The Brain is vital in its ability to process information. As the Brain is the most important part of the body because it overseers everything we see and do it can often be referred to as the master organ.
Whilst the Spinal Cord runs from the skull to the lower back region, it does have vertebrae which are break away bones which extend beyond the spinal cord reaching out in securing vital organs.
The two main functions of the Peripheral Nervous System are to process motor information from the brain so that appropriate actions are able to be taken. Peripheral Nervous System is the network which is in charge of transmitting information to and from the Central Nervous System. Yet the PNS is able to take messages from the CNS to the rest of the body. The Peripheral Nervous System includes every part of body, except for the Central Nervous System which operates the brain and spinal cord of the body.
Somatic Nervous System is a system of nerves that are in charge of carrying information received by sensory receptors inside the body; it gives us the sensation of touch by transporting feelings to our brains.
Point two: Explain the CNS and its role: The Central nervous system is a network of nerves that make up the brain and spinal cord. The main role of these nerves is to process information as well as to activate appropriate reactions. The brain is used in the central nervous system as it is the ‘master organ’; it makes many decisions on the body’s behalf.
Point three: show the breakdown of the PNS:
Point four: Outline the SOMATIC system including references to sensory (afferent) and motor neurons (efferent): the somatic nervous system is in charge of the feelings we get from touching and feeling various things, it is in charge of sending the sensation of this touch to our brain (CNS). Once this has been received by the brain, we are notified of this feeling and touch due to motor neurons being carried out to our muscles to give us the sensation.
Autonomic:Point five: Outline the AUTONOMIC system and the roles of the sympathetic and Para-sympathetic systems.
Sympathetic: arouses body when experiencing an extreme emotion or feeling threatened.
Para-sympathetic: calms or restores the body to the normal state of functioning, after extreme emotional or a threat has passed.
Point six: Give a labelled diagram of a neuron with an arrow to show the direction of the flow of a neural impulse.
Autonomic:Point five: Outline the AUTONOMIC system and the roles of the sympathetic and Para-sympathetic systems.
Sympathetic: arouses body when experiencing an extreme emotion or feeling threatened.
Para-sympathetic: calms or restores the body to the normal state of functioning, after extreme emotional or a threat has passed.
Point six: Give a labelled diagram of a neuron with an arrow to show the direction of the flow of a neural impulse.
Point seven: Explain/show how a neural impulse is transferred within a neuron: Neural Impulses are transferred through the Axon, the spinal region of a cell; this is done similarly to the manner of a “Mexican wave” which can be witnessed at exciting sporting events. As one Neural impulse travels along and starts to go down, another Neuron impulse raises as the process continues without ceasing.
Point eight: Explain/show how a neural impulse is transferred across a neuron making reference to the neurotransmitters: Once information has been transmitted, Neural Impulses are collected at the beginning of a dendrite, as they are collected through the nucleus, and proceed by travelling along the axon, at the end of the axon (similar to the bodily spine), neural impulse information is transferred into a synaptic button. Synaptic buttons are designed for storing chemicals known as neurotransmitters. As these synaptic buttons are located next to other dendrites, which makes it easier for neural impulses to travel to the next dendrite as information is processed.
Point nine: There are five neurotransmitters. Select ONE and describe what is role it plays in human behaviour and/or mental processes: Endorphins. Endorphins are slow working neurotransmitters that are released in moments such as relieving pain. Endorphins are produced in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) when humans experience pain and can be linked to opiate based drugs, which have the capability to unlock endorphins when taken. Doctors have the right to prescribe medicines which are capable of releasing such endorphins in situations of severe pain. Besides simply relieving pain, endorphins have the ability to produce intense feelings of happiness whilst also producing severe sleep. The way endorphins work is their ability to simply turn off these pain signals as relief and happiness is sent through.
Point ten: explain how drugs and medicines are Neuro-modulators: Drugs and Medicines are Neuro-modulators, because they have the capability to stimulate or cease activity of certain neurotransmitters, by speeding up and slowing down bodily functions. An example of this is the use of alcoholics, as a person continuously drinks alcohol; he is slowing down his Neuron modulators, as speech and simple movements such as walking get slower and slower.
- Biological cause of the disease) point eleven) – the biological causes of Parkinson’s disease is the rotting away of neurons which are located at the base of the brain in a section known as the Stantia Nigra. This causes the amount of dopamine found inside the brain to be dramatically reduced, which leads to Parkinson’s disease.
- Symptoms (point twelve) – symptoms involve, decrease in voice volume, lethargy, short shuffling steps difficulty moving, tremor (shaking), muscle stiffness develops as the unaffected parts of the brain try to overcome the movement slowdown.
- Long term prognosis (point thirteen) – as the loss of dopamine varies, everyday activity (some believe due to stress levels) lead to different effects, yet the main source of Parkinson’s disease is a difficulty of movement.
Point fourteen: briefly outline the SOMATIC INTERVENTION approach to studying the nervous system: somatic intervention is the changing of the functions when it comes to the nervous system to observe how these changes can affect behaviour and also mental processes.
