Biological Aspects of Psychology Part 2

Question 1

The Central Nervous System

Answer 1

Brain/Spinal Cord

Question 2

Spinal Cord

Answer 2

The role of the spinal cord is to transmit information between the peripheral nervous system and the brain

Question 3

The human brain

Answer 3

directs all psychological activity, maintains life functions and responds to stimuli

Question 4

The hindbrain

Answer 4

located directly above the spinal cord - links to the brain

Question 5

Medulla Oblongata

Answer 5

Hindbrain - controls basic physiological functions such as heartbeat, circulation and respiration

Question 6

cerebellum

Answer 6

Hindbrain - coordinates movement and balance. Also has a role in learning and sensory discrimination

Question 7

reticular formation

Answer 7

Hindbrain - involved in consciousness and arousal

Question 8

The midbrain

Answer 8

Located above the hindbrain - surrounded by the forebrain

Question 9

involved in orienting to visual and auditory stimuli

Answer 9

Tectum

Question 10

tegmentum

Answer 10

involved in movement and arousal

Question 11

largest and most sophisticated part of the brain. It is involved in complex sensory, emotional, cognitive and behavioural processes

Answer 11

The Forebrain

Question 12

Hypothalamus

Answer 12

regulates behaviours such as eating,sleeping, sexual activity and emotional experience

Question 13

processes sensory information as it arrives and transmits it to higher brain centres

Answer 13

Thalamus

Question 14

Basal ganglia

Answer 14

Cerebrum - involved in a wide range of functions, particularly movements and judgements requiring minimal conscious thought

Question 15

limbic system

Answer 15

set of structures with diverse functions involving emotions, motivation, learning and memories

Question 16

The cerebral cortex is

Answer 16

The cerebral cortex is 3mm thick layer of densely packed neurons that encloses the rest of the brain:

• flexible control of complex patterns of movement
• subtle discrimination of complex sensory patterns
• The possibility of symbolic thinking

Question 17

The cerebral cortex - consists of four lobes

Answer 17

• Occipital
• Parietal
• Temporal
• Frontal

Question 18

Blesdo keeps falling asleep at odd times. He is having trouble with arousal and attention. His doctors have ruled out sleep disorders and are now concentrating on certain brain structures. The one that is most likely malfunctioning is the:

Answer 18

thalamus

Question 19

After an accident, Stella was left with brain damage. Now Stella has trouble judging the emotions of others, even when she can see their facial expressions. Stella has most likely damaged her:

Answer 19

amygdala

Question 20

To understand how to better treat depression, Dr Kloss and his team plan to use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). By using this technology, the research team will be able to:

Answer 20

disrupt the activity of neurons in a particular brain region.

Question 21

You have been up all night studying for an important examination and are a little tired. As you reach for your hot chocolate, you accidentally touch the hotplate on the stove. You quickly pull your hand away from the hotplate. Which of the following statements about your action is true?

Answer 21

The reflexive command came from the spinal cord.

Question 22

After consuming a few alcoholic beverages, Sejal finds it hard to tie her shoes. This is most likely because the alcohol has affected her:

Answer 22

corpus callosum