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Biopsychology - AQA A Level Psychology
(Paper 2) Questions and Correct Answers/
Latest Update / Already Graded
What is the nervous system?
Ans: A specialised network of cells in the human body and is
our primary internal communication system.
What are the two main functions of the nervous system?
Ans: 2 main functions:
• Collect, process and respond to information in the
environment
• Co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the
body.
What is the nervous system divided into?
Ans: Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous
System (PNS)
What makes up the central nervous system?
Ans: Brain: Centre of all conscious awareness, cerebral cortex
is highly developed in humans, divided into two hemispheres.
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Spinal cord: an extension of the brain. Passes messages to and
from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS
What does the peripheral nervous system do?
Ans: It transmits messages to and from the CNS.
What is the peripheral nervous system divided into?
Ans: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) and Somatic nervous
system (SNS).
What does the autonomic nervous system (ANS) do?
Ans: It governs vital functions in the body (breathing, heart
rate, digestion, sexual arousal, stress). Divided into:
Sympathetic nervous system - "ON" (e.g, you are digesting)
Parasympathetic nervous system - "OFF" (e.g, you are not
digesting)
What does the somatic nervous system do?
Ans: Controls muscles movement and receives information
from sensory receptors.
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What does the endocrine system consist of?
Ans: Glands and hormones. Main one is pituitary gland -
located in brain, controls the release of hormones from all the
other endocrine glands in the body.
What is stress?
Ans: The perceived inability to cope with a perceived
environmental stimulus. Works on the sympathetic branch of
the autonomic nervous system.
Explain the fight or flight response.
Ans: Stressor is perceived. ANS changes from parasympathetic
to the physiologically aroused sympathetic state. Pituitary
gland releases ACTH, which has an affect on the cells of adrenal
glands. This causes them to release adrenaline. Adrenaline
triggers physiological arousal necessary for the fight or flight
response. Once the threat has passed, the parasympathetic NS
returns the body to its resting state (rest and digest).
What affect does adrenaline have of the body?
Ans: increases heart & breathing rate, suppresses pain
receptors, digestive system and immune system, increases
sweat, pupils dialate
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
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What are the 3 types of neuron?
Ans: Sensory, relay and motor
What is the function and structure of a sensory neuron?
Ans: Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. They have long
dendrites and short axons.
What is the function and structure of a relay neuron?
Ans: Connect the sensory neurons to motor neurons or other
relay neurons. They have short dendrites and short axons.
What is the function and structure of a motor neuron?
Ans: Connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands.
They have short dendrites and long axons.
What are the 6 aspects in the structure of a neuron?
Ans: Cell body, nucleus, dendrites, axon, myelin sheath, nodes
of ranvier and terminal buttons.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
Biopsychology - AQA A Level Psychology
(Paper 2) Questions and Correct Answers/
Latest Update / Already Graded
What is the nervous system?
Ans: A specialised network of cells in the human body and is
our primary internal communication system.
What are the two main functions of the nervous system?
Ans: 2 main functions:
• Collect, process and respond to information in the
environment
• Co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the
body.
What is the nervous system divided into?
Ans: Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous
System (PNS)
What makes up the central nervous system?
Ans: Brain: Centre of all conscious awareness, cerebral cortex
is highly developed in humans, divided into two hemispheres.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |2
Spinal cord: an extension of the brain. Passes messages to and
from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS
What does the peripheral nervous system do?
Ans: It transmits messages to and from the CNS.
What is the peripheral nervous system divided into?
Ans: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) and Somatic nervous
system (SNS).
What does the autonomic nervous system (ANS) do?
Ans: It governs vital functions in the body (breathing, heart
rate, digestion, sexual arousal, stress). Divided into:
Sympathetic nervous system - "ON" (e.g, you are digesting)
Parasympathetic nervous system - "OFF" (e.g, you are not
digesting)
What does the somatic nervous system do?
Ans: Controls muscles movement and receives information
from sensory receptors.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
What does the endocrine system consist of?
Ans: Glands and hormones. Main one is pituitary gland -
located in brain, controls the release of hormones from all the
other endocrine glands in the body.
What is stress?
Ans: The perceived inability to cope with a perceived
environmental stimulus. Works on the sympathetic branch of
the autonomic nervous system.
Explain the fight or flight response.
Ans: Stressor is perceived. ANS changes from parasympathetic
to the physiologically aroused sympathetic state. Pituitary
gland releases ACTH, which has an affect on the cells of adrenal
glands. This causes them to release adrenaline. Adrenaline
triggers physiological arousal necessary for the fight or flight
response. Once the threat has passed, the parasympathetic NS
returns the body to its resting state (rest and digest).
What affect does adrenaline have of the body?
Ans: increases heart & breathing rate, suppresses pain
receptors, digestive system and immune system, increases
sweat, pupils dialate
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |4
What are the 3 types of neuron?
Ans: Sensory, relay and motor
What is the function and structure of a sensory neuron?
Ans: Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. They have long
dendrites and short axons.
What is the function and structure of a relay neuron?
Ans: Connect the sensory neurons to motor neurons or other
relay neurons. They have short dendrites and short axons.
What is the function and structure of a motor neuron?
Ans: Connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands.
They have short dendrites and long axons.
What are the 6 aspects in the structure of a neuron?
Ans: Cell body, nucleus, dendrites, axon, myelin sheath, nodes
of ranvier and terminal buttons.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
