Bio Psychology Content

Question 1

What is the central nervous systesm?

Answer 1

The central nervous system is specialised, complex network of cells, it is the main internal communication system.

Question 2

What does the spinal cord control?

Answer 2

The spinal cord controls reflex actions and passes messages to and from the brain

Question 3

What are the 3 types of neurons?

Answer 3

Sensory, motor and relay

Question 4

What is the sensory neuron?

Answer 4

A neuron that carry’s messages from sensory receptors along nerves to the CNS

Question 5

What is a motor neuron?

Answer 5

A motor neuron carries messages from the CNS along nerves to effectors such as muscles and glands

Question 6

What is a relay neuron?

Answer 6

A relay neuron connects sensory and motor neurons together, and also connect to other relay neurons.

Question 7

What is synaptic transmission?

Answer 7

Synaptic transmission is how neurons communicate with each other

Question 8

Briefly describe how synaptic transmission works

Answer 8

Synaptic transmission works when neurons communicate within neutrons without physically touching, signals between neurons are transmitted chemically across the synapse

Question 9

What is the function of neurotransmitters?

Answer 9

Chemicals to diffuse across a synapse to be the next neuron In the chain and to send messages to the CNS across the body.

Question 10

What are recreational drugs?

Answer 10

Recreational drugs each operate in a particular way and either increase or decrease specific neurotransmitters at the synapse.

Question 11

What are 2 main recreational drugs?

Answer 11

Cocaine and heroine

Question 12

How is cocaine a recreational drug?

Answer 12

• all recreational drugs increase the release of dopamine as it rewards the brain and causes pleasure
• cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine by binding with dopamine transporter molecules
• it floods the synapse with surplus quantities of opamine

Question 13

What are the long term effects of dopamine?

Answer 13

After repeated cocaine use, dopamine receptors are less active and are damaged meaning that the quantity of dopamine produced declines
- this explains withdrawals

Question 14

How is heroin a recreational drug?

Answer 14

Heroin is usually injected and most of it is processed into the brain into morphine
- heroin has depressant effects on the CNS slowing down activity (including activity of neurons)

Question 15

What are the long term effects of heroin?

Answer 15

Repeated heroin use results in shutting down and being damaged (down regulation)

Question 16

What is a strength of the effect of recreational drugs?

Answer 16

It is supported for dopamine from research using nonhuman animals and this supports the view that cocaine’s effects are due to the activity of dopamine in the brain

Question 17

What is a weakness of the effect of recreational drugs?

Answer 17

Problems with the validity of nonhuman studies as the human brain is more complex and so are the complex effects of drugs.

Question 18

What is an application of recreational drugs?

Answer 18

The Knowledge leads to more and better addiction treatments.

Question 19

What is the brain?

Answer 19

It is a source of conscious awareness, where decision making takes place

Question 20

What is the brain divided into?

Answer 20

The brain is divided into near symmetrical hemispheres.

Question 21

What does contralateral mean in relation to the brain and control of the body?

Answer 21

Contralateral means that the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body.

Question 22

What does lateralisation mean?

Answer 22

Lateralisation means that the hemispheres of the human brain are almost structurally identical but with different functions.

Question 23

What is localisation?

Answer 23

Localisation is when certain areas (of the brain) are responsible for specific functions and behaviours.

Question 24

What is depolarisation in relation to the function of the neuron?

Answer 24

Depolarisation is when there is a rapid switch from being negative to positive which creates an electrical impulse.

Question 26

Who proposed the evolutionary theory?

Answer 26

Charles Darwin

Question 27

What is the theory of evolution?

Answer 27

It proposes that humans are a species of animal and that modern humans have evolved from ape-like ancestors

Question 28

What are the 3 things that cause the evolutionary theory?

Answer 28

Natural selection Genetic mutation Long periods of time

Question 29

What is genetic mutation?

Answer 29

When reproduction occurs but the copying of genes isn’t exact, the genetic differences aren’t exact

Question 30

What is a strength of the evolutionary theory in relation to aggression?

Answer 30

It can explain gender differences in aggression - co operative females are likely to be naturally selected because it protects them and their offspring, whereas aggressive males are more likely to be naturally selected as the make netter hunters

Question 31

Whatis a weakness of evolutionary theory in relation to aggression?

Answer 31

It cannot explain cultural differences as aggression is not universal, which suggests aggressive behaviour can be outweighed by cultural norms

Question 32

What is application of the evolutionary theory in relation to aggression?

Answer 32

Helps us understand human relationships as research shows that the predictions from the theory are upheld by evidence

Question 33

What is the process of natural selection?

Answer 33

The environment chooses individuals who can survive and reproduce successfully - natural selection is survival of fittest and chooses the characteristics that best match or ‘fit’ the demands of the environment

Question 34

What is social aggression?

Answer 34

Social aggression is the process of socially excluding people.

Question 35

What are the 2 components of social aggression and can you briefly explain these?

Answer 35

Indirect aggression= covert (hidden)- such as spreading malicious gossip Relational aggression= overt (in the open) but non physical- subversion as breaking off a friendship, pulling faces in public etc.

Question 36

What is freud’s psychodynamic explanation of aggression?

Answer 36

It is based on the idea that in every person different parts of the mind are in conflict with each other and are wanting different things

Question 37

What is the iceberg model and the 3 parts?

Answer 37

Freud suggested that our mind is divided into different parts and that they develop over the first 5 years of life The 3 parts of the iceberg model: Conscious, pre-conscious and unconscious mind

Question 38

What is the conscious mind?

Answer 38

The conscious mind is the part of the mind that we are aware of- it contains the current thoughts at any given moment.

Question 39

What is the pre-conscious mind?

Answer 39

It is the part of the mind we are occasionally aware of, it contains remembered dreams, feelings that haven’t been put into words and the memories that can be recalled into the conscious mind without help

Question 40

What do is the unconscious mind?

Answer 40

The unconscious mind is the rest of the mind that we are unaware of. It contains instincts, desires, fears, motives and memories that have been repressed because they are too painful

Question 41

What technique did Freud create?

Answer 41

Freud create a technique called psychoanalysis to help his patients understand their conscious and help people overcome problems rooted with the unconscious

Question 42

What are the 3 parts of the mind?

Answer 42

They are different parts of the mind that are in conflict with each other which ultimately leads to aggression: The id, the ego and the superego

Question 43

What is the id?

Answer 43

The id is the part that develops first in babies, it consists of urges and desires and is made entirely of feelings

Question 44

What is the ego?

Answer 44

The ego develops in toddlers, it is the thinking, decision-making part of the mind. It has no desires of its own but its job is to find a way to grant the ideas that come from the id

Question 45

What is the super-ego?

Answer 45

The super-ego forms between the ages of 4 and 6, it tells the ego whether its thoughts are morally accepted or not. The superego is based on morality and wants us to feel guilty and wants us to be punished.

Question 46

What is an evaluative point of Freud psychodynamic theory ?

Answer 46

It has good application as the theory of psychoanalysis can help treat emotional problems by exploring their unconscious causes .

Question 47

What is another evaluative point of freuds psychodynamic theory?

Answer 47

Objections-freuds theories are often criticised for not being scientific enough, he depends on case studies and gathering qualitative data in his research, making his findings hard to analyse.