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AQA PSYCHOLOGY Y1 Biopsychology Content Easy Notes
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BIOPSYCHOLOGY Y1SPECIFICATION
The divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral (somatic and
autonomic).
The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons. The
process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters,
excitation and inhibition.
The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones.
The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline.
KEY TERMS
- Nervous system: consists of the CNS and the peripheral nervous system;
communicates using electrical signals.
- Central nervous system (CNS): consists of the brain and spinal cord and is the
origin of all complex commands and decisions.
- Peripheral nervous system (PNS): sends information to the CNS from the
outside world and transmits messages from the CNS to the muscles and glands
in the body.
- Somatic nervous system (SNS): transmits information from the receptor cells in
the sense organs to the CNS and receives information from the CNS which
directs muscles to act.
- Autonomic nervous system (ANS): transmits information to and from internal
bodily organs. It is “autonomic” as the system operates involuntarily
(automatic) and has two main divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic
nervous systems.
- Neuron: nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and
chemical signals.
- Sensory neurons: these carry messages from PNS to CNS. They have long
dendrites, short axons.
- Relay neurons: these connect the sensory neurons to the motor or other relay
neurons. They have short dendrites and short axons.
- Motor neurons: these connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands.
They have short dendrites and long axons.
- Gland: an organ in the body that synthesizes substances such as hormones.
, - Hormones: chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only
affect target organs. Produced in large quantities and disappear quickly;
powerful.
- Adrenaline: a hormone produced by the adrenal glands (part of the body’s
immediate stress response system). It has a strong effect on the cells in the
cardiovascular system – stimulating heart rate, contracting blood vessels, and
dilating air passages.
- Synaptic transmission: the process by which neighboring neurons communicate
with each other by sending chemical messages across the synapses.
- Neurotransmitter: brain chemicals released from synaptic vesicles that relay
signals across the synapse from one neuron to another. They can be broadly
divided to those that perform an excitatory function and those that perform an
inhibitory function.
- Excitation: when a neurotransmitter, e.g. adrenaline, increases the positive
charge of the postsynaptic neuron. Increases likelihood that the postsynaptic
neuron will pass on the electrical impulse.
- Inhibition: when a neurotransmitter, e.g. serotonin, increases the negative
charge of the postsynaptic neuron. This decreases the likelihood that the
postsynaptic neuron will pass on the electrical impulse.
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