2020

Question 1

Using the letters given in Figure 1, correctly identify the areas of the brain to complete
the table below. (SEE PAPER)

Answer 1

C, D, E, B

Question 2

Explain the difference between infradian rhythms and ultradian rhythms.

Answer 2

Marks for this question: AO1 = 2
2 marks for a clear, coherent explanation with some elaboration.
1 mark for a limited or muddled explanation.
Content:
* the rhythms have different durations: infradian rhythms have a duration of over 24hrs whereas
ultradian rhythms are cycles that last less than 24hrs.
Note – a definition of one type of rhythm or examples of the rhythms are not creditworthy in isolation.

Question 3

A survey of hospital patients has found that a new drug, Zapurpain, is as effective as other
pain medication.
Explain one limitation of asking hospital patients to self-report the effectiveness of
Zapurpain.

Answer 3

Marks for this question: AO2 = 2
2 marks for a clear and coherent explanation of one limitation linked to the survey.
1 mark for a limited/muddled explanation of one limitation.
Possible limitations:
* social desirability, patients may feel obliged to say the drug is effective at reducing their pain
* pain is subjective, a participant who has a higher pain threshold may report Zapurpain to be more
effective for example.
Accept other plausible limitations affecting validity.

Question 4

Zapurpain acts like an inhibitory neurotransmitter at the synapse.
Explain how Zapurpain might affect the process of synaptic transmission through
inhibition.

Answer 4

Possible content:
* Zapurpain mimics the effect of inhibitory neurotransmitters, stimulation of postsynaptic receptors by an
inhibitory neurotransmitter result in inhibition (hyperpolarisation) of the postsynaptic membrane
* when an inhibitory neurotransmitter binds to the post-synaptic receptors it makes the post-synaptic cell
less likely to fire (IPSP)
* Summation – if inhibitory inputs are higher than excitatory they can cancel out excitation and inhibit an
action potential occurring/Zapurpain would decrease the overall activity
* Zapurpain would make the post-synaptic cell less likely to fire
* reducing brain activity may lead to reduced pain.
Credit other relevant material, eg information embedded in a labelled diagram – direction of transmission
should be made clear.

Question 5

Explain one difference and one similarity between Functional Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (fMRI) and Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) as ways of studying the brain.

Answer 5

Marks for this question: AO1 = 4
2 marks for one clear and coherent difference between fMRIs and ERPs as ways of studying the brain.
1 mark for one limited or muddled difference between fMRIs and ERPs as ways of studying the brain.
Possible content:
* fMRIs have poor temporal resolution whereas ERPs have good temporal resolution
* fMRIs have good spatial resolution whereas ERPs have poor spatial resolution
* fMRIs provide indirect measure of neural activity whereas ERPs offer a direct measure of neural
activity
* different methodology - fMRIs work by measuring changes in blood oxygenation as a measure of
neural activity whereas ERPs measure electrical activity via electrodes to detect brainwaves triggered
by certain events
* fMRIs are more expensive than ERPs.
Credit other relevant differences.
Plus
2 marks for one clear and coherent similarity between fMRIs and ERPs as ways of studying the brain.
1 mark for one limited or muddled similarity between fMRIs and ERPs as ways of studying the brain.
Possible content:
* fMRIs and ERPs are both non-invasive and do not use radiation (risk free)
* fMRIs and ERPs both measure brain activity linked to events/tasks.
Credit other relevant similarities.

Question 6

Outline and evaluate split-brain research.

Answer 6

Possible content:
* ‘split-brain’ patients have had their corpus callosum severed
* Sperry’s methodology
* Sperry’s key visual/tactile findings
* case of Karen Bryne – Alien Hand Syndrome.
Possible evaluation points:
* ‘split-brain’ research has enabled discoveries of lateralisation of function
* experiments on split-brain patients were scientific
* research has added to the unity of consciousness debate
* lack of controls: extent of disconnection between hemispheres varied, lack of valid control groups,
may be additional effects of surgery other than just procedure, some patients had experienced drug
therapy for much longer than others
* artificial data – in real life severed corpus callosum can be compensated for by unrestricted use of two
eyes
* ‘split-brain’ patients may initially suffer from hemispheres acting independently but in an adaptive
process one tends to dominate
* issue of generalisability – research relates to small sample sizes, Andrewes (2001) and patients are
atypical
* research oversimplifies hemispheric lateralisation – usually hemispheres are constantly
communicating, and plasticity allows for compensation across hemispheres
* contradictory findings casting doubt over discoveries made, eg Gazzaniga (1998), patient JW in Turk
et al. (2002).
Credit other relevant material.