Psychology AQA A level Year 1: Biopsychology Summary Sheet
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Course
Biopsychology
Institution
AQA
This 9 page document includes everything you need to know for Year 1 biopsychology!
If you are struggling with the difference between the components of the nervous system, or what the neurons do, or how synaptic transmission works, then this is for you!
It includes some pictures/diagrams to fur...
Biopsychology
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
The CNS consists of the brain and
the spinal cord.
1. The brain
Provides conscious awareness
and is involved in all
psychological processes.
The brain consists of four
main lobes:
1. Occipital lobe: processes visual info
2. Temporal lobe: processes auditory info
3. Parietal lobe: integrates info from the different senses.
4. Frontal lobe: higher order functions including planning and logic.
The brain stem connects the brain and the spinal cord and controls
involuntary processes, including heartbeat, breathing and
consciousness.
2. The spinal cord
The role of the spinal cord is to transfer messages to and from the
brain and the rest of the body.
It is also responsible for reflex actions that do not involve the brain,
for example jumping out of your chair if you sit on a drawing pin.
The Peripheral NS
Role is to relay messages (nerve impulses) from the CNS to the rest
of the body.
The PNS consists of two main components
1. The somatic NS
Facilitates communication between the CNS and the outside world.
The somatic NS is made up of sensory receptors that carry
information to the spinal cord and brain.
Its role is to carry sensory information from the outside world
to the brain and provide muscle responses via motor
pathways.
, 2. The autonomic NS
Plays an important role in homeostasis, which maintains internal
processes like body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.
The autonomic system only consists of motor pathways and has
two components
1. The Sympathetic NS
Involved in responses that prepare the body for fight or flight.
Impulses travel from the sympathetic NS to organs in the body to
help us prepare for action when we are faced with a dangerous
situation.
For example, our heart rate, blood pressure and breathing
rate increase, while less important functions like digestion,
salvation and desire to urinate are suppressed.
2. The Parasympathetic NS
The role of the parasympathetic NS is to relax the body and return
us to our normal state.
The parasympathetic NS slows down our heart and breathing rate
and reduces our blood pressure.
And any functions that were previously slowed down during a fight
or flight reaction are started again (e.g., digestion).
CNS – Similarities and Differences between brain and spinal cord
Similarities: The brain stem and spinal cord control involuntary
processes
Differences: The brain provides conscious awareness and allows for
higher-order thinking, whereas the spinal cord allows for simple reflex
actions.
The brain consists of multiple regions responsible for different
functions, whereas the spinal cord has one main function.
Peripheral NS – Similarities and Differences between the somatic
+ autonomic
Similarities: The sympathetic nervous system and the somatic nervous
system respond to external stimuli.
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