How is my body able to react to the outside world and make senswe of what is happening around me?
What happens to me physically and psychologically when I get stressed? In this area of study, you will explore the role of different branches of the nervous system in enabling a person to integrate, coordinate and respond to internal and external sensory stimuli. You will explore the specialised structures and functioning of neurons that allow the nervous system to transmit neural information. You will evaluate how biological, psychological and social factors can influence a person’s nervous system functioning. In particular, you consider the ways in which stress can affect the mind and body, the role that the nervous system plays in these processes and how stress can be manage KEY KNOWLEDGE TASKS |
KEY KNOWLEDGE
Nervous System Functioning • the roles of different divisions of the nervous system (central and peripheral nervous systems and their associated sub-divisions) in responding to, and integrating and coordinating with, sensory stimuli received by the body • the distinction between conscious and unconscious responses by the nervous system to sensory stimuli, including the role of the spinal reflex
• the role of the neuron (dendrites, axon, myelin and axon terminals) as the primary cell involved in the reception and transmission of information across the synapse (excluding details related to signal transduction)
• the role of neurotransmitters in the transmission of neural information between neurons (lock-and-key process) to produce excitatory effects (as with glutamate) or inhibitory effects (as with gamma amino butyric acid [GABA])
• the effects of chronic changes to the functioning of the nervous system due to interference to neurotransmitter function, illustrated by the role of GABA in Parkinson’s disease.
Stress as an example of a psychobiological process
• sources of stress (eustress and distress) including daily pressures, life events, acculturative stress, major stress and catastrophes that disrupt whole communities • models of stress as a biological process, with reference to Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome of alarm reaction (shock/counter shock), resistance and exhaustion, including the ‘fight-flight-freeze’ response and the role of cortisol
• models of stress as a psychological process, with reference to Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (stages of primary and secondary appraisal)
• context-specific effectiveness, coping flexibility and use of particular strategies (exercise and approach and avoidance strategies) for coping with stress.
|