AQA A Level Psychology Biopsychology
What is the nervous system - ANSThe nervous system is a specialised group of cells in our
body and is our primary communication system, it collects processes and responds to different
information and co-ordinates the working of different functions within the body. It is made up of
both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
What is the central nervous system (CNS) - ANSThe CNS includes the brain and the spinal
cord, the brain is the centre of all conscious awareness and it is the outer layer, the cerebral
cortex, which distinguishes us from animals. The spinal cord is an extension o the brain and is
responsible for our reflexes and movements.
The spinal cords main function is to relay information from the brain to the rest of the body.
The brain is made up of four main areas, the brain stem, the diencephalon, the cerebellum and
the cerebral cortex.
The brain stem regulates automatic functions such as breathing and swallowing.
The diencephalon comprises the thalamus which takes nerve impulses from the senses to the
brain and the hypothalamus that regulates body temp and hunger.
The cerebellum that controls motor skills and balance co-ordinating muscles to work together.
The cerebral cortex is divided into four lobes each with a different function:
POFT
The Parietal lobe for sensory information
The Occipital lobe for the processing of visual information
The Frontal lobe for thought and speech
The Temporal lobe for auditory information and memory
What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS) - ANSThe PNS is divided into two main sections
the first being the somatic nervous system.
This is made up of 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves, containing both
sensory and motor neurons it is also involved in reflex actions.
The autonomic nervous system is much more complex, it essentially regulates involuntary
actions such as heart rate without any conscious awareness. It is made up of the sympathetic
nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system which have opposing effects on the
body.
The sympathetic nervous system helps us deal with emergencies (fight or flight), it increases the
heart rate, blood pressure and dilates pupils. It can also shut down non essentials like digestion.
The parasympathetic nervous system has the opposite effect of the fight or flight, as this
response triggers homeostasis. This relaxes the individual after the emergency, slowing heart
rate and non essentials back on.
What are neurons and outline the three main ones - ANSNeurons are specialised cells designed
for the transmission of information throughout the body, there are three types:
Sensory neurons, these carry impulses from receptors to the spinal cord/brain.
, Relay neurons allow sensory and motor neurons to communicate with each other, located in the
brain and spinal cord.
Motor neurons from synapses with muscles and when an impulse travels down the motor
neuron it causes the muscle to contract.
Outline synaptic transmission - ANSAction potential is the electrical signal that travels down the
neuron to the axon ready to be passed on.
To cross a synaptic junction the end of an axon has many sacks of neurotransmitters known as
vesicles which assist the message transfer. When the action potential reaches the synaptic
vessels it causes them to release neurotransmitters, this is known as exocytosis.
The neurotransmitter diffuses across the synaptic junction and binds to receptor sites on the
post synaptic knob. Once these sites are activated it produces either an excitatory or an
inhibitory effect on the post synaptic knob.
This whole process takes a fraction of a second and is ended when the neurotransmitters are
reabsorbed by the reuptake site.
As stated before based on the neurotransmitter released it can cause either an excitatory or an
inhibitory effect. Excitatory neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline make it more likely for an
excitatory signal to be sent to the post synaptic knob. This results in an excitatory post synaptic
potential meaning the knob is more likely to fire.
The inhibitory neurotransmitters such as serotonin obviously have the opposite effect causing
an inhibitatory post synaptic potential
Outline the endocrine system - ANSThe endocrine system works along side the nervous system
and essentially is very similar in the sense that it controls vital functions in the body. However
the endocrine system works much more slowly with much more powerful effects.
Instead of using nerves to transmit information it uses blood vessels to deliver hormones.
Endocrine glands produce and release hormones with the main ones being the pituitary gland
and the adrenal glands.
The adrenal glands are on top of the kidneys. The outer part is called the adrenal cortex and the
inner is the adrenal medulla. The adrenal cortex releases hormones which are essential to life
whereas the adrenal medulla are not.
The adrenal cortex produces cortisol which regulates cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory
functions.
The adrenal medulla releases adrenaline, which increases heart rate and thus blood flow to the
brain, and noradrenaline which constricts blood vessels causing blood pressure to go up.
Outline the fight or flight response - ANSWhen a person experiences a life threatening or
stressful situation the body responds with what is known as the fight or flight response. It is an
evolutionary adaptive survival mechanism enabling us to react quickly to certain stimuli.
However this response now days is activated too often to non life threatening situations such as
exam stress.
What is the nervous system - ANSThe nervous system is a specialised group of cells in our
body and is our primary communication system, it collects processes and responds to different
information and co-ordinates the working of different functions within the body. It is made up of
both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
What is the central nervous system (CNS) - ANSThe CNS includes the brain and the spinal
cord, the brain is the centre of all conscious awareness and it is the outer layer, the cerebral
cortex, which distinguishes us from animals. The spinal cord is an extension o the brain and is
responsible for our reflexes and movements.
The spinal cords main function is to relay information from the brain to the rest of the body.
The brain is made up of four main areas, the brain stem, the diencephalon, the cerebellum and
the cerebral cortex.
The brain stem regulates automatic functions such as breathing and swallowing.
The diencephalon comprises the thalamus which takes nerve impulses from the senses to the
brain and the hypothalamus that regulates body temp and hunger.
The cerebellum that controls motor skills and balance co-ordinating muscles to work together.
The cerebral cortex is divided into four lobes each with a different function:
POFT
The Parietal lobe for sensory information
The Occipital lobe for the processing of visual information
The Frontal lobe for thought and speech
The Temporal lobe for auditory information and memory
What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS) - ANSThe PNS is divided into two main sections
the first being the somatic nervous system.
This is made up of 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves, containing both
sensory and motor neurons it is also involved in reflex actions.
The autonomic nervous system is much more complex, it essentially regulates involuntary
actions such as heart rate without any conscious awareness. It is made up of the sympathetic
nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system which have opposing effects on the
body.
The sympathetic nervous system helps us deal with emergencies (fight or flight), it increases the
heart rate, blood pressure and dilates pupils. It can also shut down non essentials like digestion.
The parasympathetic nervous system has the opposite effect of the fight or flight, as this
response triggers homeostasis. This relaxes the individual after the emergency, slowing heart
rate and non essentials back on.
What are neurons and outline the three main ones - ANSNeurons are specialised cells designed
for the transmission of information throughout the body, there are three types:
Sensory neurons, these carry impulses from receptors to the spinal cord/brain.
, Relay neurons allow sensory and motor neurons to communicate with each other, located in the
brain and spinal cord.
Motor neurons from synapses with muscles and when an impulse travels down the motor
neuron it causes the muscle to contract.
Outline synaptic transmission - ANSAction potential is the electrical signal that travels down the
neuron to the axon ready to be passed on.
To cross a synaptic junction the end of an axon has many sacks of neurotransmitters known as
vesicles which assist the message transfer. When the action potential reaches the synaptic
vessels it causes them to release neurotransmitters, this is known as exocytosis.
The neurotransmitter diffuses across the synaptic junction and binds to receptor sites on the
post synaptic knob. Once these sites are activated it produces either an excitatory or an
inhibitory effect on the post synaptic knob.
This whole process takes a fraction of a second and is ended when the neurotransmitters are
reabsorbed by the reuptake site.
As stated before based on the neurotransmitter released it can cause either an excitatory or an
inhibitory effect. Excitatory neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline make it more likely for an
excitatory signal to be sent to the post synaptic knob. This results in an excitatory post synaptic
potential meaning the knob is more likely to fire.
The inhibitory neurotransmitters such as serotonin obviously have the opposite effect causing
an inhibitatory post synaptic potential
Outline the endocrine system - ANSThe endocrine system works along side the nervous system
and essentially is very similar in the sense that it controls vital functions in the body. However
the endocrine system works much more slowly with much more powerful effects.
Instead of using nerves to transmit information it uses blood vessels to deliver hormones.
Endocrine glands produce and release hormones with the main ones being the pituitary gland
and the adrenal glands.
The adrenal glands are on top of the kidneys. The outer part is called the adrenal cortex and the
inner is the adrenal medulla. The adrenal cortex releases hormones which are essential to life
whereas the adrenal medulla are not.
The adrenal cortex produces cortisol which regulates cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory
functions.
The adrenal medulla releases adrenaline, which increases heart rate and thus blood flow to the
brain, and noradrenaline which constricts blood vessels causing blood pressure to go up.
Outline the fight or flight response - ANSWhen a person experiences a life threatening or
stressful situation the body responds with what is known as the fight or flight response. It is an
evolutionary adaptive survival mechanism enabling us to react quickly to certain stimuli.
However this response now days is activated too often to non life threatening situations such as
exam stress.
