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AS’ PSYCHOLOGY
THE BODY’S RESPONSE TO ANXIETY
DAVE JOHNSON
The neuron
Neurons are specialized cells neurotransmitter from the If the cell body of a neuron gets
that are organized in to nerves axon terminals. Axon vary in damaged or denatured, it dies
around the body. There are length from about a centimetre and its never replaced. An
three types of neurons : in- to a metre. newborn starts life lots of neu-
terneuron, motor neuron and rons. Eventually the amount of
Axon terminals are the ending
sensory neuron. neurons decreases as days go
on the neurons along the axon.
on.
Dendrites are extensions that Nearby the axon terminals are
branch out of the neuron body. dendrites of the following neu- Human behaviors and all as-
Every neuron also has another ron. pects are coded by pattern of
extension known as the axon the nerve impulses in different
Action potential is the term
(also known as nerve fibres) part of the nerve. Wholly,
used to describe the amount of
millions of neurons as nerve
Under a certain specific condi- impulses that are sent along a
cells bundle up together in
tion the neuron transmits elec- neuron, and a neuron on aver-
different coded patterns to
trical impulses along its axon. age has a action potential rate
form a nervous system.
These electrical impulse causes of 430 kilometer per hour.
the release of a chemical called
The Synapse
Synapse is a gap between an to synaptic gaps. This extension The released neurotransmitters
axon terminal and the receiving is usually to the cell body of the are received by the post-
neuron. Signals are passed post synaptic neuron. At a syn- synaptic terminal by receptors
across the gap from pre- apse, two neurons do not come in post-synaptic membrane,
synaptic terminal to post- in to contact. Instead, they which has complementary
synaptic terminal (one direc- form a gap known as synaptic binding site to neurotransmit-
tion). Single neurons may form cleft. When electrical impulses ters.
thousands of these connections are passed along the pre-
with adjacent nerve cells. neuron they impulses are re-
lease into the cleft as chemicals
Each neuron has its long fibre
known as neurotransmitters.
(axon) that extents and splits
into numerous branches leading
Sympathetic branc h
The sympathetic nervous sys- The consequences of the re- which urine is excreted from SNS prepares body for a
tem (SNS) consist of cables of lease of these neurotransmit- the bladder.
nerves that pass from the spi- ters are accelerating and
SNS has link to the heart, thus, efficient ’fight of flight’
nal cord throughout body to strengthening the heart beat,
it activates heart rate to speed response. PNS relaxes
other organs and other struc- widening of the airways, wid-
up and raise in blood pressure.
tures they control. Controls ening of the blood vessels in
the ‘fight or flight’ reflex; muscles, and narrowing of the
These effects are increased the body after stressful
prolonged by adrenaline and
prepares the body to respond blood vessels in the skin and ’fight or flight’
nor adrenaline produced by
to threats in environment. In abdominal organs (this is to
the sympathomedullary path-
these tissue the nerve ending allow more blood flow
way. These hormones act on situation.
release neurotransmitters through the muscles). In addi-
heart muscle to increase heart
called adrenaline and tion, the neurotransmitter also
rate, and also on blood vessels
noradrenaline. It also stimu- decrease the activity of diges-
to narrow increasing the heart
lates the production of adrena- tion, dilate the pupils of the
rate.
line from the adrenal glands, eye and produce the contrac-
which are located above the tions in male urethra, tube in
kidneys.
Brain
Billions of neurons bundles from here going alone the from our sensory receptors is
together to form most com- spinal cord extent to other analysed. Cortex present in
plex model. The brain is cate- organs. prefrontal lobe of the brain
gorised into hindbrain, mid- also associates high level cogni-
Forebrain is grouped into
brain and forebrain. Forebrain tive and emotional functions.
diencephalon which consist of
consist of medulla, pons and
thalamus and hypothalamus, Hypothalamus also plays a
cerebellum. Together the me-
and cerebral hemispheres important role in controlling
dulla, pons and the midbrain
which consist of limbic system, pituitary gland, which lies
consist of brain stem. Brain-
basal ganglia and cortex. Lim- below it and other autonomic
stem is a continuation to spinal
bic system plays a vital role in centres in brain stem.
cord. The brain stem also con-
memory and emotion and
tains autonomic centres i.e. PAGE 3
cortex is a area where input
autonomic pathways staring
THE BIOPSYCHOLOGY INTERRELATION
Sympathomedullar y pathway
This pathway is associated with When activated, SNS stimu-
SNS, which is part of ANS, that lates the adrenal medulla to
controls various internal organs produce adrenaline and
such as glands that release hor- noradrenaline into the blood
mones, heart, circulatory sys- stream.
tem and the digestive system.
these hormones act on heart
Nerve impulse are stimulated
muscle to increase heart rate,
from a region in brain stem.
and also on blood vessels to
This nerve impulse runs along
narrow increasing the heart
the spinal cord and spinal
rate. As a result, this allow
nerves to various organs; one
more oxygen to be carried to
of the nerve extents to the ad-
the working muscles to carry
renal medulla, which along
out increased physical activity.
with adrenal cortex is known as
adrenal gland.