Psychology: Approaches
Biopsychology: The nervous system and endocrine system
Nervous system:
- Consists of the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
- Specialised network of cells in the body and is our internal communication system.
It has 2 main functions:
To collect, process and respond to information in the environment
To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
It is divided into 2 sub-systems:
Central Nervous System—Consists of the brain and spinal cord and is the origin of all
complex decisions
Peripheral nervous system—Sends information to central nervous system from the outside
world and transmits messages from the central nervous system to muscles and glands in the
body.
The central nervous system:
CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord:
Brain is the centre of all conscious awareness. The brain’s outer layer (cerebral cortex) is
highly developed in humans and it distinguishes our higher mental functions from those of
animals.
The spinal cord is an extension of the brain. It is responsible for reflex actions such as pulling
your hand away from a hot plate. It passes messages to and from the brain and connects
nerves to the peripheral nervous system.
The peripheral nervous system:
PNS transmits messages via millions of neurons (nerve cells) to and from the CNS.
The PNS is divide into:
Autonomic nervous system—governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart
rate and digestion.
Somatic nervous system—controls muscle movement and received information from
sensory receptors.
The endocrine system—One of the body’s information systems that instructs glands to
release hormones directly into the blood stream. These hormones are carried towards
target organs in the body.
Glands and Hormones:
- Endocrine system works with nervous system to control vital function in the body.
- Endocrine system works lower than nervous system but has very powerful effects.
- Various glands in the body such as the thyroid gland produces hormones.
- Many hormones affect cells in several organs leading to diverse and powerful
response. For example, thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine. - affects cells
in the heart (increases heart rate). Also affects cells throughout the body increasing
metabolic rates which affects growth rates.
- The main gland of the endocrine system is the pituitary gland-located in the brain. It
is often called the ‘master gland’ because it controls the release of hormones from
all the other endocrine glands in the body.
Biopsychology: The nervous system and endocrine system
Nervous system:
- Consists of the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
- Specialised network of cells in the body and is our internal communication system.
It has 2 main functions:
To collect, process and respond to information in the environment
To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
It is divided into 2 sub-systems:
Central Nervous System—Consists of the brain and spinal cord and is the origin of all
complex decisions
Peripheral nervous system—Sends information to central nervous system from the outside
world and transmits messages from the central nervous system to muscles and glands in the
body.
The central nervous system:
CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord:
Brain is the centre of all conscious awareness. The brain’s outer layer (cerebral cortex) is
highly developed in humans and it distinguishes our higher mental functions from those of
animals.
The spinal cord is an extension of the brain. It is responsible for reflex actions such as pulling
your hand away from a hot plate. It passes messages to and from the brain and connects
nerves to the peripheral nervous system.
The peripheral nervous system:
PNS transmits messages via millions of neurons (nerve cells) to and from the CNS.
The PNS is divide into:
Autonomic nervous system—governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart
rate and digestion.
Somatic nervous system—controls muscle movement and received information from
sensory receptors.
The endocrine system—One of the body’s information systems that instructs glands to
release hormones directly into the blood stream. These hormones are carried towards
target organs in the body.
Glands and Hormones:
- Endocrine system works with nervous system to control vital function in the body.
- Endocrine system works lower than nervous system but has very powerful effects.
- Various glands in the body such as the thyroid gland produces hormones.
- Many hormones affect cells in several organs leading to diverse and powerful
response. For example, thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine. - affects cells
in the heart (increases heart rate). Also affects cells throughout the body increasing
metabolic rates which affects growth rates.
- The main gland of the endocrine system is the pituitary gland-located in the brain. It
is often called the ‘master gland’ because it controls the release of hormones from
all the other endocrine glands in the body.
