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Biopsychology - AQA A Level
Psychology (Paper 2) Questions and
Answers Latest Version
What is the nervous system? Ans: A specialised network
of cells in the human body and is our primary internal
communication system.
What are the two main functions of the nervous system?
Ans: 2 main functions:
• Collect, process and respond to information in the
environment
• Co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in
the body.
What is the nervous system divided into? Ans: Central
Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System
(PNS)
What makes up the central nervous system? Ans: Brain:
Centre of all conscious awareness, cerebral cortex is
highly developed in humans, divided into two
hemispheres.
Spinal cord: an extension of the brain. Passes messages to
and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS
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What does the peripheral nervous system do? Ans: It
transmits messages to and from the CNS.
What is the peripheral nervous system divided into? Ans:
Autonomic nervous system (ANS) and Somatic nervous
system (SNS).
What does the autonomic nervous system (ANS) do? Ans:
It governs vital functions in the body (breathing, heart
rate, digestion, sexual arousal, stress). Divided into:
Sympathetic nervous system - "ON" (e.g, you are
digesting)
Parasympathetic nervous system - "OFF" (e.g, you are not
digesting)
What does the somatic nervous system do? Ans: Controls
muscles movement and receives information from
sensory receptors.
What does the endocrine system consist of? Ans: Glands
and hormones. Main one is pituitary gland - located in
brain, controls the release of hormones from all the other
endocrine glands in the body.
What is stress? Ans: The perceived inability to cope with
a perceived environmental stimulus. Works on the
sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.
Explain the fight or flight response. Ans: Stressor is
perceived. ANS changes from parasympathetic to the
physiologically aroused sympathetic state. Pituitary gland
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releases ACTH, which has an affect on the cells of adrenal
glands. This causes them to release adrenaline.
Adrenaline triggers physiological arousal necessary for
the fight or flight response. Once the threat has passed,
the parasympathetic NS returns the body to its resting
state (rest and digest).
What affect does adrenaline have of the body? Ans:
increases heart & breathing rate, suppresses pain
receptors, digestive system and immune system,
increases sweat, pupils dialate
What are the 3 types of neuron? Ans: Sensory, relay and
motor
What is the function and structure of a sensory neuron?
Ans: Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. They have
long dendrites and short axons.
What is the function and structure of a relay neuron?
Ans: Connect the sensory neurons to motor neurons or
other relay neurons. They have short dendrites and short
axons.
What is the function and structure of a motor neuron?
Ans: Connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and
glands. They have short dendrites and long axons.
What are the 6 aspects in the structure of a neuron? Ans:
Cell body, nucleus, dendrites, axon, myelin sheath, nodes
of ranvier and terminal buttons.
© 2025 All rights reserved
Biopsychology - AQA A Level
Psychology (Paper 2) Questions and
Answers Latest Version
What is the nervous system? Ans: A specialised network
of cells in the human body and is our primary internal
communication system.
What are the two main functions of the nervous system?
Ans: 2 main functions:
• Collect, process and respond to information in the
environment
• Co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in
the body.
What is the nervous system divided into? Ans: Central
Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System
(PNS)
What makes up the central nervous system? Ans: Brain:
Centre of all conscious awareness, cerebral cortex is
highly developed in humans, divided into two
hemispheres.
Spinal cord: an extension of the brain. Passes messages to
and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
What does the peripheral nervous system do? Ans: It
transmits messages to and from the CNS.
What is the peripheral nervous system divided into? Ans:
Autonomic nervous system (ANS) and Somatic nervous
system (SNS).
What does the autonomic nervous system (ANS) do? Ans:
It governs vital functions in the body (breathing, heart
rate, digestion, sexual arousal, stress). Divided into:
Sympathetic nervous system - "ON" (e.g, you are
digesting)
Parasympathetic nervous system - "OFF" (e.g, you are not
digesting)
What does the somatic nervous system do? Ans: Controls
muscles movement and receives information from
sensory receptors.
What does the endocrine system consist of? Ans: Glands
and hormones. Main one is pituitary gland - located in
brain, controls the release of hormones from all the other
endocrine glands in the body.
What is stress? Ans: The perceived inability to cope with
a perceived environmental stimulus. Works on the
sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.
Explain the fight or flight response. Ans: Stressor is
perceived. ANS changes from parasympathetic to the
physiologically aroused sympathetic state. Pituitary gland
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
releases ACTH, which has an affect on the cells of adrenal
glands. This causes them to release adrenaline.
Adrenaline triggers physiological arousal necessary for
the fight or flight response. Once the threat has passed,
the parasympathetic NS returns the body to its resting
state (rest and digest).
What affect does adrenaline have of the body? Ans:
increases heart & breathing rate, suppresses pain
receptors, digestive system and immune system,
increases sweat, pupils dialate
What are the 3 types of neuron? Ans: Sensory, relay and
motor
What is the function and structure of a sensory neuron?
Ans: Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. They have
long dendrites and short axons.
What is the function and structure of a relay neuron?
Ans: Connect the sensory neurons to motor neurons or
other relay neurons. They have short dendrites and short
axons.
What is the function and structure of a motor neuron?
Ans: Connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and
glands. They have short dendrites and long axons.
What are the 6 aspects in the structure of a neuron? Ans:
Cell body, nucleus, dendrites, axon, myelin sheath, nodes
of ranvier and terminal buttons.
© 2025 All rights reserved
