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Biopsychology- AS Level Key Terms Revision Cards
Cards in this deck (24)
- 1AQA A Level Psychology- BiopsychologyKey Terms and Definitions
- 2AS Level ContentAS Level Content
- 3Nervous and Endocrine Systems Key TermNervous Systems
Definition - 4Central Nervous System (CNS)This nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is the centre of all conscious awareness. The spinal cord is responsible for reflex actions, transmits messages to/from the brain, and connects nerves to the PNS.
- 5Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)The PNS transmits messages from the outside world to the CNS, and messages from the CNS to muscles and glands. It is divided into the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.
- 6Somatic Nervous SystemTransmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS. It controls muscle movement.
- 7Autonomic Nervous SystemTransmits information between internal body organs. It operates involuntarily (automatic) and govern vital functions in the body like breathing and digestion. It is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
- 8Endocrine SystemMade up of glands which release chemical substances called hormones. This system works slower than the nervous system, but has a long lasting and strong effect.
- 9GlandsOrgans in the body which synthesise hormones.
- 10HormonesChemical substances released into the bloodstream by glands that, alongside the nervous system, control vital bodily functions.
- 11Pituitary glandOften referred to as the 'master gland', this gland is found in the brain and controls the release of hormones by all other glands.
- 12Sympathetic stateDuring the fight or flight response, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, leading to increased heart rate and breathing, and inhibited digestion.
- 13Parasympathetic stateThis is the body's 'resting' state. Essentially, it is the opposite of the sympathetic state: steady heart rate and breathing, and normal digestion.
- 14Fight or flight responseWhen stressed, the hypothalamus triggers the sympathetic state. The adrenal medulla then releases the hormone adrenaline. The sympathetic state and adrenaline makes the body physiologically aroused, ready to jump into action.
- 15AdrenalineAdrenaline is a hormone released by the adrenal medulla, a part of the adrenal gland. It has a powerful effect, especially on the cardiovascular system. For example, it increases heart rate and contracts blood vessels.
- 16Neurons and Synaptic Transmission Key TermNeurons and Synaptic Transmission
Definition - 17NeuronNerve cells that process and transmit messages both electrically (within neurons) and chemically (between neurons).
- 18Sensory neuronsCarry messages from the PNS to the CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons.
- 19Motor neuronsCarry messages from the CNS to the effectors (muscles and glands). They have short dendrites and long axons.
- 20Relay neuronsConnect sensory neurons to motor neurons. They have short dendrites and short axons.
- 21DendritesBranch-like structures which protrude from the cell body and carry nerve impulses from neighbouring neurons to the cell body.
- 22Axon and myelin sheathThe axon carries the nerve impulse from the cell body along the neuron. The myelin sheath insulates the axon, hence speeding up transmission.
- 23Terminal buttonsFound at the end of the neuron, they transmit the nerve impulse from one neuron to the next via synaptic transmission.
- 24Action potentialIn its resting state, a neuron is negatively charged. If activated by a stimulus, the neuron becomes positively charged. This causes an action potential, creating an electrical impulse that will travel down the axon to the end of the neuron.
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- AQA A Level Psychology- Biopsychology key terms and definitions. Includes nervous systems, the endocrine system, synaptic transmission, localisation of function, plasticity, lateralisation/split-brain research, brain scans and biological rhythms
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- Grace Fawcitt
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