A-level biological psychology

BIOLOGICAL
PSYCHOLOGY

,THE CENTRAL NERVOUS
SYSTEM
The central nervous system has 2 functions:
• To control behaviour
• To regulate the body’s physiological processes

The functions of the spinal chord:
• Relays information the brain and the body, through nerve
connections
• Sends message about digestion, breathing, movement, etc.
• Is also in control of the reflex arc that bypasses the brain to react
quickly to pain
• If the spinal chord is damaged then all nerves below the point of
injury are cut off from the brain and can result in paralysis

,LATERALISATION
Lateralisation refers to the fact that the brain ha
identical hemispheres that perform very differen
functions.
The left hemisphere is associated with language
creativity, and the right hemisphere is associate
with logic and problem solving.
Within each hemipshere localisation happens wh
each area of the brain is responsible for specific
functions.
The brain is contralateral meaning the left side o
brain controls the right side of the body and the
side of the brain controls the left side of the bod

, THE BRAIN