BIO PSYCH - PACK 1

Question 1

What does biological psychology aim to explain?

Answer 1

Behaviour, by looking at the physical causes. Using biology to understand human behaviour.

Question 2

6

Key assumptions of Bio Psych

Answer 2

1. All behaviours are determined by biological factors
2. The CNS is a major influence on behaviour
3. Behavioural and psychological development is assumed to be by changes in the brain and general biology
4. Process of evolution can help us explain human behaviour; traits that helped us survive passed on
5. Genes influence behaviour
6. Behavioural continuity between species, justifying studying animals and generalising to humans

Question 3

4

Main research methods used in Bio Psych

Answer 3

• Correlational studies
• Studies using brain scanning techniques; CAT, PET, fMRI
• Case studies using brain damaged patients
• Lab based experiments using animals

Question 4

The CNS is made up of… (explain their roles)

Central Nervous System

Answer 4

The brain which draws together info from all over the body and sends info back in response
The spinal cord, containing nerves that carry messages between the brain and body

Question 5

Role of CNS

Answer 5

Central processor of info and control centre for human behaviour

Question 6

What is the PNS?

Answer 6

Peripheral nervous system which branches out from spinal cord. Web of nerves carrying info to and from CNS to rest of body

Question 7

State the 4 lobes of the brain

Answer 7

• Frontal
• Parietal
• Temporal
• Occipital

Question 8

Major frontal lobe functions

Answer 8

Voluntary movement, expressive language, managing higher executive functions, thinking, personality, muscle control, memory storage

Question 9

Major parietal lobe functions

Answer 9

Process of sensory acquisition, spatial orientation + direction

Question 10

Major occipital lobe functions

Answer 10

Visuospatial processing, distance perception, colour + face recognition, memory formation

Question 11

Major temporal lobe functions

Answer 11

Encoding memory, processing emotions, visual perception

Question 12

What lobe is the PFC part of? Explain PFC further

Prefrontal Cortex

Answer 12

The frontal lobe. Fully functioning only in twenties. Executive functions such as decision making.

Question 13

Case study of Phineas Gage

Answer 13

Railway worker suffered damage to prefrontal lobes. Personality changed extremely, became very aggressive. Suggests that prefrontal lobes involved in aggression.

Question 14

What are the right and left hemispheres of the brain concerned with?

Answer 14

Right = creativity, intuition, movement of left side of body.
Left = movement of right side of body, language functioning, analytic thought, science + math

Question 15

What is the corpus callosum and it’s main function?

Answer 15

Massive bundle of nuerons which joins the two brain hemispheres together. Ensures the two hemispheres can communicate with one another.

Question 16

What are the ventricles

Answer 16

A linked system of cavities that are filled with their produced cerebrospinal fluid, ensuring it circulates around the brain

Question 17

The Limbic System

Answer 17

System of structures and nerve networks inside brain. Linked to instinct and mood. Controls basic emotions (anger,fear,pleasure) and drives (hunger, dominance, sex).

Question 18

Structures of the Limbic System

Answer 18

• Frontal lobe
• Thalamus
• Hippocampus
• Amygdala
• Hypothalmus
• Olfactory bulb

Question 19

Function of thalamus

Answer 19

Relays info from five senses to relevant parts of cortex.

Question 20

Function of amygdala

Answer 20

Linked with emotions such as anger and fear. This region stimulated when if senses perceive threat. Fight/flight response.

Question 21

Function of hippocampus

Answer 21

Plays key role in memory formation.

Question 22

Function of hypothalmus

Answer 22

Regulates bodily functions via stimulating release of hormones. Fight/flight response. Releases adrenaline.

Question 23

What is meant by ‘contra-lateral control’?

Answer 23

The right hemisphere concerning the movement of the left side of the body and the lefthemisphere with the right side.

Question 24

Explain the issue of reductionism in biological psychology.

Answer 24

To study biological functions in isolation would be oversimplification. Overlooks social and environmental factors.

Question 25

What are neurons and their functions?

Answer 25

Specialised brain cells within the nervous system with a function to communicate with thousands of others cells at a time in pathways which adapt as we have new experiences.

Question 26

9

Structure of a neuron

Answer 26

Nucleus, cell body, axon hillcock, dendrites, axon, Nodes of Ranvier, myelin sheath, axon terminals, synapse

Question 27

Function of the axon

In a nueron

Answer 27

Electrical impulses pass through them

Question 28

Function of dendrites

In a nueron

Answer 28

Receive info from other neurons

Question 29

Function of the cell body

In a nueron

Answer 29

Location of key components

Question 30

Function of the nucleus

In a nueron

Answer 30

Stores DNA

Question 31

Function of the Axon Hillcock

In a nueron

Answer 31

Generates electrical impulse down the axon

Question 32

Function of the myelin sheath

In a nucleus

Answer 32

Coats the axon and speeds up the action potential

Question 33

Function of the Nodes of Ranvier

In a nueron

Answer 33

Speeds up the action potential

Question 34

Function of a synapse

in a nueron

Answer 34

Nuerotransmitters are released and passed to the next neuron

Question 35

What is a synapse?

Explain the elements

Answer 35

Where the communication between one nueron and another takes place. Action potential starts in the pre-synaptic nueron. The message travels to the post-synaptic neuron. The space between the two is known as the synaptic cleft/gap. Neurotransmitters are released into this gap and travel across it.

Question 36

What is an action potential?

Answer 36

An electrical impulse