Psychology Biopsychology - KO Full

Nervous system

Our primary internal communication system

Brain and spinal cord

What makes up the Central Nervous System

Somatic nervous system

What transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the Central Nervous System

Autonomic Nervous System

What transmits information to and from the internal bodily organs

Endocrine system

What system instructs glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream

Glands

An organ in the body that synthesises substances such as hormones

Hormones

A chemical substance that circulates the bloodstream and affects target organs

Fight or flight response

What term describes our body's physiological response to stress

Adrenaline

What hormone, produced by the adrenal glands, plays a major role in the body's stress response

Parasympathetic Nervous System and Sympathetic Nervous System

What are the two states of the Autonomic Nervous System

100 billion

How many neurons are there in the human nervous system

Neurons

What are nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals

Sensory neurons

Neurons that carry messages from the Peripheral Nervous System to the Central Nervous System

Relay neurons

Neurons that connect the sensory neurons to the motor neurons

Motor neurons

Neurons that connect the Central Nervous System to effectors, e.g., muscles and glands

A synapse

What is the gap between two neurons called

Neurotransmitters

When an electrical impulse reaches the presynaptic terminal, it triggers the release of what chemical

Acetylcholine

What neurotransmitter is found where motor neurons meet muscles

Excitation

When neurotransmitters increase the positive charge of postsynaptic neurons

Inhibition

When neurotransmitters increase the negative charge of the postsynaptic neurons

Synaptic transmission

The process by which neighbouring neurons communication with each other by sending chemical messages across the synapse

Somatosensory area

The region of the parietal lobe that processes sensory information

Broca's area

The area of the frontal lobe in the left hemisphere associated with speech production

Wernicke's area

The area of the temporal lobe in the left hemisphere associated with language comprehension

Localisation of function

What term denotes the theory that different parts of the brain are responsible for different behaviours and/or processes

Neuroplasticity

What term describes the tendency for the brain to change and adapt as a result of experiences and new learning

Axonal sprouting, reformation of blood vessels, recruitment of homologous areas in the opposite hemisphere

Name the structural changes in the brain as a result of functional recovery after trauma

Sperry 1968

Who carried out seminal research into hemispheric lateralisation of the brain

Commissurotomy

The surgery in which you cut the corpus callosum, disconnecting the two hemispheres

Commissurotomy

In split brain patients, what surgical procedure have they undergone

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

What does fMRI stand for

fMRI

What brain scanning technique measures changes in blood oxygenation

Post mortem examinations

What term describes the analysis of a person's brain after death

EEG and ERP

Name two brain scanning techniques that measure the brains electrophysiological responses

Electroencephalogram

What does EEG stand for

Event Related Potential

What does ERP stand for

Circadian rhythm

What type of biological rhythm has a 24-hour cycle and regulates processes such as the sleep/wake cycle

Endogenous pacemakers

What term refers to our bodies internal biological clocks

Exogenous zeitgebers

What term describes the external changes in our environment that influence biological rhythms

Siffre 1962/1972

Who investigated his own biological rhythms by spending extended periods of time underground

Infradian rhythms

What type of biological rhythm has a cycle of over 24 hours

Ultradian rhythms

What type of biological rhythm has a cycle of less than 24hours

Seasonal Affective Disorder

What does SAD stand for

SAD

What depressive disorder is a type of infradian rhythm

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

What does SCN stand for

SCN

What tiny bundle of nerves is located in the hypothalamus and one of our primary endogenous pacemakers

Melatonin

What chemical, released from the pineal gland, is associated with the sleep/wake cycle

Light and social cues

Name two exogenous zeitgebers that influence our biological clocks

Entrainment

What term denotes the processes by which exogenous zeitgebers reset our biological clocks