biopsych

Question 1

what is plasticity

Answer 1

the ability of the brain to physically and functionally change to adapt to trauma

Question 2

what is the London taxi study

Answer 2

study found that london taxi drivers had increased grey matter in the hippocampus.which is related to an increased spatial memory.

Question 3

what is functional recovery

Answer 3

the ability of the brain to reallocate functions, that were carried out by now damaged areas, to different areas. allowing the brain to function normally despite damage

Question 4

what are the negative evaluations of plasticity

Answer 4

there is a limit to plasticity and functional recovery. for example

Question 5

what are biological rhythms

Answer 5

periodical fluctuations in an organism that correspond to and are influenced by changes in the environment. for example sleep wake cycle

Question 6

what are exogenous zeitgebers

Answer 6

external changes in the environment that affect our biological rhythms.

Question 7

what are endogenous pacemakers

Answer 7

our internal body clock that influences our bio rhythms. such as light

Question 8

what is a circadian rhythm

Answer 8

a rhythm that occurs over a 24hr period. such as the sleep wake cycle

Question 9

what research supports exogenous zeitgebergs

Answer 9

siffer descended into a cave without light for 2 months. without the exogenous zeitgebers his biological rhythms extended to 24hrs and 30 minuets, meaning he spent 24 days longer in the cave then he thought

Question 10

what are the negative evaluations of this

Answer 10

. circadian rhythms are not the same between people. research has shown peoples biological rhythms can be anywhere from 24 - 25 hrs
. uses case studies and small studies so its not applicable to everyone.
. confounding effects of unnatural light. found artificial light can shift circadian rhythms by 6hrs

Question 11

whats an infradian rhythm

Answer 11

biological rhythms that occur less then once every 24 hrs. for example the menstrual cycle

Question 12

whats an ultradian cycle

Answer 12

a biological rhythm that occurs multiple times in a 24hr period such as the 90min sleep cycle

Question 13

what are the stages of the sleep cycle

Answer 13

1 and 2. sleep escalators. the person is entering sleep and can be easily woken.
3 and 4. entering deep sleep and slower delta waves.
5. REM sleep. rapid eye movement where dreaming occurs

Question 14

what is the central nervous system made up of

Answer 14

the brain and spinal cord

Question 15

what is the periphery nervous system made up of

Answer 15

sensory neurons that interact with the environment

Question 16

what are the 2 subdivisions of the periphery nervous system

Answer 16

autonomic nervous system. which is in charge of involuntary functions, such as heartbeat and breathing

somatic nervous system which is inn charge of feeling the 5 senses through motor neurons

Question 17

what are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 17

sympathetic nervous system is in charge of increasing heart rate, breathing ect in response to stress. parasympathetic is the opposite and rests the body after stress has subsided

Question 18

describe the fight or flight response

Answer 18

1 the person becomes aware of a stressor
2 a signal is sent to the thalimus which in turn increases activity in the SNS
3 Adrenalin is produced by the adrenal gland
4 results in increased breathing, heart rate, pupils dilate ect
5 once the threat is no longer present the parasympathetic nervous system works to bring the body to rest