Bio Psych

Question 1

what is the nervous system

Answer 1

Highly specialised set of cells

Primary function of Internal communications system

Question 2

What is the brain

Answer 2

Information processor and involved in all psychological processes to ensure life is maintained

Question 3

What is the spinal cord

Answer 3

Carries messages using neurons from brain to peripheral nervous system

Question 4

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 4

All nerves in our body outside the brain and spinal cord.

relay nerve impulses from cns to body

Question 5

Somatic nervous system

Answer 5

Controls muscle movements, receive sensory stimulation from sensory receptors.
Transmits info from receptor cells in sense organs to cns

Question 6

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 6

Governs vital function in the body
Transmits info to and from internal organs
Involuntary

Question 7

What is post mortem examination

Answer 7

examination after death
Used to see where damage has occurred to explain behaviour exhibited prior to death
Brain slices to detect abnormalities

Question 8

Positive of post examinations

Answer 8

Allows detailed examination of anatomical aspects of the brain that non invasive techniques don’t allow

Deeper regions of the brain can be accurately examined for potential links to behaviour

Question 9

Negative of post mortem examination

Answer 9

negative is that it’s a retrospective method and it’s hard to compare to before death functioning

oxygen cut from the brain change in the shape and structure Malta so the findings lack accuracy

Question 10

Fmri

Answer 10

uses strong magnetic and radio waves to monitor blood flow in the brain. takes repeated screens to create image of the concentration of oxygen in the blood at any time. areas of high activity will show corresponding high levels of blood oxygen and blood flow. allows sections of the brain that are particularly active during different tasks to be identified

Question 11

Positive of fmri

Answer 11

It is a moving image rather than a bland photo of the brain which is valuable when linking activity to behaviour

it is non-invasive so there is no exposure to harmful radiation

Question 12

Negative of fmri

Answer 12

interpreting the scan is quite complex and problematic

Focuses on localised activity of the brain so may not identify important ways in which communication between regions affect mental functioning

Question 13

EEG

Answer 13

It’s a recording of the brain where small sensors are attached to the scalp to identify electrical signals produced by the brain cells. measures amplitude and frequency of activity in the brain to identify patterns associated with certain stages that identify abnormalities.

Question 14

Positive of EEG

Answer 14

used effectively to study sleep disorders and identified disturb activity and diagnosis

cheaper than the other methods of studying the brain

Question 15

Negative of EEG

Answer 15

output from the machines needs to be interpreted and requires a high level of expertise

activity picked up by neighbouring electrodes. signals not useful for pinpointing

Question 16

ERP

Answer 16

uses similar array of recording electrodes as an ECG but can measure activity in response to stimulus. used to identify small specific responses necessary to take recordings from numerous presentations than average out the responses to obtain ERP. use to investigate fast responses that others might not pick up

Question 17

Positive of ERP

Answer 17

useful to measure reliability of self-reported techniques when topic being investigated is sensitive and likely to be affected by social desirability bias

directly measure neuron activity and give any indication of a conscious cognitive processing and detects like change due to environmental manipulation of stimuli

Question 18

Negative of ERP

Answer 18

Output needs to be interpreted and requires a high level of expertise to use method effectively

Only detects wrong voltage changes across scout important electoral activity deep in the brain are not recorded hence method is limited