Complete summary of content within Biopsychology for AQA exam in 2023 - nervous and endocrine system, localisation and lateralisation, plasticity and functional recovery, ways of studying the brain and biological rhythms. Includes case studies and evaluation for all subheadings.
BIOPSYCHOLOGY
Nervous System
Key Terms
Nervous System - Communicates
using electrical signals, consisting
of CNS and PNS.
Central NS - Origin of all
complex commands and
decisions
Peripheral NS - Sends
information to CNS from the
outside world, transmitting
messages from the CNS to
muscles and glands in the body.
Somatic NS - Transmits information from receptor cells in sense organs to the CNS.
Also receives information from the CNS that directs muscles to act.
Autonomic NS - Transmits information to and from internal bodily organs.
‘Autonomic’ - acts involuntarily. Two division : Sympathetic + Parasympathetic
Central Nervous System (CNS) Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Controls how we think, learn, move, and Relay messages from CNS to rest of the
feel by communicating electrical signals body
Brain Somatic NS
Provides conscious awareness and is Carry sensory information from the outside
involved in all psychological processes world to the brain and provide muscle
2 hemispheres (L+R) responses via motor pathways.
- Occipital Made of sensory receptors that carry info to
- Frontal Lobe the spinal cord and brain and motor
- Temporal pathways that allow the brain to control
- Parietal movement which are voluntary.
Spinal Cord Autonomic NS
● Transfers messages to and from the ❖ Responsible for involuntary
brain, and rest of the body movements or processes
● Responsible for simple reflex actions ❖ Homeostasis, maintains internal
that do not involve the brian processes like body temperature
● Relay neurons heart rate and blood pressure
❖ Motor neurons in systems
PNS → CNS → PNS ❖ 2 division; sympathetic and
Sensory → Relay → Motor parasympathetic
, Fight or Flight Rest and Digest
Organ Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Gut Digestion Stops Digestion resumes
Salivary Glands Inhibits saliva production Stimulates saliva production
Heart Increase heart rate Decrease, resting HR
Liver Stimulates glucose production Stimulate bile production
Bladder Inhibits contraction of blood Cause bladder to retract
(PEE)
Eye Dilate pupils Constricts pupils
Lungs Increase breathing Rate (more oxygen) Decrease, less air intake
Endocrine System
Endocrine System - Body’s major system that instructs glands to release hormones directly
into the bloodstreams. Hormones are carried towards target areas in the body, and
communicate with chemicals.
Glands - An organ in the body that synthesises hormones.
Hormones - Chemical substances that circulate through the bloodstream and affect target
areas. Produced in large quantities but disappearing quickly.
Pituitary Gland - 'Master gland’ - primary function is to influence the release of hormones
from other glands.
➢ Endocrine system works
with the nervous system to
control vital function in the body.
➢ Acts slower than the
nervous system but has
widespread and powerful effects.
➢ Network of glands across
the body that secrete chemical
messengers called hormones.
➢ Different hormones
produce different effects, so
different behaviours
➢ Each produces a different
hormone; it stimulates a
particular part of the body.
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