Key Points Unit 2
what does the sympathetic system do
prepares the body to confront the stress or runs away "fight or flight"
What is the job of the hypothalamus?
regulates body temperature, involved with hunger, thirst, aggression, and sexual behavior
what do pons control
regulates how alert you are
what is the job of the nervous system
regulates how we react to the world
what is a "spinal reflex"
simple automatic response to something
what us one job of the spinal cord
transmits messages from the brain to the muscles throughout the body
how many parts are there of the cerebral cortex
two sides of hemisphere
how do the two sides of the cerebral cortex communicate
using the corpus callosum
what does the forebrain control
controls thoughts and emotions
what does the midbrain control
controls vision and hearing
what does the cerebellum control
Balance and coordination
What are some of the jobs of the cerebral cortex?
Deals with memory, language, complex motor functions, perceptions, and speech
what happens when the hypothalamus is disturbed
It can lead to issues with eating and drinking
what makes up the peripheral nervous system
Nerve cells that send messages to other parts of the body
what is the job of the thalamus
Relays information coming from the sense organs
with what does the "left hemisphere" of the cerebral cortex associate itself
Tends to be associated with imagination, art, and feelings
what does the nervous system make possible
learning and memory
what activates the sympathetic system
activated when a person is put into an action by a stressful situation
nature
biological groundwork we inherit
what is the first part of the nervous system
central nervous system
what is neurotransmitter
chemicals that are stored throughout the nervous system
What 2 parts make up the central nervous system?
consists of the brain and spinal cord
thousands of years ago, what was believed to control the human body
controlled by demons (ancient Egyptians didnt know the role of the brain)
What is the job of the reticular activating system?
controls sleep and attention
what does nurture mean when talking about psychological development
environmental factors that someone is exposed to
what are some examples of nurture
family, education, personal experiences
what does the hindbrain control
heart rate, respiration, and balance
what does the medulla control
heartrate and breathing
what is the responsibility of nerve cells
helps maintain posture and balance, regulates the bodys vital functions (heartbeat, breathing, blinking)
what happens if there is an imbalance of neurotransmitters
if the balance is off, it can cause disease
what is a "cool" aspect about information processed in the cerebral cortex
information is received by one part of the body is processed by the opposite side
does the nervous system ever take a "rest"
it never stops working even when were asleep
what stimulates the reticular activating system
loud sounds
Do the two hemispheres act independently of each other?
no
what role foes biology play in psychology
our thought processes and behavior are linked to biological functions. Memory, perception, and sensation are related to how our body works
what is the sympathetic system part of
part of the peripheral nervous system
what is the second part of the nervous system
peripheral nervous system
in what have researchers found that hereditary can play a role
personality traits (shyness, leadership)
what could happen with someone with an injured cerebellum
someone being unsteady on their feet
what did Aristotle believe about the heart
the soul lived in the heart
what do psychologists say shape us
they say both (biology influences us but our environment shapes us)
what is the brains job
to organize movements, create thoughts, form emotions, and produce behavior
hereditary
traits we inherit help shape out behavior
importance of hereditary
transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring