Biopsychology. The Nervous System NO ANSWERS

Paper 2
Biopsychology
This part of the specification requires you to

have good scientific knowledge and to apply
this to understand how the human brain and
body works.
It might be a good idea to dig out your GCSE

Science/biology notes and revision guides and
use them to help you as you work through this.
Biopsychology
• Humans like animals have two major
physiological systems that regulate behaviour
in response to the environment:
the E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ system and
the N _ _ _ _ _ _ system
The Nervous System
Learning Objectives
To be able to describe
the divisions of the
nervous system: central
and peripheral (somatic
and autonomic), its
functions and apply this
information to certain
contexts
The nervous system
The nervous system is the network of all the neurons
or nerve cells in the body and is our primary
communication system.
It has two main functions:
• To collect, process and transmit information outside

the body e.g. links to the eye – we see something.
• To coordinate the working of different organs inside

the body e.g. we run away from what we have seen
Complete and annotate this as we go
through!
The nervous system
The nervous system is
classified into 2 different
divisions based on the
functions of the different
parts:
1. Central nervous system

(CNS)
2. Peripheral nervous system

(PNS).
The central nervous system
The CNS consists of the brain and
spinal cord.
The brain is the centre of all conscious
awareness. It is the origin of all
complex commands and decisions.
The brain’s outer layer, the cerebral

cortex is highly developed in
humans and is what distinguishes
us from other animals.
Only a few animals don’t have a brain

at all e.g.
The central nervous system
• The spinal cord is an extension of
the brain. It is responsible for
reflex actions.
• It passes messages to and from

the brain and connects nerves to
the PNS.
• The function of the CNS is to

analyse information arriving from
the PNS and initiate appropriate
responses, to be sent via the PNS
to the muscles and organs of the
body.
The peripheral nervous system
• The PNS sends
messages from the
outside world to the
CNS via millions of
neurons.
• It then transmits
information from the
Use the CNS and
CNS to muscles and PNS to explain
glands in the body. how you would
move your hand
away from the
burning candle.
Autonomic nervous system
(ANS)
The Autonomic Nervous
System (ANS) works
automatically without us
having to think about it or
command it.
The main jobs of the ANS is to

activate internal organs and
save energy.
Some things just happen autonomically!
Imagine how
difficult life would
be if we had to
keep
remembering to
breathe in and
out!
The autonomic
nervous system (ANS)
has two main divisions
or branches:
the sympathetic and
parasympathetic
branches
The branches of the autonomic nervous
system work antagonistically.
The sympathetic branch The parasympathetic branch
Activates internal organs Works to conserve energy
to increase energy and and store the body's
arousal for Fight or Flight. resources. It allows digestions
and metabolism to occur.
Stressed/ ! Thi Relaxed /

s br
an c
high arousal/ d s thin g s up

lowing
h sl
ow
s th
p ee s do
arousalwn!
s
nch
Thidanger
ra
sb
/sedate
Sort the following bodily actions into the
correct branch of the ANS.
Glucose stored
Glucose released
Saliva production increased
Dry mouth - no saliva
Pupils dilated
Pupils contract
Increased stomach activity
Decreased stomach activity
Increased heart rate
Decreased heart rate
Somatic nervous
system (SNS)
This transmits
information from
receptor cells in the
sense organs to the
CNS. It also receives
information from the
CNS directing muscle
movement. How is
this system different
to the ANS?
1. Outline the role of the central nervous system (4 marks)
2. Identify the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system (2

marks)
3. Identify the two components of the central nervous system (2

marks)
4. Outline the role of the somatic nervous system (4 marks)
5. Outline the role of the autonomic nervous system (4 marks)

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Paper 2

This part of the specification requires you to

It might be a good idea to dig out your GCSE

It has two main functions:

• To collect, process and transmit information outside

• To coordinate the working of different organs inside

1. Central nervous system

2. Peripheral nervous system

The brain’s outer layer, the cerebral

Only a few animals don’t have a brain

• It passes messages to and from

• The function of the CNS is to

The main jobs of the ANS is to

Stressed/ ! Thi Relaxed /

high arousal/ d s thin g s up

2. Identify the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system (2

3. Identify the two components of the central nervous system (2

4. Outline the role of the somatic nervous system (4 marks)

5. Outline the role of the autonomic nervous system (4 marks)

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