2.2: Biopsychology

Question 1

Draw and label the key parts of a motor neuron

Answer 1

dendrite, nucleus, cell body, axon, myelin sheath, axon terminal, and direction of impulse

Question 2

How do neurons communicate?

Answer 2

a gap between neurons, called the synapse, where chemical transmissions of electrical impulses occurs

Question 3

Draw and label the key parts of a synaptic gap

Answer 3

pre- and post-synaptic neurons, vesicles, neurotransmitters, reuptake channels, synapse, receptor sites

Question 4

Describe the process of synaptic transmission

Answer 4

vesicles bind to the pre-synaptic neuron and release lots of neurotransmitters into the synapse, neurotransmitters travel to receptor sites and bind to them where they release either an excitatory or inhibitory response, neurotransmitters may be taken back up by the reuptake channels

Question 5

Explain the excitatory and inhibitory responses

Answer 5

excitatory - action potential is more likely to be triggered
inhibitory - action potential is less likely to be triggered
- summation decides the overall response

Question 6

What is the only purely inhibitory neurotransmitter?

Answer 6

GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)

Question 7

Describe the roles of motor, relay and sensory neurons

Answer 7

motor - send messages from the brain/CNS to the muscles
relay - connect with other neurons in the brain/CNS, thus acting between motor and sensory neurons
sensory - send information from the the sense to the brain/CNS

Question 8

Draw a flow chart of the central nervous system

Answer 8

1. central nervous system
   1.1. peripheral nervous system
   1.1.1. somatic nervous system
   1.1.2. autonomic nervous system
   1.1.2.1. parasympathetic nervous system
   1.1.2.2. sympathetic nervous system

Question 9

Which responses do the SNS and PSNS lead to?

Answer 9

SNS - fight or flight
PSNS - rest and digest

Question 10

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 10

the network of glands in the body that release hormones that have various effects on the body

Question 11

State the hormone released by thyroxine and its effect

Answer 11

thyroxine - regulates metabolic rate

Question 12

State the hormone released by the adrenal medulla and its effect

Answer 12

adrenaline - fight or flight response (increases heart rate and blood flow to brain, releases stored glucose and fats for usage)

Question 13

State the hormone released by the adrenal cortex and its effect

Answer 13

glucocorticoids - further release of stored glucose and fats for energy, suppression of the immune system, regulates water balance

Question 14

State the hormone released by the testes and its effect

Answer 14

testosterone - development of male sexual characteristics at puberty, promotes muscle growth

Question 15

State the hormones released by the ovaries and its effect

Answer 15

oestrogen, progesterone, LH and FSH - regulation of female reproductive system, menstrual cycle and pregnancy

Question 16

State the hormone released by the pineal gland

Answer 16

melatonin - regulation of arousal, biological rhythms and the sleep-wake cycle

Question 17

What is the pituitary gland?

Answer 17

the ‘master gland’, secretes hormones that control the secretion of other endocrine glands

Question 18

What is the fight or flight response?

Answer 18

the body’s response to threat or danger that is designed to give us energy to respond quickly to a threat

Question 19

What does the hypothalamus do in the fight or flight response?

Answer 19

activates the SNS and the pathways that go to the adrenal medulla

Question 20

What are the direct effects of adrenaline?

Answer 20

• increases heart rate
• constricts blood vessels
• diverts blood away from the skin and digestive system
• increases blood to the brain
• increases respiration and sweating

Question 21

What are the general effects of adrenaline?

Answer 21

• prepares the body for action
• increases both blood and oxygen supply to muscles
• increases oxygen to brain for rapid response planning

Question 22

What is localisation?

Answer 22

the idea that specific functions have specific locations in the brain to perform them

Question 23

State the four lobes of the brain

Answer 23

frontal, occipital, parietal and temporal

Question 24

State the four cortices of the brain

Answer 24

motor, auditory, visual and sensory

Question 25

What are the two areas of the brain involved in speech production and comprehension?

Answer 25

Broca’s and Wernicke’s

Question 26

Describe two strengths of the localisation theory

Answer 26

• research evidence: Peterson et al. used brain scans to show activity in Wernicke’s area during a listening task and activity in Broca’s area during a reading task showing these areas have functions related to speech
• aphasia evidence: expressive (Broca’s) aphasia is an impaired ability to produce language and receptive aphasia (Wernicke’s) is an impaired ability to understand language