4 markers Flashcards
Explain one similarity and one difference between fMRI and ERPs
- both non-invasive and don’t use radiation
- fMRI’s more expensive than ERPs
Zapurpain acts like an inhibitory neurotransmitter at the synapse.
Explain how it may affect the process of synaptic transmission through inhibition.
- zapurpain mimics effects of inhibitory neurotransmitters, stimulation of post synaptic receptors
- when an inhibitory neurotransmitter binds to post synaptic receptor, makes post synaptic cell less likely to fire
- so zapurpain would make the post synaptic cell less likely to fire
- reducing brain activity may lead to reduced pain
Using an example of a gland and hormone, outline the function of the endocrine system (don’t use adrenaline)
- endocrine system helps to regulate the activity of cells and organs in body
- endocrine system communicates chemical messages to organs in body
- pancreas releases insulin and glycogen which helps regulate blood glucose levels
- thyroid gland releases thyroxine, increasing heart rate
Explain how the body responds during fight or flight and why this could be unhelpful in a driving test situation
- adrenaline released from adrenal gland causing sweat and increased heart rate which is unhelpful
- fight or flight enables quick response to fight threat or run away from something, not useful
Explain the process of synaptic transmission
- electric impulses reach presynaptic terminal
- electrical impulses trigger release of neurotransmitters
- neurotransmitters cross synapse from vesicles
- neurotransmitters combine with receptors on the postsynaptic membrane
Lotta’s grandmother suffered a stroke to the left hemisphere, damaging Broca’s
area and the motor cortex.
Using your knowledge of the functions of Broca’s area and the motor cortex,
describe the problems that Lotta’s grandmother is likely to experience.
- she’s likely to suffer from speech problems
- this will affect her language production but not her understanding
- her speech will lack fluency with certain words which help sentences to function
- motor impairments on the right side of body
Lotta worries that because of her grandmother’s age she will not be able to make
any recovery.
Using your knowledge of plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after
trauma, explain why Lotta might be wrong.
- might still be capable of plasticity
- although she is older, her brain be able to form new connections between neurons
- she may recover quicker than a man would due to research shown
- the opposite hemisphere would require brain stimulation perhaps through physiotherapy
