Definitions

Question 1

Central nervous system

Answer 1

consists of the brain and the spinal chord and controls much of our behavior by passing electrical impulses around the body through nerve fibers made up of tracts of neurones.

Question 2

Synapse

Answer 2

A junction between 2 neorones where messages are passed from one neurone to another.
-These messages are passed through neurotransmitters which move from the terminal button of one neurone to the receptors on the dendrite of another neurone.

Question 3

Receptor

Answer 3

Protein molecules situated on the membrane of the molecule

Question 4

Neurone

Answer 4

Tiny nerve cells that communicate messages in the brain and around the rest of the body through impulses passed around the nervous system via synapses.

Question 5

Neurotransmitter

Answer 5

Chemicals that are released by neurones into the synaptic gap.

• receptors on adjacent neurones allow the neurotransmitter to attach to them if it is the right shape for that specific receptor.
• This then changes the chemical makeup and voltage of that neurone causing an electrical charge (Action potential) to pass down the axon of a neurone

Question 6

Genes

Answer 6

• Genes are sections of stands of a chemical called DNA found in our cells
• Units of information inherited from our parents that control or influence out characteristics such as risk of mental health disorders, personality or sexual development!

Question 7

Hormone

Answer 7

A chemical released by a gland that travels in the blood and targets organs such as the muscles , sex organs etc.

• oestrogen is produced by the ovaries in sexually mature females
• Testosterone is produced by the testes in sexually mature males

Question 8

Brain Lateralisation

Answer 8

Uneven distribution of tasks carried out by the separate hemispheres.
-Brain is made up of 2 hemispheres that are responsible for different functions

Question 9

Terminal buttons

Answer 9

When the electrical charge passes down to the terminal buttons at the bottom of the axon it causes the neurotransmitters held within the neurone to be released into the synapse.

Question 10

The left hemisphere of the brain

Answer 10

-more activity here for males during linguistic tasks

Question 11

The right hemisphere

Answer 11

-more activity here for males during spacial awareness tasks

Question 12

Bilateral brain activity

Answer 12

Females have this for both types of actvity

Question 13

The corpus collosum

Answer 13

Connecting tissue between the 2 hemispheres that is thicker in females as they communicate more efficiently