100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached 4.2 TrustPilot
logo-home
Summary

Summary Biopsychology A-level psychology AQA notes (Not essay content)

Rating
5.0
(1)
Sold
-
Pages
5
Uploaded on
06-10-2025
Written in
2025/2026

- A01 content on A-level biopsychology

Institution
Course









Whoops! We can’t load your doc right now. Try again or contact support.

Written for

Study Level
Examinator
Subject
Unit

Document information

Uploaded on
October 6, 2025
File latest updated on
October 7, 2025
Number of pages
5
Written in
2025/2026
Type
Summary

Subjects

Content preview

​ ervous system:​
N
​Consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system and​
​communicates​
​using electrical signals​

​Two main functions of the nervous system:​
​-​ ​To collect, process and respond to information in the environment​
​-​ ​To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body​
​-​ ​Consists of the brain and spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and​
​decisions​
​-​ ​Sends information to the CNS from the outside world, transmits messages from the​
​CNS to muscles and glands in the body​

​-​ ​ he nervous system is made up of the central nervous system (CNS - brain and​
T
​spinal cord), whilst the peripheral nervous system (PNS) relays messages from the​
​environment to the CNS,via sensory neurons and from the CNS to effectors, via​
​motor neurons.​
​-​ ​The PNS Is subdivided into the​
​-​ ​Automatic nervous system - controls involuntary, vital functions of the body,​
​such​​as maintaining heart rates and breathing rates​
​-​ ​Somatic nervous system - receives information from sensory receptors​
​belonging to each of the 5 senses, and results in effectors being stimulated. It​
​also governs muscle movement​
​-​ ​The autonomic nervous system is also subdivided into the sympathetic and​
​parasympathetic branches​
​-​ ​These branches work as antagonistic pair (they are opposites)​
​-​ ​Either being in the 'rest and digest' response (parasympathetic)- decreases​
​-​ ​Or the fight or flight response (sympathetic) - increases​
​-​ ​e.g. sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate, breathing​
​rates, causes vasoconstriction and pupil dilation​
​-​ ​Whereas, the parasympathetic nervous system decreases heart​
​rates, causes vasodilation and pupil constriction​

​Gland​​- An organ in the body that synthesises substances such as hormones​

​ he​​Somatic Nervous System​​(SNS) controls muscle movement and receives information​
T
​from​
​the sensory receptors (what you are feeling, hearing, smelling, tasting and seeing at all​
​times)​

​ he​​Autonomic Nervous System​​(ANS) is responsible for organs and ensuring vital​
T
​functioning happens such as breathing, digestion and heart rate.​

, ​ ndocrine system​​- One of the body's major information systems that instructs glands to​
E
​release hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones are carried towards target​
​organs in the body. Communicates via chemicals.​

​ ormones​​- Chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target​
H
​organs. They are produced in large quantities but disappear quickly. Their effects are very​
​powerful​

​ ight or flight​​- The way an animal responds when stressed, the body becomes​
F
​physiologically aroused in readiness to fight an aggressor or flee​

​ drenaline​​- A hormone produced by the adrenal glands which is part of the human body's​
A
​immediate stress response system. Adrenaline has a strong effect on the cells of the​
​cardiovascular system - stimulating heart rate, contracting blood vessels and dilating air​
​passages.​


​-​ ​ ituitary gland​​- Controls the release of hormones from all the other endocrine​
P
​glands in the body​
​-​ ​Thyroid gland​​- Releases the hormone thyroxine , which increases heart rate, in​
​turn, increases metabolic rates and therefore increases the rate of growth. The target​
​organ is the kidneys and the liver.​
​-​ ​Adrenal gland​​- Releases adrenaline which create the physiological arousal​
​preceding the fight or flight response , through increasing the activity within the​
​sympathetic branch of the nervous system​


​Fight or flight response​

​-​ ​ he endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) work in parallel with​
T
​one another​
-​ ​ ​The fight or flight response is an acute response and is automatic​
​1)​ ​The body senses and becomes aware of a stressor in the environment​
​2)​ ​Through sensory receptors and sensory neurons in the PNS , this information is sent​
​to the hypothalamus in the brain which coordinates a response and triggers​
​increased levels in the sympathetic branch of the ANS​
​3)​ ​The ANS changes from its normal resting state (parasympathetic) to the​
​physiologically aroused sympathetic state​
​ )​
4 ​The SNS sends a signal to the adrenal medulla​
​5)​ ​Adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla in the adrenal glands​
​6)​ ​This causes physiologically changes​​e.g. heart beats faster, pushing blood into​
​muscles, dilation of pupils, decreased production of saliva and triggers the​
​release of glucose​
​7)​ ​Glucose is released to sustain the fight or flight response ,the purpose of this is to​
​enable us to escape the stressor and increase the likelihood of survival​
​8)​ ​Once the stressor is no longer a threat ,as part of an antagonistic pairing ,the​
​hypothalamus triggers less activity in the sympathetic branch and more activity in the​
​parasympathetic branch of the ANS.​
$5.48
Get access to the full document:

100% satisfaction guarantee
Immediately available after payment
Both online and in PDF
No strings attached

Get to know the seller
Seller avatar
Studypsychsocio
4.7
(3)

Also available in package deal

Reviews from verified buyers

Showing all reviews
1 month ago

5.0

1 reviews

5
1
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0
Trustworthy reviews on Stuvia

All reviews are made by real Stuvia users after verified purchases.

Get to know the seller

Seller avatar
Studypsychsocio Exeter University
Follow You need to be logged in order to follow users or courses
Sold
2
Member since
2 months
Number of followers
0
Documents
12
Last sold
1 month ago
Studypsychsocio

Selling A* grade revision resources for A-level Psychology & Sociology

4.7

3 reviews

5
2
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0

Recently viewed by you

Why students choose Stuvia

Created by fellow students, verified by reviews

Quality you can trust: written by students who passed their tests and reviewed by others who've used these notes.

Didn't get what you expected? Choose another document

No worries! You can instantly pick a different document that better fits what you're looking for.

Pay as you like, start learning right away

No subscription, no commitments. Pay the way you're used to via credit card and download your PDF document instantly.

Student with book image

“Bought, downloaded, and aced it. It really can be that simple.”

Alisha Student

Frequently asked questions