Free VCE Psychology Flashcard Review

The nervous system is the body's communication network that detects stimuli and coordinates responses. Main divisions: Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) and Peripheral Nervous System (somatic and autonomic).

Somatic: controls voluntary movement and sensory input. Autonomic: controls involuntary functions (heart rate, digestion, breathing); subdivided into sympathetic (fight-or-flight), parasympathetic (rest-and-digest), and enteric (gut control).

Activates fight-or-flight response during stress: increases heart rate, dilates pupils, inhibits digestion, increases adrenaline release. Prepares body for action or escape.

Activates rest-and-digest response: decreases heart rate, promotes digestion, constricts pupils, conserves energy. Returns body to baseline after stress.

A chemical messenger that transmits signals across synapses between neurons, allowing communication between nerve cells and between nerves and muscles.

Dopamine regulates motivation, reward, movement, and mood. Low levels linked to depression and Parkinson's disease; high levels to addiction and schizophrenia.

Serotonin regulates mood, sleep, appetite, and emotional processing. Low levels associated with depression and anxiety; targeted by SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

Acetylcholine facilitates muscle contraction, supports memory formation, and promotes attention. Deficiencies occur in Alzheimer's disease.

GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter; reduces neural excitability and promotes calm. Enhanced by benzodiazepines and alcohol.

Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in learning and memory. Excessive glutamate causes excitotoxicity, linked to neurodegenerative diseases.

A neuromodulator is a chemical that modulates (adjusts) the effect of neurotransmitters rather than directly transmitting signals. Works over longer timeframes and broader neural areas than neurotransmitters.

The nervous system's ability to change its structure and function in response to experience and learning. Allows neurons to form new connections and strengthen or weaken existing ones.

A persistent increase in synaptic strength following high-frequency stimulation. Underlies memory formation by enhancing the connection between neurons; key mechanism in learning.

A persistent decrease in synaptic strength following low-frequency stimulation. Allows weakening of less-used synapses; balances LTP and aids selective memory.

A state of physical and psychological tension resulting from demands (stressors) that exceed an individual's perceived ability to cope. Involves activation of sympathetic nervous system and HPA axis.

Alarm (fight-or-flight response), Resistance (body attempts to cope and restore homeostasis), Exhaustion (resources depleted, illness may occur if stress continues).

Coping refers to conscious efforts to manage stress. Problem-focused coping: addresses the stressor directly. Emotion-focused coping: regulates emotional response to stress.

Learning through association of two stimuli. Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) naturally triggers Unconditioned Response (UCR); Conditioned Stimulus (CS) pairs with UCS; produces Conditioned Response (CR).

Pavlov paired a bell (CS) with food (UCS) before a dog. After repeated pairing, the dog salivated (CR) to the bell alone. Demonstrated classical conditioning.

Learning based on consequences of behaviour. Reinforcement increases behaviour; punishment decreases behaviour. B.F. Skinner's key figure; uses Skinner box to demonstrate.