Summary Biopsychology revision notes : Psychology AQA A level
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Course
Biopsychology
Institution
AQA
Biopsychology paper 2 detailed notes. Written by me with detailed summary of AO1 content and detailed evaluations per sub topic. I got an A* in psychology using these and you can use this to make flashcards for spaced repetition. Includes case studies, key psychologists and plenty research evaluati...
1. Divisions of the nervous systems
a. Central
b. Peripheral
c. Somatic nervous system
d. Autonomic nervous system
2. The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons
3. The process of synaptic transmission
4. The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones
5. The fight or flight response: including the role of adrenaline
6. Localisation of function in the brain
7. Hemispheric lateralisation: split brain research
8. Plasticity and functional recovery of brain after trauma
9. Ways of studying the brain
10. Biological rhythms
Divisions of the nervous system
● Nervous system divided into 2
○ Central nervous system
○ Peripheral nervous system
■ Somatic nervous system
● Sensory nerve pathways
● Motor nerve pathways
■ Autonomic nervous system
● sympathetic nervous system
● Parasympathetic nervous system
Central nervous system
● Primary internal communication system
● Controls behaviour and regulated body’s psychological processes
● Made of the brain and spinal cord
○ Brain receives information from sensory receptors and sends
messages to muscles and glands
■ Diencephalon of brain contains thalamus and hypothalamus
which controls basic functions
, ■ Cerebral hemispheres of the brain control higher level
cognitive and emotional processes
■ Brain has 4 lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
○ Brain stem connects brain and spinal cord and controls involuntary
processes
○ Spinal cord is responsible for reflex actions. Allows brain to control
voluntary movements and monitor processes
Comparison of brain and spinal cord
similarities differences
Both control involuntary processes ● Brain provides consciousness
and higher order thinking.
● Spinal cord allows simple
reflexes
● Brain has multiple regions
responsible for different
functions
● Spinal cord has 1 main function
Peripheral nervous system
● Connect brain and spinal cord to rest of the body and the external
environment
● Transmits nervous info to and from CNS through nerves
● Somatic nervous system
○ Communication between CNS and outside world
○ Controls voluntary movements, involved in reflex actions
○ Can connect CNS with senses so its quick
○ Sensory nerve pathway (afferent)
○ Motor nerve pathway (efferent)
● Autonomic nervous system
○ Regulates involuntary actions eg arousal, homeostasis, digestion
(internal organs and glands)
○ Only has motor pathways
○ Sympathetic nervous system
■ Responses to deal with emergencies : fight or flight
■ Slows down less important processes eg digestion
■ Increases arousal, heart rate, blood pressure & pupil dilation
○ Parasympathetic nervous system
, ■ Rest and digest response : return to normal resting state
■ Decreases heart rate, breathing rate,blood pressure &
causes pupil constriction, starts digestion again
similarities differences
- The sympathetic nervous - Autonomic NS has 2
system (ANS) and the somatic subcomponents, Somatic NS
nervous system both respond doesn't
to external stimuli - Somatic NS has motor and
sensory pathway, autonomic
only has motor
- ANS controls internal muscles
and glands, Somatic NS
controls muscles and
movement
Structure and function of sensory, relay and
motor neurons
Sensory neurons
● Found in receptors eg eyes
● Carry nerve impulses to spinal cord and brain
● Convey information about sensory stimuli towards the brain
● When they reach the brain they are translated into sensations (touch,
taste)
● Some stop at spinal cord causing quick reflex actions
● From receptor → CNS
Relay neurones
● Found in the brain and spinal cord
● Allow sensory and motor neurons to communicate
Motor neurones
● Found in CNS and control muscle movement
● When stimulated they release a neurotransmitter to bind to muscle
receptor (effector) to trigger a response
● CNS → Effector
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