Nervous System
This subdivision of the peripheral nervous system controls voluntary skeletal muscle movement.
somatic nervous system
A prediction about the results of an experiment is a ___
Hypothesis
This structure contains neurotransmitters before they are released.
a synaptic vesicle
This process involves the strengthening of synaptic connections over time.
long-term potentiation (LTP)
This division of the nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
the central nervous system
This is one reason spinal reflexes are considered adaptive.
They allow a rapid response that increases chances of survival
To give a participant a contract with the details of the true nature of an experiment:
informed consent
This structure on the post-synaptic neuron receives specific neurotransmitters.
a receptor site
This structural change removes unused or inefficient neural connections.
pruning
This is the main role of the peripheral nervous system.
carrying information between the CNS and the rest of the body
This subdivision of the autonomic nervous system increases heart rate and dilates pupils.
the sympathetic nervous system
Surveying people at a local shopping centre would be_____ sampling.
convenience
A neurotransmitter binds to receptor sites and makes the post-synaptic neuron less likely to fire.
an inhibitory effect
Explain why synaptic plasticity is considered experience-dependent.
changes in synaptic connections occur in response to experience and learning
A person withdraws their hand from a hot surface before realising they are burned.
This response is best described as a:
a spinal reflex
This is one key difference between the roles of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
the somatic nervous system controls voluntary skeletal muscle movement, whereas the autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary internal processes
To separate participants into age brackets is called _____ sampling.
stratified
Explain one key difference between an excitatory and an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
excitatory neurotransmitters increase the likelihood of post-synaptic firing, whereas inhibitory neurotransmitters decrease it
Explain how both long-term potentiation and long-term depression contribute to learning.
LTP strengthens frequently used pathways, while LTD weakens unused pathways, allowing efficient learning
Explain one difference between neurotransmitters and neuromodulators.
neurotransmitters act quickly at specific synapses, while neuromodulators have slower, widespread effects on brain activity
Explain how conscious and unconscious responses can work together in a real-life situation.
unconscious responses (e.g. increased heart rate) can support conscious actions (e.g. deciding to escape a threat
unconscious responses (e.g. increased heart rate) can support conscious actions (e.g. deciding to escape a threat
To minimise extraneous variables in a repeated measures experiment, use ______
counterbalancing.
Explain how neurotransmitters and neuromodulators differ in their role in neural communication.
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that act rapidly at specific synapses, directly increasing or decreasing the likelihood of post-synaptic neuron firing. In contrast, neuromodulators have slower, more widespread effects, regulating the activity and responsiveness of multiple neurons rather than causing immediate synaptic transmission.
Justify why learning would be impossible without synaptic plasticity.
without changes in synaptic strength or structure, neural pathways could not be modified by experience
Justify why balance between glutamate and GABA is essential for optimal brain functioning.
excess excitation or inhibition can disrupt neural activity, increasing risk of conditions such as anxiety