Psychology Year 1 Biopsychology Samuel Nesbitt
This topic includes:
1- The Nervous System
2- The Endocrine System
3- Fight or Flight
4- Structure of a Neuron
5- Synaptic Transmission
1
, Psychology Year 1 Biopsychology Samuel Nesbitt
1. Divisions of The Nervous System
Describe two divisions of the nervous system [6]
1. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. There are two main
functions of the CNS, which is to control behaviour and regulate the body’s physiological
processes.
2. The spinal cord is an extension of the brain and relays information to and from the brain and
connects nerves to different parts of the body in the PNS by pairs of spinal nerves, which
connect with specific muscles and glands.
3. The brain contains the cerebrum which is split into two hemispheres and is divided into four
main lobes; the frontal lobe (responsible for thought and speech,) the occipital lobe, which
processes visual images, the temporal lobe and the parietal lobe.
4. The peripheral nervous system is made up of all the nerves outside of the CNS. The PNS
transmits messages, via millions of neurons, to and from the nervous system and is subdivided
into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
5. The somatic nervous system consists of 12 pairs of cranial nerves, 31 pairs of spinal nerves and
is made up of motor neurons – which relays information from the CNS to other areas of the
body and sensory neurons which relay messages to the CNS. It is also involved in reflect
actions without the CNS
6. The autonomic nervous system regulates vital involuntary actions, e.g. heart, rate and is made
up of the sympathetic nervous system – which has stimulating effects and the
parasympathetic nervous system which has inhibiting effects.
Describe two divisions of the central nervous system [4]
1. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The spinal cord is an
extension of the brain and relays information to and from the brain and connects nerves to
different parts of the body in the PNS by pairs of spinal nerves, which connect with specific
muscles and glands.
2. The spinal cord also contains circuits of nerve cells that enable us to perform some simple
reflexes without the direct involvement of the brain, e.g. moving your hand away if you touch
something hot.
3. The brain is made up of four main areas; the cerebrum, the cerebellum, the brain stem and
the diencephalon. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is split between two
hemispheres and divided into four lobes; the temporal, frontal, parietal and occipital lobe.
4. The frontal lobe, located at the front of the brain contains Broca’s area and the motor cortex is
responsible for motor skills, including the production of speech. The occipital lobe is found at
the back of the brain and contains the visual cortex responsible for processing visual images.
2
This topic includes:
1- The Nervous System
2- The Endocrine System
3- Fight or Flight
4- Structure of a Neuron
5- Synaptic Transmission
1
, Psychology Year 1 Biopsychology Samuel Nesbitt
1. Divisions of The Nervous System
Describe two divisions of the nervous system [6]
1. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. There are two main
functions of the CNS, which is to control behaviour and regulate the body’s physiological
processes.
2. The spinal cord is an extension of the brain and relays information to and from the brain and
connects nerves to different parts of the body in the PNS by pairs of spinal nerves, which
connect with specific muscles and glands.
3. The brain contains the cerebrum which is split into two hemispheres and is divided into four
main lobes; the frontal lobe (responsible for thought and speech,) the occipital lobe, which
processes visual images, the temporal lobe and the parietal lobe.
4. The peripheral nervous system is made up of all the nerves outside of the CNS. The PNS
transmits messages, via millions of neurons, to and from the nervous system and is subdivided
into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
5. The somatic nervous system consists of 12 pairs of cranial nerves, 31 pairs of spinal nerves and
is made up of motor neurons – which relays information from the CNS to other areas of the
body and sensory neurons which relay messages to the CNS. It is also involved in reflect
actions without the CNS
6. The autonomic nervous system regulates vital involuntary actions, e.g. heart, rate and is made
up of the sympathetic nervous system – which has stimulating effects and the
parasympathetic nervous system which has inhibiting effects.
Describe two divisions of the central nervous system [4]
1. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The spinal cord is an
extension of the brain and relays information to and from the brain and connects nerves to
different parts of the body in the PNS by pairs of spinal nerves, which connect with specific
muscles and glands.
2. The spinal cord also contains circuits of nerve cells that enable us to perform some simple
reflexes without the direct involvement of the brain, e.g. moving your hand away if you touch
something hot.
3. The brain is made up of four main areas; the cerebrum, the cerebellum, the brain stem and
the diencephalon. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is split between two
hemispheres and divided into four lobes; the temporal, frontal, parietal and occipital lobe.
4. The frontal lobe, located at the front of the brain contains Broca’s area and the motor cortex is
responsible for motor skills, including the production of speech. The occipital lobe is found at
the back of the brain and contains the visual cortex responsible for processing visual images.
2
