AQA A-Level Psychology: Biopsychology. Full topic notes
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Course
Biopsychology
Institution
AQA
For A-Level Psychology, new series
Written in an easily understandable, comprehensive, and succinct format that can be converted into essay notes (a plan of each 8/16 mark question) or answers to shorter questions.
BIOPSYCHOLOGY Paper 2): Covering all required topics including:
-Divisions of the...
DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Functions
Collect and respond to information
Coordinate the working of different organs/cells
, CNS (Central Nervous System, BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD)
Brain: involved in voluntary and conscious processes (decision making, sensory information). Divided
into cerebrum (4 lobes), cerebellum (motor skills/balance), brain stem (regulation of automatic
functions). Made of 2 hemispheres and cerebral cortex.
Spine: relays information between the brain and the body (extension of the brain). Regulates and
monitors involuntary and voluntary movements and aids reflex actions (nerve cell circuits)
PNS (Peripheral Nervous System, SOMATIC AND AUTONOMIC)
*located within muscles and glands, transfers information from/to the CNS from the body*
ANS: involuntary functions (e.g. breathing, heart rate)
Sympathetic: fight or flight response to prepare for rapid action under threat
Parasympathetic: rest and digest response for recovery from stress
SNS: voluntary muscle movement (+reflexes) via info received from sensory receptors (passes to
Central Nervous System)
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF NEURONS
Structure of a neuron:
Nucleus: the control centre of the cell, containing DNA
Dendrite: receives nerve impulse/signal from adjacent neurons and carries impulse away from cell
body via axon
Myelin Sheath: insulates axon from external influences that affect the transmission of the impulse
Nodes of Ranvier: speed up transmission by causing impulse to jump
Terminal Buttons: communicate at the end of the axon with the next neuron across the synapse
(terminal buttons contain the vesicles)
Structure and function of SRM neurons:
Sensory:
-carries messages from the PNS to the brain and spinal cord, process information about the senses
-long dendrites and short axons
Relay:
-within the CNS, transfers messages from the sensory neurons to interconnecting or motor neurons
-connect the sensory neurons to the motor and other relay neurons
-short dendrites and long/short axons
Motor:
-carries messages from the CNS to effectors (muscles and glands)
-short dendrites and long axons
PROCESS OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION
1. An ACTION POTENTIAL occurs when an impulse is sent down an axon (away from the cell body,
towards the axon terminal)
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