AQA A-LEVEL: Biopsychology - Nervous System

DIVISIONS of NERVOUS SYSTEM

THE CNS

The Brain

  • Monitors and regulates primitive bodily processes such as breathing, digestion, heartbeat
  • Involved in higher order thinking such as planning and problem-solving w/ the pre-frontal cortex

The Spine

  • Relays info between the brain and body using neurones
  • Connects from spinal nerves (which govern reflex actions) to muscles, effectors and glands
  • Co-ordinates bodily movement, damage to this area affects mobility and speech

THE PNS

Somatic Nervous System

  • Involved w/ involuntary movement of skeletal muscles, orchestrates via brain
  • Has 12 Cranial nerves (on underside of brain) and 31 Spinal nerves
  • Has both sensory and motor neurones
  • Transmits and receives sensory info

Autonomic Nervous System

 Both sub-branches are usually in balance but under relaxed/stressed circumstances the balance shifts and one become more dominant in the "Flight or Fight" response. Sub-branches keep the body in a state of homoeostasis, many of its functions are automatic, require little conscious thought.

Sympathetic Branch

  • When exposed to a stress, the sympathetic branch is activated, prepares body for rapid action
  • Increases heart rate and breathing to increase blood flow and oxygen, dilates pupils for better awareness, perspiration to regulate body temperature 
  • Slows down non-essential activities which consume energy like digestion

Parasympathetic Branch

  • Involved when the threat has passed when body is trying to store and conserve energy
  • Returns body to a state of relaxation slows down breathing + heart rate and increases digestion


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