Unit 3 NAR Revision
Higher Human Biology
Divisions of the nervous system and
parts of the brain
Limbic System
Processes
information for
memories
Medulla
Regulates breathing
Cerebral Cortex
Personality, intelligence,
imagination
Recalls memories, motor
control
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
Motor cell
Cell Body
Dendrite
Myelin sheath insulates the axon and so
speeds up the rate of nerve transmission
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