Conscious vs unconscious responses

Conscious vs unconscious responses

Conscious responses

• are controlled by the somatic NS

• are also called voluntary responses

• always involve the brain making a decision

• Example 1: Deliberately not walking on a nail

• Example 2: Putting on a jumper when you are cold

Unconscious responses

• are also called involuntary responses

• occur without involvement of the brain

• can be directed by the autonomic NS

• can be controlled within the spinal cord

• help us survive and adapt to our environment.

Unconscious autonomic NS responses

• help us maintain homeostasis

• Example 1: Less light our pupil unconsciously widen

• Example 2: Receptors in the body detect temperature increase and you unconsciously sweat.

Unconscious

Directed by autonomic NS

Unconscious somatic NS responses

• are unlearned an innate

• are adaptive. i.e. help contribute to our safety and survival

• Example 1: Withdrawal reflex - type of spinal reflex where body limb is unconsciously moved away from hot or sharp object.

• Example 2: Patellar reflex - type of spinal reflex that causes the knee to jerk if the patellar tendon is hit.

Unconscious - spinal reflex

Somatic NS - sub division of Peripheral NS; skeletal muscles involved in quickly withdrawing limb.

Steps in the spinal reflex

• Receptor - sense organ in skin, muscle, or other organ

• Sensory neuron - carries impulse

  towards CNS

• Interneuron - carries impulse

  within CNS

• Motor neuron - carries impulse

  away from CNS

• Effector - structure by which

  animal responds (muscle, gland, etc).

Fast 5

Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple Choice

A spinal reflex involves

• the spinal cord making decisions about movement

• the autonomic NS

• a conscious response

• the NS demonstrating its adaptive function.

Multiple Choice

The spinal reflex is

• the brain's survival response

• a voluntary response to harmful stimuli

• an automatic response that occurs in the spinal cord

• a conscious response to external stimuli processed by the spinal cord

Multiple Choice

Mary is pouring water from a kettle and accidentally pours some boiling water onto Mark's hand instead of the cup he was holding. Mark immediately drops the cup and pulls his hand away from the water.

The conscious response in this scenario is

• Mark dropping the cup

• Mark pulling his hand away from the water

• Mary pouring water from a kettle

• Mary accidentally pouring water onto Mark's hand

Multiple Choice

Mary is pouring water from a kettle and accidentally pours some boiling water onto Mark's hand instead of the cup he was holding. Mark immediately drops the cup and pulls his hand away from the water. The unconscious response in this scenario is

• Mary pouring the water from a kettle

• Mark holding out the cup

• Mark immediately dropping the cup

• Mary picking up the kettle

Multiple Choice

While straightening her hair, Jemima accidentally touches the hot straightening iron with her hand and automatically drops it. Jemima's response of automatically dropping the hair straightener is an example of

• a conscious response

• an unconscious response

• a voluntary response

• an autonomic NS response

Another Fast 5

Multiple Choice

Multiple Choice

When Joel completes a series of difficult steps in his dance class, his motor movements are controlled by

• somatic division of the central nervous system

• autonomic division of the central nervous system

• somatic division of the peripheral nervous system

• autonomic division of the peripheral nervous system

Multiple Choice

When Lenny burnt her finger on an iron and immediately withdrew her hand, what type of response occurred and which division, and sub-division, of her nervous system, would have responded?

• Unconscious; somatic nervous system; autonomic nervous system

• Conscious; autonomic nervous system; somatic nervous system

• Conscious; central nervous system; somatic nervous system

• Unconscious; peripheral nervous system; somatic nervous system

Multiple Choice

Sensory neurons enable us to

• feel the texture of an object we touch.

• keep our heart beating.

• reflexively withdraw our hand from a hot surface.

• go for a run.