AQA - Topic 6: Biopsychology
💡 Learning Outcomes:
1.) The divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral (somatic
and autonomic).
2.) The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons. The
process of synaptic transmission, including reference to
neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition.
3.) The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones.
4.) The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline.
5.) Ways of studying the brain: scanning techniques, including functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); electroencephalogram (EEGs) and
event-related potentials (ERPs); postmortem examinations.
6.) Localisation of function in the brain and hemispheric lateralisation:
motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory and language centres; Broca’s
and Wernicke’s areas, split brain research. Plasticity and functional
recovery of the brain after trauma.
1.) The divisions of the nervous system:
central and peripheral (somatic and
autonomic).
AQA - Topic 6: Biopsychology 1
, Central Nervous System (CNS)
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, serving as the
main processing center for all neural information.
The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
Messages from the body, e.g. arms, travel up the spinal cord to the brain
where the information is processed.
The brain then sends messages back down the spinal cord resulting in an
action from the person.
AQA - Topic 6: Biopsychology 2
, Brain Structure
The brainstem (pons, medulla, cerebellum) is a continuation of the spinal cord
carrying on into the bottom of the brain – the brain stem – mainly composed of
sensory and motor neurons. The cerebellum controls movement and motor
coordination.
The forebrain is divided into 2 parts:
1. The Diencephalon
The diencephalon contains the:
Thalamus: concerned with relaying sensory information from the brainstem to
the cortex.
Hypothalamus: controls basic functions such as hunger, thirst, sexual
behaviour; also controls the pituitary gland.
2. The Cerebral Hemispheres
The cerebral hemispheres control higher level cognitive and emotional processes:
The limbic system is involved in learning, memory and emotions.
The basal ganglia is involved in motor activities and movement.
AQA - Topic 6: Biopsychology 3
, The neocortex/cerebral cortex is involved with planning, problem-solving,
language, consciousness and personality.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The PNS connects the CNS to the rest of the body, allowing for information
exchange with the external environment.
The portion of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal cord.
The primary function of the peripheral nervous system is to connect the brain
and spinal cord to the rest of the body and the external environment.
This is accomplished through nerves that carry information from sensory
receptors in the eyes, ears, skin, nose and tongue, as well as stretch receptors
and nociceptors in muscles, glands and other internal organs.
The PNS is made up of 31 spinal nerves which radiate out from the spinal cord and
can be divided into the:
Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
Somatic Nervous System connects the central nervous system with the senses
and is composed of:
AQA - Topic 6: Biopsychology 4
💡 Learning Outcomes:
1.) The divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral (somatic
and autonomic).
2.) The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons. The
process of synaptic transmission, including reference to
neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition.
3.) The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones.
4.) The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline.
5.) Ways of studying the brain: scanning techniques, including functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); electroencephalogram (EEGs) and
event-related potentials (ERPs); postmortem examinations.
6.) Localisation of function in the brain and hemispheric lateralisation:
motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory and language centres; Broca’s
and Wernicke’s areas, split brain research. Plasticity and functional
recovery of the brain after trauma.
1.) The divisions of the nervous system:
central and peripheral (somatic and
autonomic).
AQA - Topic 6: Biopsychology 1
, Central Nervous System (CNS)
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, serving as the
main processing center for all neural information.
The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
Messages from the body, e.g. arms, travel up the spinal cord to the brain
where the information is processed.
The brain then sends messages back down the spinal cord resulting in an
action from the person.
AQA - Topic 6: Biopsychology 2
, Brain Structure
The brainstem (pons, medulla, cerebellum) is a continuation of the spinal cord
carrying on into the bottom of the brain – the brain stem – mainly composed of
sensory and motor neurons. The cerebellum controls movement and motor
coordination.
The forebrain is divided into 2 parts:
1. The Diencephalon
The diencephalon contains the:
Thalamus: concerned with relaying sensory information from the brainstem to
the cortex.
Hypothalamus: controls basic functions such as hunger, thirst, sexual
behaviour; also controls the pituitary gland.
2. The Cerebral Hemispheres
The cerebral hemispheres control higher level cognitive and emotional processes:
The limbic system is involved in learning, memory and emotions.
The basal ganglia is involved in motor activities and movement.
AQA - Topic 6: Biopsychology 3
, The neocortex/cerebral cortex is involved with planning, problem-solving,
language, consciousness and personality.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The PNS connects the CNS to the rest of the body, allowing for information
exchange with the external environment.
The portion of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal cord.
The primary function of the peripheral nervous system is to connect the brain
and spinal cord to the rest of the body and the external environment.
This is accomplished through nerves that carry information from sensory
receptors in the eyes, ears, skin, nose and tongue, as well as stretch receptors
and nociceptors in muscles, glands and other internal organs.
The PNS is made up of 31 spinal nerves which radiate out from the spinal cord and
can be divided into the:
Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
Somatic Nervous System connects the central nervous system with the senses
and is composed of:
AQA - Topic 6: Biopsychology 4
