Unit 3 NAR Revision Higher Human Biology

Divisions of the nervous system and parts of the brain Cerebral Cortex Personality, intelligence, imagination Recalls memories, motor control Limbic System Processes information for memories Medulla Regulates breathing

Perception and Memory Segregation of objects is possible because of the figure and background sensory information received Judgement of distance is possible because of binocular disparity Recognising objects is due to their shape rather than texture or colour

Perception and Memory Information can be transferred from short term memory into long term memory by; Rehearsal - repeating information over and over Organisation- information is grouped into categories Elaboration of meaning – additional information is added Information can be lost from short term memory if it is displaced due to new information entering STM

A contextual cue is a “memory trigger” which aids the retrieval of information. Contextual cues relate to the time that the memory was first encoded.

Cells of the nervous system Dendrite Cell Body Myelin sheath insulates the axon and so speeds up the rate of nerve transmission Motor cell

Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse from the neuron to the target effector (e.g. muscle).

Communication and Social Behaviour Learning by copying a demonstration is called imitation Providing a reward for the desired response is reinforcement. Social facilitation is when an improvement in performance is due to the presence of others in a competitive situation. Time taken to complete a motor skill will usually decrease when it is repeated as practise improves performance