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 homoeost...