All Definitions (Biopsychology)

Question 1

Adrenaline

Answer 1

A hormone involved in a number of responses, namely the flight or fight response.

Question 2

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 2

The nervous system responsible for automatic responses, such as sympathetic or parasympathetic responses.

Question 3

Broca’s area

Answer 3

An area in the left hemisphere that is dedicated to speech production i.e. the motor component.

Question 4

Central nervous system

Answer 4

The nervous system made up of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 5

Circadian rhythms

Answer 5

(Circa = approximately, Dian = a day) Biological processes which cycle in about 24 hours. For example, the sleep-wake cycle.

Question 6

EEG

Answer 6

Electroencephalogram (electro = electrical activity, encephalo = brain, gram = measuring). An imaging technique to record electrical activity in the brain.

Question 7

Endogenous pacemakers

Answer 7

Internal “clocks” that regulate biological rhythms, e.g. the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Question 8

ERP

Answer 8

Event-related potential- an imaging technique similar to an EEC, except baseline activity is filtered, so electrical activity in response to a stimulus can be recorded.

Question 9

Excitation

Answer 9

A signal sent to the next nerve making it more likely to fire

Question 10

Exogenous zeitgebers

Answer 10

External cues that influence biological rhythms. For example, daylight influences the sleep-wake cycle.

Question 11

Fight-or-flight response

Answer 11

The sympathetic responses that increase activity to areas designed to help you escape or prepare for a fight e.g. increased blood flow to the muscles, reduced blood flow to the gut.

Question 12

fMRI

Answer 12

Functional magnetic resonance imaging- an imaging technique that monitors blood flow in the brain. It allows insight into which areas of the brain are used for particular activities.

Question 13

Glands

Answer 13

An organ that synthesises and releases substances (e.g. hormones) for specific purposes.

Question 14

Hormones

Answer 14

Chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to regulate certain processes in the body.

Question 15

Infradian rhythms

Answer 15

(Infra = below, Dian = a day) Biological rhythms that occur less often than once a day, meaning, they cycle in periods a lot longer than 24 hours. For example, the menstrual cycle.

Question 16

Inhibition

Answer 16

A signal sent to the next nerve making it less likely to fire

Question 17

Lateralisation (hemispheric) of function

Answer 17

The concept that different hemispheres in the brain have differing functions. For example, the language functions are typically lateralised to the left hemisphere of the brain.

Question 18

Localisation of function

Answer 18

The concept of functions in the brain being specific to certain areas. For example, Broca’s area is specific to language production.

Question 19

Motor neurones

Answer 19

A type of neuron that activates an effector organ (muscles, glands, organs).

Question 20

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 20

The nervous that exists outside the central nervous system, in the periphery; your arms, legs etc.

Question 21

Plasticity

Answer 21

Specifically Brian plasticity; the ability of the brain to adapt to situations, and change its structure - even to potentially regain previously lost function.

Question 22

Relay neurons

Answer 22

A neuron found in the CNS which allows communication between sensory and motor neurons.

Question 23

Sensory neurons

Answer 23

A neuron that transmits sensory information from the environment to an interneuron after converting it to electrical activity.

Question 24

Somatic nervous system

Answer 24

The nervous system in control of conscious, voluntary movements of the periphery.

Question 25

Suprachiasmatic nucleus

Answer 25

Two small, paired nuclei in the brain that are responsible for controlling many circadian rhythms in the human body. For example, they regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

Question 26

Ultradian rhythms

Answer 26

(Ultra = above, Dian = a day) Biological rhythms that occur more often than 25 hours, meaning they cycle in periods shorter than 24 hours. For example, the sleep cycle, occurring every 90 minutes.

Question 27

Wernicke’s area

Answer 27

An area in the left hemisphere that is dedicated to speech comprehension.