blood stream.

-Helps maintain defensive reaction to stressor (high alertness & readiness).

New cards
40

Resistance (stage 2 of GAS)

-Occurs when stressor is not initially dealt with → body copes & adapts to the stressor.

-Unnecessary physiological processes shut down (digestion, menstruation, sex drive).

-Cortisol goes into blood stream to energise body.

-High levels of cortisol = weakened immune system.

New cards
41

Exhaustion (stage 3 of GAS)

-Occurs when stressor is still present after 2nd stage.

-Prolonged stress → depleted resources, resistance to disease lowers, vulnerable to physical & mental problems.

-Symptoms → extreme fatigue, high anxiety, depression, nightmares, impaired sexual performance.

-High cortisol level in blood stream = physical tear & wear on organs dealing with stress.

-Physical disorder → hypertension, stomach problems, heart disease & potentially death.

New cards
42

Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress & Coping

-Proposes that stress involves an encounter between an individual and their environment, and that a stress response depends upon both an individual’s appraisal of the stressor and their ability to cope with it

<p>-Proposes that stress involves an encounter between an individual and their environment, and that a stress response depends upon both an individual’s appraisal of the stressor and their ability to cope with it</p>
New cards
43

Coping

-Cognitive & behavioural efforts to manage specific internal/external stressors.

New cards
44

Approach strategies

-Effort to cope with stress by confronting the stressor & dealing directly with it.

Eg. stressed on upcoming exams so you study daily to ensure that you’re prepared.

New cards
45

Avoidance strategies

-Effort to cope with stress by evading the stressor & indirectly dealing with it.

Eg. stressed on upcoming exams so you avoid it by playing video games.

New cards
46

Coping flexibility

-Ability to effectively modify or adjust one’s coping strategies according to the demand of stressor.

New cards
47

Context-specific effectiveness

-When there is a match or ‘good fit’ between the coping strategy & the stressor.

Eg. upcoming sac, a positive coping strat is to study.

New cards

Explore top notes

note Note
studied byStudied by 67 people
... ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 28 people
... ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 15 people
... ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 20 people
... ago
4.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 5 people
... ago
4.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 56 people
... ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 679 people
... ago
4.7(3)
note Note
studied byStudied by 9708 people
... ago
4.8(56)

Explore top flashcards

flashcards Flashcard (146)
studied byStudied by 47 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (162)
studied byStudied by 40 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (40)
studied byStudied by 2 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (148)
studied byStudied by 47 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (80)
studied byStudied by 2 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (48)
studied byStudied by 7 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (60)
studied byStudied by 122 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (105)
studied byStudied by 5 people
... ago
5.0(1)
robot