Biological Psychology Revision Notes

Nervous System

• Central Nervous System (CNS)
  • Involves complex processing.
  • Includes brain (conscious and unconscious processing) and spinal cord (information transmission and reflex processing).
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
  • Network of neurons.
  • Sensory (Afferent) Neurons: Carry information to CNS.
  • Motor (Efferent) Neurons: Carry information away from CNS.
• Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
  • Controls actions of internal glands (involuntary).
  • Sympathetic System: Increases bodily activities (fight response).
  • Parasympathetic System: Decreases bodily activities (rest and digest).
• Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
  • Controls skeletal muscles (voluntary).

Endocrine System

• Collection of glands that release hormones.
• Glands and Hormones:
  • Pituitary gland (master gland)
  • Hypothalamus (CRH hormone)
  • Pineal gland (melatonin)
  • Thyroid gland (thyroxine)
  • Thymus gland (thymosin)
  • Pancreas (insulin)
  • Adrenal glands (adrenaline)
  • Ovaries (estrogen)
  • Testes (testosterone)

Neuronal Structure and Function

• Sensory Neurons: Detect sensations, transmit via axon.
• Relay Neurons: Transmit signals in spinal cord to CNS.
• Motor Neurons: Stimulate effectors like muscles.

Synaptic Transmission

• Synapse: Communication point between neurons.
• Neurotransmitters can be excitatory or inhibitory.
• Process: Action potential, neurotransmitter release, receptor detection, reuptake.

Fight or Flight Response

• HPA Axis Activation: Releases hormones for stress response.
• Adrenaline Effects: Increases alertness, blood flow, and heart rate.
• Chronic Stress: Results in stress-related illnesses.

Brain Function Localization

• Localization: Specific brain areas perform specific functions.
• Hemispheric Lateralization: Different functions for each hemisphere.
• Key Areas:
  • Motor Cortex: Voluntary movement.
  • Somatosensory Cortex: Sensation processing.
  • Broca's Area: Speech production.
  • Wernicke's Area: Speech comprehension.
  • Visual and Auditory Cortices.

Split Brain Research

• Corpus Callosum Severance: Studies effects on hemisphere communication.
• Findings: Language and facial recognition specialization.

Plasticity and Functional Recovery

• Plasticity: Brain adaptation to environmental changes.
• Functional Recovery: Reorganization after damage.
• Factors Affecting Recovery: Age, gender, rehabilitation.

Brain Study Techniques

• fMRI: Detects brain blood flow.
• EEG: Measures brain wave patterns.
• ERP: Isolates cognitive processes.
• Postmortem: Examines brain structure after death.

Biological Rhythms

• Circadian Rhythms: 24-hour cycles (e.g., sleep-wake).
• Infradian Rhythms: Longer than 24-hour cycles (e.g., menstrual cycle).
• Ultradian Rhythms: Less than 24-hour cycles (e.g., sleep stages).

Practical Applications

• Understanding rhythms aids in addressing sleep disorders, jet lag, and timing of drug treatments.