The

Nervous
System
Psychology- Biological Influences
Curriculum
points:
 The Nervous
• System
The field of anatomy most relevant to
psychologists is the brain and
nervous system.
• We depend on the nervous system to
receive sensory information from the
environment, process the information
and transmit motor messages around
our body that, in turn determine our
reaction to that information.
• Nervous system: A system of
networks of specialised cells
(neurons) that connect different parts
of the body to each other and the
brain via electrochemical signals.
The Nervous
System
The nervous system can be divided into
two parts:

1. The central nervous system (CNS) -

made up of the brain and spinal cord.

2. The peripheral nervous system

(PNS) - consists of neurons
that lie outside the CNS. Reminder:
Practice stating
the part of the
nervous system in
full (like stated in
syllabus)
Central Nervous
System
The central nervous system can be
divided into different sections:

Brain

Spinal cord
Central Nervous
System
• The central nervous system is the
body’s processing centre
• The brain controls most of the
functions of the body- including
awareness, movement, thinking,
speech and the 5 senses.
• The spinal cord is an extension of
the brain. It carries messages to
and from the brain via the network
of peripheral nerves connected to
it.
CNS: The Spinal
Cord
• Stretches from the base of the brain
(the brainstem) to the lower back.
• Connects the brain to the rest of the
body via its connection to the
peripheral nervous system.
1. Sensory neurons in the spinal cord
receive sensory information from the body
and transmits it up to the brain for
processing.
2. Motor neurons receive messages from
the brain and transmit information from
 Peripheral Nervous
System
The peripheral nervous system consists of
all the nerves outside the CNS  all the
nerves of the rest of the body.

The role of the PNS is:

• To carry sensory information to
the CNS
• To carry motor information from
the CNS to the rest of the body.
Vocabulary
Peripheral Nervous System:
consists of neurons that lie
outside the CNS.
Peripheral Nervous
System
The peripheral nervous system is divided
into:

The somatic nervous system – controls

voluntary movement.
The autonomic nervous system –
controls involuntary actions of our internal
organs and glands.
 PNS: Somatic Nervous
System
The somatic nervous system (skeletal
nervous system) controls VOLUNTARY
movement through its control of
skeletal muscles (muscles attached
to the bones).

Receives motor messages Vocabulary

from the CNS and transports Somatic N.S: Division of the PNS
them to skeletal muscles in that transmits sensory information
from the sensory receptor cells
specific body regions so that towards the CNS. And motor
our responses to stimuli are messages from the CNS to the
appropriate. body’s voluntary skeletal muscles.
 PNS: Somatic Nervous
System
Tying your shoe, kicking a ball, brushing your
teeth are all voluntary actions that involve
skeletal muscles controlled by the somatic
nervous system.
 PNS: Autonomic Nervous
System
Imagine that you are strolling along the beach.
Your somatic nervous system is controlling the
many muscles needed to execute this activity.
You are in conscious control of these activities
because they are voluntary.

Suddenly a large wave crashes onto the

beach, scaring you. Instantly, you jump back
from the water. You do not consciously
decide to do this; it is not a voluntary
decision.

This behaviour is due to your autonomic

nervous system.
PNS: Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system receives
messages from the central nervous
system and carries them to involuntary
or smooth muscles to control our internal
organs and glands.
Controls involuntary movements, essential
to survival.
Vocabulary

Autonomic N.S: Division of

PNS, transmits motor
messages from the brain to
the body’s internal organs
and glands, transmits
messages from these organs
Autonomic Autonomic Nervous system:
NS controls involuntary actions
of our internal organs and
glands.
2 divisions:

Parasympathe Sympathetic
tic nervous nervous
system Rest system Fight
and digest or flight
response.
ANS: Sympathetic Nervous System
• READY FOR ACTION! The sympathetic
nervous system is the body’s emergency
or arousal system.
• Dominates during times of stress.
• Just as a car’s accelerator pumps more
petrol through the engine to make the car
Vocabulary
go faster, the SNS changes the activity level
of our internal systems so we have a Sympathetic
nervous system:
sudden increase in our energy levels alters activity level
when needed. of muscles, organs
• Speeds up your heart rate, delivers more and glands to
prepare the body
blood to areas of you body that need
for increased
oxygen to get you out of danger  activity during high
ANS: Parasympathetic Nervous
System
• KEEPING US CALM! Once the need for
high arousal has passed, the
parasympathetic nervous system
reverses the effects of the sympathetic
nervous system. This reversal returns
our bodies to normal levels of
arousal, or a more relaxed sate.
• In this way our parasympathetic system
acts like our car’s brakes. Vocabulary
• Parasympathetic NS maintains Parasympathetic nervous
vital functions such as heartsystem- Maintains an energy level
appropriate for normal daily
rate, breathing rate and
functioning and physically calm us
digestion at normal
after high arousal by reversing the
levels during day- caused by the sympathetic
changes
 Check In
utonomic Nervous System
Your friends jumps out from
Sympathetic nervous behind the door- what changes
ystem do you notice in your body?

Dominates when
under
Activates internal
stress/threats
muscles to act
(either by
quickly (fight or
physiological or
flight response)
psychological
stimuli)
 Check In
utonomic Nervous System
Why is the parasympathetic
Parasympathetic nervous nervous system sometimes
ystem called the ”rest and digest”
response?

HELPS MAINTAIN CARRIES NERVE IMPULSES TO

HOMEOSTATIC BALANCE INVOLUNTARY GLANDS AND
INTERNAL ORGANS
 Nervous system

Central nervous system Peripheral nervous system

• Made up of the brain and spinal cord • Made up of all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord
• Brain: Controls the functions of the body. Composed of nerve tissue. • PNS carries sensory information to the CNS from the body.
• Spinal cord: Cable of nerve fibres. Runs from the base of the brain to • PNS carries motor message from the brain to organs and
the lower back. Connects the brain to the PNS. muscles in the body.
• CNS: carries sensory information up the spinal cord to the brain via
sensory neurons.
• CNS carries motor messages to the PNS via motor neurons.
Autonomic nervous system Somatic nervous system
• Carries messages from the brain to • Carries sensory information received
the internal glands and organs via by sensory receptor cells to the CNS
motor neurons. via sensory neurons.
• Carries sensory messages to the brain • Carries motor messages from the CNS
about the activity of glands and to skeletal muscles via motor neurons
organs via sensory neurons. • Controls voluntary skeletal muscle
• Controls involuntary muscle movement
movement to regulate internal organ • Controls involuntary skeletal muscle
function. movement (reflex response).

Sympathetic nervous system Parasympathetic nervous system

• Controls the “fight or flight” response • Controls the “rest and digest” response.
• Regulates the glands and internal • Calms the body after being under the
organ function to physically prepare control of the sympathetic nervous
the body for increased activity during system.
heightened physical or emotional • Maintains an energy level suitable for
arousal. normal bodily functioning.