LEVEL A AQA PAPER 1 EXAM UPDATED 2025 WITH
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED ANSWERS
What is the nervous system? VERIFIED ANSWER A specialised
network of cells in the human body and is our primary communication
system.
What are the two main functions of the nervous system? VERIFIED
ANSWER To collect, process and respond to information in the
environment
To coordinate the working of different organs and cells
What is the CNS? What is it made up of? VERIFIED ANSWER Central
Nervous System.
Passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS.
Made up of the brain and the spinal cord.
What is the spinal cord responsible for? VERIFIED ANSWER reflex
actions
What is the PNS? VERIFIED ANSWER Peripheral Nervous System.
Transmits messages via neurons, to and from the central nervous system.
What two subsystems is the PNS divided into? VERIFIED ANSWER
Somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
,What is the somatic nervous system? VERIFIED ANSWER It is the part
of the PNS that is responsible for carrying sensory and motor
information to and from the spinal cord.
What is the autonomic nervous system? VERIFIED ANSWER It
governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate,
digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses.
What two subsystems is the ANS divides into? VERIFIED ANSWER
Sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic system.
What is the endocrine system? VERIFIED ANSWER It instructs glands
to release hormones directly into the bloodstream.
Outline how the fight or flight response works. VERIFIED ANSWER -
Stressor is perceived, hypothalamus triggers activity in the sympathetic
branch of the autonomic nervous system.
-ANS changes from its normal resting state to the physiologically
aroused, sympathetic state.
-Adrenaline is released from the adrenal gland into the bloodstream.
-Adrenaline triggers physiologically changes in the body which creates
the physiological arousal necessary changes for the fight or flight
response.
-Threat passes, then the parasympathetic nervous system returns the
body to its resting state. Reverses the actions of the sympathetic system
as they are antagonistic.
,What are motor neurons? VERIFIED ANSWER These connect the CNS
to effectors such as muscles and glands. They have short dendrites and
long axons.
What are sensory neurons? VERIFIED ANSWER These carry messages
from the PNS to the CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons.
What are relay neurons? VERIFIED ANSWER These connect the
sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons. They have short
dendrites and short axons.
How are signals transmitted within neurons? VERIFIED ANSWER
Electrically.
How are signals between neurons transmitted? VERIFIED ANSWER
Chemically by synaptic transmission.
What are neurotransmitters? VERIFIED ANSWER Chemicals that
diffuse across the synapse to the next neuron in the chain.
What is action potential? When does it occur? VERIFIED ANSWER
Action potential is an explosion of electrical activity. It occurs when a
neuron sends information down an axon, away from the body.
, What does excitation mean? VERIFIED ANSWER When a
neurotransmitter, such as adrenaline, increases the positive charge of the
postsynaptic neuron. This increases the likelihood that the neuron will
fire and pass on the electrical impulse.
What does inhibition mean? VERIFIED ANSWER When a
neurotransmitter, such as serotonin, makes the charge of the postsynaptic
neuron more negative. This decreases the likelihood that the neuron will
fire and pass on the electrical impulse.
What is the process of synaptic transmission? VERIFIED ANSWER -
Nerve impulse travels down an axon.
-Nerve impulse reaches synaptic terminal.
-This triggers the release of neurotransmitters.
-The neurotransmitters are fired into the synaptic gap.
-Neurotransmitters bind with receptors on the dendrite of the adjacent
neuron.
-If successfully transmitted, the neurotransmitter is taken up by the post-
synaptic neuron.
-The message will continue.
What is Broca's area responsible for? VERIFIED ANSWER Responsible
for converting thought into speech- speech production.
What can happen if the Broca's area is damaged? VERIFIED ANSWER
Broca's aphasia- difficulty producing fluent speech, speech is slow and
effortful. Speech has missing words leading to poor grammar.
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED ANSWERS
What is the nervous system? VERIFIED ANSWER A specialised
network of cells in the human body and is our primary communication
system.
What are the two main functions of the nervous system? VERIFIED
ANSWER To collect, process and respond to information in the
environment
To coordinate the working of different organs and cells
What is the CNS? What is it made up of? VERIFIED ANSWER Central
Nervous System.
Passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS.
Made up of the brain and the spinal cord.
What is the spinal cord responsible for? VERIFIED ANSWER reflex
actions
What is the PNS? VERIFIED ANSWER Peripheral Nervous System.
Transmits messages via neurons, to and from the central nervous system.
What two subsystems is the PNS divided into? VERIFIED ANSWER
Somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
,What is the somatic nervous system? VERIFIED ANSWER It is the part
of the PNS that is responsible for carrying sensory and motor
information to and from the spinal cord.
What is the autonomic nervous system? VERIFIED ANSWER It
governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate,
digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses.
What two subsystems is the ANS divides into? VERIFIED ANSWER
Sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic system.
What is the endocrine system? VERIFIED ANSWER It instructs glands
to release hormones directly into the bloodstream.
Outline how the fight or flight response works. VERIFIED ANSWER -
Stressor is perceived, hypothalamus triggers activity in the sympathetic
branch of the autonomic nervous system.
-ANS changes from its normal resting state to the physiologically
aroused, sympathetic state.
-Adrenaline is released from the adrenal gland into the bloodstream.
-Adrenaline triggers physiologically changes in the body which creates
the physiological arousal necessary changes for the fight or flight
response.
-Threat passes, then the parasympathetic nervous system returns the
body to its resting state. Reverses the actions of the sympathetic system
as they are antagonistic.
,What are motor neurons? VERIFIED ANSWER These connect the CNS
to effectors such as muscles and glands. They have short dendrites and
long axons.
What are sensory neurons? VERIFIED ANSWER These carry messages
from the PNS to the CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons.
What are relay neurons? VERIFIED ANSWER These connect the
sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons. They have short
dendrites and short axons.
How are signals transmitted within neurons? VERIFIED ANSWER
Electrically.
How are signals between neurons transmitted? VERIFIED ANSWER
Chemically by synaptic transmission.
What are neurotransmitters? VERIFIED ANSWER Chemicals that
diffuse across the synapse to the next neuron in the chain.
What is action potential? When does it occur? VERIFIED ANSWER
Action potential is an explosion of electrical activity. It occurs when a
neuron sends information down an axon, away from the body.
, What does excitation mean? VERIFIED ANSWER When a
neurotransmitter, such as adrenaline, increases the positive charge of the
postsynaptic neuron. This increases the likelihood that the neuron will
fire and pass on the electrical impulse.
What does inhibition mean? VERIFIED ANSWER When a
neurotransmitter, such as serotonin, makes the charge of the postsynaptic
neuron more negative. This decreases the likelihood that the neuron will
fire and pass on the electrical impulse.
What is the process of synaptic transmission? VERIFIED ANSWER -
Nerve impulse travels down an axon.
-Nerve impulse reaches synaptic terminal.
-This triggers the release of neurotransmitters.
-The neurotransmitters are fired into the synaptic gap.
-Neurotransmitters bind with receptors on the dendrite of the adjacent
neuron.
-If successfully transmitted, the neurotransmitter is taken up by the post-
synaptic neuron.
-The message will continue.
What is Broca's area responsible for? VERIFIED ANSWER Responsible
for converting thought into speech- speech production.
What can happen if the Broca's area is damaged? VERIFIED ANSWER
Broca's aphasia- difficulty producing fluent speech, speech is slow and
effortful. Speech has missing words leading to poor grammar.
