1. Biopsychology Revision
What do you need to know?...
Biopsychology
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.

2. Key assumptions of biopsychologists
Biopsychologists assume that behaviour and experiences are caused by activity in the nervous system
The nervous system transmits signals for communication via the billions of nerve cells (neurons) it houses
These nerve cells communicate with each other, through electrical and chemical messages, within the body and the brain.

3. The divisions of the nervous system…
On your whiteboard… see if you can remember the divisions of the nervous system.

4. Your diagram should look like this

5. Our nervous system has 2 parts – the CNS and the PNS
CNS = Central nervous system = The brain and spinal cord
PNS = Peripheral nervous system = all other nerve cells around the body

6. Central Nervous system
Brain and spinal chord
some parts of the brain are involved in vital functioning, others are involved with problem solving and planning
Spinal chord transmits messages to and from the brain to the peripheral nervous system (PNS). It is also involved in reflex actions such as the startle response.

7. Our peripheral nervous system has 2 parts – the SNS and the ANS
SNS = somatic nervous system
Transmits info to and from senses and to and from CNS
= voluntary movements
= skeletal muscles and bones
ANS = AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM Transmits info to and from internal organs to sustain life processes = involuntary movements = heartbeat & breathing

8. PARASYMPATHETIC BRANCH = conserves and stores resources
Our autonomic nervous system has 2 parts – the sympathetic and the parasympathetic branch
SYMPATHETIC BRANCH
= activates arousal and energy
PARASYMPATHETIC BRANCH = conserves and stores resources
These two systems are involved in the fight or flight response.
The 2 branches work antagonistically – in opposition to each other

9. Glands & hormones
Most hormones affect cells in several organs or throughout the entire body, leading to powerful responses
E.g thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine (increases heartrate)
Also affects chemical processes taking place in cells – affects growth rates

10. What do you need to know?...
Biopsychology
The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline.

11. Fight or Flight Response
Increase
oxygen intake
Release stored
glucose
Divert resources
away from
digestion
Ready to expend energy,
either by fighting or by running away

12. Fight or flight?
This leads to physiological changes in the body which are summarised in the table below…
Sympathetic state
Parasympathetic state
Increases heart rate
Decreases heart rate
Increases breathing rate
Decreases breathing
Dilates pupils
Constricts pupils
Inhibits digestion
Stimulates digestion
Inhibits saliva production
Stimulates saliva production

13. Fight or flight You are all in a parasympathetic state now
Parasympathetic nervous system calms you down after a state of stress
You are all in a parasympathetic state now
Blood pressures decreases, pulse rate slows down, digestion can start.
It is a nice, sunny day...you are taking a nice walk in the park. This time, however, you decide to relax in comfortable chair that you have brought along. This calls for "Rest and Digest" responses. Now is the time for the parasympathetic nervous to work to save energy. This is when blood pressure can decrease, pulse rate can slow, and digestion can start.

15. “The fight or flight response is a physiological reaction to a stressful or threatening situation. The ANS (autonomic nervous system) changes from a parasympathetic state to the physiologically aroused (sympathetic state). This produces changes in the body such as dilated pupils and increases heart rate to prepare us for either fight or flight.”

16. For each of the scenarios decide:
Parasympathetic or sympathetic nervous system is responsible
What the branch of the nervous system is doing (e.g. dilates pupils)

17. Answers Sue: S, inhibits digestion
Les: S, causes increased breathing rate
Lenny: S, dilates pupils
Amadeep: S, inhibits saliva production
Mary: P, returns heart rate to normal
Jerry: P, stimulates digestion

18. Exam question

19. Mark scheme

20. Biopsychology Revision
What do you need to know?...
Biopsychology
The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons. The process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition.

21. Neurons and synaptic transmission
Biopsychology
Specification details
The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons.
The process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition.
5 minutes

22. Divisions of the nervous system

23. Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Systems

24. Biopsychology Revision
What do you need to know?...
Biopsychology
The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones.

25. Endocrine System

26. The endocrine system
The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body. The endocrine system acts more slowly that the nervous system but has very widespread and powerful effects.

27. Glands & hormones
Most hormones affect cells in several organs or throughout the entire body, leading to powerful responses
E.g thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine (increases heartrate)
Also affects chemical processes taking place in cells – affects growth rates

28. The endocrine system Various glands produce hormones
Thyroid gland produces hormones
Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone
Hormones have powerful responses throughout the body.
Major endocrine gland = pituitary gland (located in the brain)
Controls release of hormones from all other endocrine glands in the body.

29. Neurons Cells that conduct nerve impulses are called neurons
The things that people think and feel, say and do are caused, one way or another, by electrochemical events occurring within and between the neurons that make up the nervous system, particularly those in the brain (80%)

30. Three types of neurons Relay Neuron Myelin sheath… Nodes of ranvier
Terminal Buttons

31. Can you name the function of each part of a neuron
Can you name the function of each part of a neuron? Have a go on the whiteboards… turn this sheet over for the answers… No cheating! Nucleus Dendrite Axon Myelin sheath Nodes of ranvier Terminal buttons

32. Nucleus the control centre of a cell, which contains the cell's chromosomal DNA Dendrite Receives the nerve impulse or signal from adjacent neurons Axon Where the electrical signals pass along. Myelin sheath Insulates /protects the axon from external influences that might effect the transmission of the nerve impulse down the axon. Nodes of ranvier These speed up the transmission of the impulse by forcing it to ‘jump’ Terminal buttons Terminal buttons send signals to an adjacent cell.

33. Different types of neurons
The cellular structure of all neurons is the same. There are anatomical differences in size, depending on their function
1. Motor neuron
2. Relay (Interconnecting) neuron
3. Sensory neuron
Function
Carries messages from the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands
Transfers messages from sensory neurons to other interconnecting neurons or motor neurons
Carries messages from the PNS to the brain and spinal cord
Length of fibres
Short dendrites and long axons
Short dendrites and short or long axons
Long dendrites and short axons
Structural and functional differences

34. MOTOR RELAY SENSORY

36. The knee-jerk reflex
In a reflex arc, like the knee-jerk reflex, a stimulus, such as a hammer hitting the knee, is detected by sense organs in the peripheral nervous system, which conveys a message along a sensory neuron. The message reaches the central nervous system where it connects with a relay neuron. This then transfers the message to a motor neuron. This then carries the message to an effector such as a muscle, which causes the muscle to contract and, hence, the knee to move or jerk.

37. Relay neuron

40. Synapse between two neurons.
Synaptic tramsmission

41. Neurotransmitters…
…are chemicals that are released from a synaptic vesicle into the synapse by neurons.
They affect the transfer of an impulse to another nerve or muscle
These neurotransmitters are “taken back up” into the terminal buttons of neurons through the process of reuptake
Or they are broken down by an enzyme

42. Synaptic transmission
nerve impulse travels down an axon
nerve impulse reaches synaptic terminal
this triggers the release of neurotransmitters
the neurotransmitters are fired into the synaptic gap
neurotransmitter binds with receptors on the dendrite of the adjacent neuron
if successfully transmitted the neurotransmitter is taken up by the post-synaptic neuron
the message will continue to be passed in this way via electrical impulses

43. How a synapse works
A synapse

45. Answers
2. = C

46. Action Potential
An action potential occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon, away from the cell body. The action potential is an explosion of electrical activity - this means that some event (a stimulus) causes the resting potential to move forward

47. Excitation and inhibition
Synaptic connections can be excitatory or inhibitory – the difference lies in the action of the neurotransmitter at the postsynaptic receptor
Excitatory - they make it more likely the next neuron will fire (such as acetylcholine)
Inhibitory - they make it less likely the next neuron will fire (such as GABA)
Normal brain function depends upon a regulated balance between excitatory and inhibitory influences
Analogy of the pedals in a car – excitatory = accelerator and inhibitory = brake

48. Synaptic transmission
Can you remember the process of synaptic transmission?
Try and work it out in pairs on your whiteboards.

49. Synapse: The gap between the end of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron.
What you need to label:
Direction of impulse.
Axon terminal
Synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitter
Synaptic gap
Dendrite
Receptor site

50. Can you?
Explain what is meant by sensory, relay and motor neurons (2 marks each)
With reference to neurotransmitters, explain what is meant by both excitation and inhibition (4 marks)
With reference to sensory, relay and motor neurons, explain the knee-jerk reflex (4 marks)
Explain the difference between excitatory or inhibitory synaptic connections (4 marks)
Answer the ‘Check it’ questions on page 117

51. Essay
Outline and evaluate the role of biological structures in explaining human behaviours (12 marks)

52. Ensure you have written up your class notes to include the following:
Homework
Ensure you have written up your class notes to include the following:
The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons.
The process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition.