Psychology A level:
Biopsychology
,The nervous system and endocrine system
The nervous system
❏ “A specialised network of cells in the human body and is the primary
internal communication system”
❏ It is based on electrical and chemical signals whereas the endocrine
system is based on hormones
❏ The nervous system 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
❏ The nervous system is divided into 2 subsystems:
❏ Central Nervous System (CNS)
❏ Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
,The nervous system and endocrine system
The Central Nervous System (CNS)
❏ Made up of the brain and spinal cord
❏ Brain - centre of all conscious awareness
❏ Brain’s outer layer = cerebral cortex is only 3mm thick and covers the brain like an orange
peel
❏ Only found in mammals
❏ The brain is highly developed in humans and is what distinguishes our higher mental
functions from those of other animals
❏ The brain is divided into 2 hemispheres
❏ Spinal cord - extension of the brain
❏ Passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS
❏ Also responsible for reflex actions e.g pulling hand away from hot candle
,The nervous system and endocrine system
The Peripheral Nervous system
❏ Transmits messages via millions of neurons to and from the CNS
❏ Further subdivided into:
❏ Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) = governs vital functions in the body such as
breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal, and stress responses
❏ Somatic Nervous System (SNS) = governs muscle movement and receives information
from sensory receptors
,The nervous system and endocrine system
Review answers
Review questions 1. A specialised network of cells in the human body and is the
primary internal communication system
1. What is the nervous system? 2. Electrical and chemical signals
2. What is the nervous system based on? 3. To collect, process and respond to information in the
3. What are the 2 main functions of the environment
nervous system? To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in
4. What are the 2 subsystems in the nervous the body
1. Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System
system? 2. Brain and spinal cord
5. What is the CNS made up of? 3. Cerebral cortex
6. What is the brain’s outer layer called? 4. 3mm
7. How thick is the brain’s outer layer? 5. 2
8. How many hemispheres does the brain 6. Extension of the brain
have? 7. To pass messages to and from the brain and connects
nerves to the PNS. it is also responsible for reflex actions
9. What is the spinal cord? 8. Transmit messages via millions of neurons to and from the
10. What is the role of the spinal cord? CNS
11. What is the PNS’ role? 9. Autonomic Nervous System and Somatic Nervous System
12. What is the PNS divided into? 10. Governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart
13. What is the role of the ANS? rate, digestion, sexual arousal, and stress responses
14. What is the role of the SNS? 11. Governs muscle movement and receives information from
sensory receptors
, The nervous system and endocrine system
Review answers
Review questions 1. A specialised network of cells in the human body and is the
primary internal communication system
1. What is the nervous system? 2. Electrical and chemical signals
2. What is the nervous system based on? 3. To collect, process and respond to information in the
3. What are the 2 main functions of the environment
nervous system? To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in
4. What are the 2 subsystems in the nervous the body
1. Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System
system? 2. Brain and spinal cord
5. What is the CNS made up of? 3. Cerebral cortex
6. What is the brain’s outer layer called? 4. 3mm
7. How thick is the brain’s outer layer? 5. 2
8. How many hemispheres does the brain 6. Extension of the brain
have? 7. To pass messages to and from the brain and connects
nerves to the PNS. it is also responsible for reflex actions
9. What is the spinal cord? 8. Transmit messages via millions of neurons to and from the
10. What is the role of the spinal cord? CNS
11. What is the PNS’ role? 9. Autonomic Nervous System and Somatic Nervous System
12. What is the PNS divided into? 10. Governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart
13. What is the role of the ANS? rate, digestion, sexual arousal, and stress responses
14. What is the role of the SNS? 11. Governs muscle movement and receives information from
sensory receptors
Biopsychology
,The nervous system and endocrine system
The nervous system
❏ “A specialised network of cells in the human body and is the primary
internal communication system”
❏ It is based on electrical and chemical signals whereas the endocrine
system is based on hormones
❏ The nervous system 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
❏ The nervous system is divided into 2 subsystems:
❏ Central Nervous System (CNS)
❏ Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
,The nervous system and endocrine system
The Central Nervous System (CNS)
❏ Made up of the brain and spinal cord
❏ Brain - centre of all conscious awareness
❏ Brain’s outer layer = cerebral cortex is only 3mm thick and covers the brain like an orange
peel
❏ Only found in mammals
❏ The brain is highly developed in humans and is what distinguishes our higher mental
functions from those of other animals
❏ The brain is divided into 2 hemispheres
❏ Spinal cord - extension of the brain
❏ Passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS
❏ Also responsible for reflex actions e.g pulling hand away from hot candle
,The nervous system and endocrine system
The Peripheral Nervous system
❏ Transmits messages via millions of neurons to and from the CNS
❏ Further subdivided into:
❏ Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) = governs vital functions in the body such as
breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal, and stress responses
❏ Somatic Nervous System (SNS) = governs muscle movement and receives information
from sensory receptors
,The nervous system and endocrine system
Review answers
Review questions 1. A specialised network of cells in the human body and is the
primary internal communication system
1. What is the nervous system? 2. Electrical and chemical signals
2. What is the nervous system based on? 3. To collect, process and respond to information in the
3. What are the 2 main functions of the environment
nervous system? To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in
4. What are the 2 subsystems in the nervous the body
1. Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System
system? 2. Brain and spinal cord
5. What is the CNS made up of? 3. Cerebral cortex
6. What is the brain’s outer layer called? 4. 3mm
7. How thick is the brain’s outer layer? 5. 2
8. How many hemispheres does the brain 6. Extension of the brain
have? 7. To pass messages to and from the brain and connects
nerves to the PNS. it is also responsible for reflex actions
9. What is the spinal cord? 8. Transmit messages via millions of neurons to and from the
10. What is the role of the spinal cord? CNS
11. What is the PNS’ role? 9. Autonomic Nervous System and Somatic Nervous System
12. What is the PNS divided into? 10. Governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart
13. What is the role of the ANS? rate, digestion, sexual arousal, and stress responses
14. What is the role of the SNS? 11. Governs muscle movement and receives information from
sensory receptors
, The nervous system and endocrine system
Review answers
Review questions 1. A specialised network of cells in the human body and is the
primary internal communication system
1. What is the nervous system? 2. Electrical and chemical signals
2. What is the nervous system based on? 3. To collect, process and respond to information in the
3. What are the 2 main functions of the environment
nervous system? To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in
4. What are the 2 subsystems in the nervous the body
1. Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System
system? 2. Brain and spinal cord
5. What is the CNS made up of? 3. Cerebral cortex
6. What is the brain’s outer layer called? 4. 3mm
7. How thick is the brain’s outer layer? 5. 2
8. How many hemispheres does the brain 6. Extension of the brain
have? 7. To pass messages to and from the brain and connects
nerves to the PNS. it is also responsible for reflex actions
9. What is the spinal cord? 8. Transmit messages via millions of neurons to and from the
10. What is the role of the spinal cord? CNS
11. What is the PNS’ role? 9. Autonomic Nervous System and Somatic Nervous System
12. What is the PNS divided into? 10. Governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart
13. What is the role of the ANS? rate, digestion, sexual arousal, and stress responses
14. What is the role of the SNS? 11. Governs muscle movement and receives information from
sensory receptors
