The document provides an overview of the nervous system, including its central and peripheral divisions. It describes the roles of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary functions and has two subdivisions - the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic system prepares the body for stress through responses like increased heart rate, while the parasympathetic system returns the body to homeostasis when stress has passed. Together these systems work to maintain optimal functioning and survival.

1. © Travis Clark & Edrolo 2016
Study Design Dot Points:
• 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.
What you need to know and be able to do:
• Describe a typical neural communication
• Distinguish between a conscious and unconscious response to sensory stimuli
• Explain the spinal reflex
• Explain the role of the interneuron
• Give examples of events that would trigger a spinal reflex
VCE PSYCHOLOGY AOS1
Lesson 2 – Somatic and Autonomic Nervous Systems

2. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MIND MAPS IS CORRECT?
Question from last lesson
A. B. C.
© Kristy Kendal & Edrolo 2016

3. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MIND MAPS IS CORRECT?
Mind Map Response
A. B. C.
© Kristy Kendal & Edrolo 2016

4. Mind Map Summary
© Kristy Kendal & Edrolo 2016

5. QUESTIONS FROM PRE-LESSON
• Discussion of wiki Questions
• Areas of concern

6. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016

7. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
Nervous System
Central Nervous
System (CNS)
Peripheral Nervous
System (PNS)
Automatic Nervous
System (involuntary)
Somatic Nervous
System (voluntary)
Sympathetic
Nervous System
Parasympathetic
Nervous System
Relays information to and from
skin and skeletal muscles
Relays information to
internal organs
Control organs in times of
stress.
Control organs when body is at
rest.

8. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
A NETWORK OF NEURONS WITHIN THE
BODY THAT TRANSMITS INFORMATION
FROM THE RECEPTOR SITES ON THE
SENSE ORGANS TO THE CNS AND
CARRIES INFORMATION FROM THE CNS
TO THE MUSCLES THAT CONTROL
MOVEMENT.
IT CONTROLS ALL VOLUNTARY
MOVEMENT AND RESPONSES.
Somatic nervous system
What does the word soma
mean?
Central
Nervous
System
Peripheral
Nervous
System

9. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
• A NETWORK OF NEURONS THAT
CARRIES NEURAL MESSAGES
BETWEEN THE CNS AND THE HEART,
LUNGS AND OTHER ORGANS AND
GLANDS.
• THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
REGULATES THE FUNCTIONING OF
INTERNAL ORGANS AND GLANDS
AUTOMATICALLY – WITHOUT YOU
BEING CONSCIOUSLY AWARE OF IT.
• IT IS POSSIBLE TO EXERT SOME
CONSCIOUS CONTROL OVER ANS
RESPONSES, TYPICALLY THIS CAN BE
DONE THROUGH A PROCESS OF
BIOFEEDBACK.
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

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• LEARN TECHNIQUE
• RECEIVE ANS INFORMATION
• USE TECHNIQUE TO
CONTROL ANS FUNCTION
What is biofeedback?

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• A NETWORK OF NEURONS THAT
CARRIES NEURAL MESSAGES BETWEEN
THE CNS AND THE HEART, LUNGS AND
OTHER ORGANS AND GLANDS.
• THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
REGULATES THE FUNCTIONING OF
INTERNAL ORGANS AND GLANDS
AUTOMATICALLY – WITHOUT YOU BEING
CONSCIOUSLY AWARE OF IT.
• IT IS POSSIBLE TO EXERT SOME
CONSCIOUS CONTROL OVER ANS
RESPONSES, TYPICALLY THIS CAN BE
DONE THROUGH A PROCESS OF
BIOFEEDBACK.
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
• It has 2 sub-divisions;
sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous
systems

12. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
Nervous System
Central Nervous
System (CNS)
Peripheral Nervous
System (PNS)
Automatic Nervous
System (involuntary)
Somatic Nervous
System (voluntary)
Sympathetic
Nervous System
Parasympathetic
Nervous System
Relays information to and from
skin and skeletal muscles
Relays information to
internal organs
Control organs in times of
stress.
Control organs when body is at
rest.

13. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
• A DIVISION OF THE ANS THAT ACTIVATES
THE INTERNAL MUSCLES, ORGANS AND
GLANDS TO PREPARE THE BODY FOR
VIGOROUS ACTIVITY, OR TO DEAL WITH A
STRESSFUL OR THREATENING SITUATION.
• THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
RELEASES ADRENALIN, INCREASES HEART
RATE AND RESPIRATION AND DILATES THE
PUPILS TO ENABLE BETTER VISION. TO
ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN OTHER
PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS ARE
SUPPRESSED.
• THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM ALSO
ACTIVATES THE FIGHT-FLIGHT-FREEZE
RESPONSE.
Sympathetic nervous system Central
Nervous
System
Peripheral
Nervous
System

14. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
What is the fight-flight-freeze response?
• THE FIGHT-FLIGHT-FREEZE RESPONSE IS
INITIATED BY THE SYMPATHETIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM AND PREPARES THE
BODY TO CONFRONT A STRESSFUL
SITUATION TO OPTIMISE THE CHANCE
OF SURVIVAL.
• WHICH MECHANISM IS ADOPTED IS
DEPENDENT ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF
SURVIVAL IN EACH SITUATION; FIGHT –
STAY AND ATTACK, FLIGHT – RUN,
FREEZE – GO UNNOTICED OR DETECTED.
How?
What?
Why?

15. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
Parasympathetic nervous system
• A DIVISION OF THE AUTONOMIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM THAT KEEPS THE BODY
FUNCTIONING EFFECTIVELY.
• IT COUNTERBALANCES THE
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM BY
RETURNING THE BODY TO A STATE OF
CALM ONCE THE CAUSE OF STRESS OR
THREAT IS NO LONGER PRESENT.
• IT MAINTAINS HOMEOSTASIS IN TIMES
OF LOW STRESS. HOMEOSTASIS IS THE
BODY’S NATURAL STATE OF
EQUILIBRIUM.

16. Discussion Question
•WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF
HOMEOSTASIS?
© <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016

17. Did you think about:
• HOMEOSTASIS MAINTAINS EQUILIBRIUM AND KEEPS ALL
FUNCTIONS OPERATING DURING TIMES OF LOW STRESS;
THIS IS INTEGRAL
• ITS PURPOSE ALSO INCLUDES ALLOWING RESOURCES TO BE
SAVED FOR WHEN NEEDED, AND RESTORING DEPLETED
RESOURCES
© <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016

18. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
You might be asking…
• WHY DO WE NEED BOTH THE
SYMPATHETIC AND PARASYMPATHETIC
NERVOUS SYSTEMS?
• WHY DON’T WE JUST STAY ON HIGH
ALERT ALL THE TIME?
• HOW DO THEY WORK TOGETHER TO
KEEP THE BODY FUNCTIONING AT ITS
OPTIMAL?

19. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
Central
Nervous System
Parasympathetic
Nervous System
(calming)
Sympathetic
Nervous System
(arousing)
Dilates pupil
Contracts pupil
Accelerates heartbeat Slows heartbeat
Stimulates Digestion
Stimulates Gallbladder
Contracts bladder
Stimulates erection
of sex organs
Inhibits Digestion
Stimulates glucose
release by liver
Relaxes bladder
Stimulates erection
of sex organs
Stimulates secretion of
epinephrine norepinephrine

20. Discussion Questions
• HOW DO THE SYMPATHETIC AND PARASYMPATHETIC
NERVOUS SYSTEMS WORK TOGETHER TO OPTIMISE
SURVIVAL?
• CAN BOTH NERVOUS SYSTEMS FUNCTION AT THE ONE
TIME?

21. Did you think about:
• THE GIVE AND TAKE FROM NERVOUS SYSTEMS SHOULD BE
ACKNOWLEDGED HERE.
• RESTORATION AND DEPLETION OF RESOURCES IS A MAJOR
ISSUE FOR SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AROUSAL,
HENCE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARASYMPATHETIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM
• OPTIMIZING SURVIVAL AND HARNESSING RESOURCES IS
VITAL

22. EXIT QUESTIONS

23. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
ACTIVITY:
1. WHAT ARE THE TWO SUBDIVISIONS OF THE PERIPHERAL
NERVOUS SYSTEM?
Fast five…

24. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
ANSWER:
1. WHAT ARE THE TWO SUBDIVISIONS OF THE PERIPHERAL
NERVOUS SYSTEM? SOMATIC AND AUTONOMIC
Fast five…

25. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
ACTIVITY:
2. WHICH OF THESE SUBDIVISIONS CONTROLS VOLUNTARY
MOVEMENT?
Fast five…

26. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
ANSWER:
2. WHICH OF THESE SUBDIVISIONS CONTROLS VOLUNTARY
MOVEMENT? SOMATIC
Fast five…

27. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
ACTIVITY:
3. WHAT ARE THE TWO SUBDIVISIONS OF THE AUTONOMIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM?
Fast five…

28. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
ANSWER:
3. WHAT ARE THE TWO SUBDIVISIONS OF THE AUTONOMIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM? PARASYMPATHETIC AND SYMPATHETIC
Fast five…

29. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
ACTIVITY:
4. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE STATE WHEN THE BODY IS
MAINTAINING EQUILIBRIUM?
Fast five…

30. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
ANSWER:
4. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE STATE WHEN THE BODY IS
MAINTAINING EQUILIBRIUM? HOMEOSTASIS
Fast five…

31. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
ACTIVITY:
5. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PUPILS IN A STATE OF HIGH AROUSAL?
Fast five…

32. © <teacher name> & Edrolo 2016
ANSWER:
5. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PUPILS IN A STATE OF HIGH AROUSAL?
DILATE
Fast five…