Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

Complete for 1st year

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

How is the nervous system broken down?

A

Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How is the central nervous system broken down?

A

Brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How is the peripheral nervous system broken down?

A

Somatic and autonomic nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How is the autonomic nervous system broken down?

A

Sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the purpose of the brain?

A

To process information and give us conscious awareness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the purpose of the spinal cord?

A

Connects the brain to the body and reflex actions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the purpose of the peripheral nervous system?

A

Communicates information between the CNS and the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the purpose of the somatic nervous system?

A

Controls voluntary movements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the purpose of the autonomic nervous system?

A

Controls involuntary body functions (digestion, heart rate, breathing)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the sympathetic nervous system responsible for?

A

Fight or flight response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for?

A

Resting state of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the cerebrum (cerebral cortex)?

A

The largest part of the brain - divided into two hemispheres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How do the two hemispheres communicate?

A

Through the corpus callosum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the four lobes of each hemisphere?

A

Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is in the frontal lobe?

A

Motor centre - voluntary movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is in the parietal lobe?

A

Somatosensory centre - pain, pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is in the temporal lobe?

A

Auditory centre - pitch, volume

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is in the occipital lobe?

A

Visual centre - shape, colour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What does the cerebellum do?

A

Motor skills, balance, precise movements, coordination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are the parts of the brain stem?

A

Midbrain
Pons
Medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does the brain stem do?

A

Connects brain to spinal cord, regulates automatic functions (breathing, heart rate, swallowing)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the main function of the spinal cord?

A

Transmit information between brain and PNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What happens if the spinal cord is damaged?

A

The parts below that section stop working (paralysis)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How does the somatic nervous system control voluntary movements?

A

Communciates with muscles via sensory and motor neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Which part of the PNS are reflexes in?

A

Somatic nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What does the cell body do in a neuron?

A

Contains the nucleus and other organelle, it is the control centre of the neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What do the dendrites do?

A

Receive information from other neurons and transport message to cell body as an electrical impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What does the axon do?

A

Carries information away from the cell body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What do terminal buttons do?

A

Communicate with the next neuron in the chain across the synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What does the myelin sheath do?

A

Protect the axon and enable nerve impulses to travel quickly along the axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What do the nodes of Ranvier do?

A

Force the electrical signal to jump across the gaps to speed up transmission of nerve impulses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Where do sensory neurons carry information to and from?

A

From sensory receptors to the CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What do sensory neurons do?

A

Convert information into a neural impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What is the defining characteristic of a sensory neuron?

A

No dendrites around cell body, cell body in centre

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What do relay neurons do?

A

Communicate between motor and sensory neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Where do relay neurons exist?

A

Only in the CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What is the defining characteristic of a relay neuron?

A

Bare, no myelin sheath, short axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What do motor neurons do?

A

Connect with muscles and influence the contraction of them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What is the defining characteristic of a motor neuron?

A

Myelin sheath, long axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

How is information carried within a neuron?

A

By an electrical impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

When a neuron is excited, how is it charged?

A

Positive inside, negative outside (flips for relaxed)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

How is information transmitted between neurons?

A

Chemically with neurotransmitters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What is the action potential?

A

The electrical impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

What triggers the release of neurotransmitters from the vesicles?

A

The electrical impulse reaching the pre synaptic terminal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

What is a neurotransmitter?

A

A chemical that carries information from one neuron to the next

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

How does a neurotransmitter travel across the synaptic gap?

A

Diffusion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

When a neurotransmitter binds to a receptor what happens?

A

Electrical impulse is either generated (excitation) or prevented (inhibition)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

What is special about how neurotransmitters bind to receptor sites?

A

Lock and key type mechanism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

How is synaptic transmission ended?

A

Diffuse away or reuptake (taken back and stored)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

What is excitation?

A

Neurotransmitters cause an electrical change in the membrane of the post synaptic neuron known as depolarisation which stimulates the brain into action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Give examples of excitatory neurons

A

Dopamine, adrenaline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

What is inhibition?

A

Neurotransmitters cause an electrical change in the membrane of the post synaptic neuron known as hyperpolarisation - calms brain and balances mood

53
Q

Give examples of inhibitory neurotransmitters

A

Serotonin and GABA

54
Q

What is summation?

A

The effects of neurotransmitters are summed and the net effect is whether an electrical impulse is generated or prevented

55
Q

Why is summation needed?

A

Neurotransmitters can be excitatory and inhibitory at the same time

56
Q

What’s the control centre of the endocrine system (master gland)?

A

Pituitary gland

57
Q

What controls the pituitary gland?

A

The hypothalamus

58
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

A system of glands that secrete chemicals called hormones using blood vessels to transport them

59
Q

What operates on a negative feedback system?

A

The endocrine system

60
Q

How does a negative feedback system work?

A

If the levels are too high the gland stops releasing the hormone until the levels are too low

61
Q

What are the two sections of the pituitary gland?

A

Anterior and posterior

62
Q

What is the function of the pituitary gland?

A

To release hormones that then activate other glands/act upon target cells

63
Q

What does the anterior pituitary gland produce?

A

ACTH which stimulates the adrenal cortex
LH and FSH which stimulate the ovaries/testes

64
Q

What did the posterior pituitary gland produce?

A

Oxytocin which initiates contractions of the uterus and bonding behaviour between mother and infant

65
Q

What are the two parts of the adrenal glands?

A

The cortex and medulla

66
Q

What does the adrenal cortex produce?

A

Cortisol which releases stored fats and sugars and suppresses the immune system

67
Q

What does the adrenal medulla produce?

A

Adrenaline (increases heart rate) and noradrenaline (constricts blood vessels)

68
Q

What do the ovaries produce?

A

Oestrogen (prepares uterus for pregnancy) and progesterone (involved in the post ovulation stage of the menstrual cycle) - as well as eggs

69
Q

What do the testes produce?

A

Testosterone which is responsible for facial hair, deep voice, growth spurts (puberty), sex drive, sperm production, muscle strength

70
Q

Once a threat is detected what does the hypothalamus do?

A

Activates the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system

71
Q

What is the role of adrenaline?

A

Affect target cells to prepare the body for action

72
Q

The path of adrenaline is called what?

A

The sympathomedullary (SAM) pathway

73
Q

Why is heart rate increased in fight or flight?

A

To increase blood flow to organs and increase movement of adrenaline around the body

74
Q

Why is breathing rate increased in fight or flight?

A

To increase oxygen intake

75
Q

Why are the pupil dilated in fight or flight?

A

To increase light entry to the eye for better vision

76
Q

Why is sweat production triggered in fight or flight?

A

To regulate temperature

77
Q

Why is the reduction of non essential functions triggered in fight or flight?

A

To increase energy for the essential functions

78
Q

What are three problems with the fight or flight response?

A

Reductionist, lacks temporal validity, doesn’t explain females

79
Q

Who suggested there might be a third response to danger as well as fight or flight?

A

Gray (1988) - freeze to assess situation

80
Q

Who suggested that the fight or flight response is outdated?

A

Von Dawan et al (2012) - have demonstrated friendly behaviour during stress

81
Q

Who suggested the fight or flight response doesn’t explain female behaviour?

A

Taylor et al (2002) - androcentric, early research on men, tend and befriend approach

82
Q

Where do motor neurons carry information to and from?

A

From the CNS to muscles

83
Q

Where are the vesicles?

A

On the membrane of the axon terminal of the pre-synaptic neuron

84
Q

Where are the receptors?

A

On the membrane of the dendrites of the post-synaptic neuron

85
Q

What is hyperpolarisation?

A

Inhibition

86
Q

What is depolarisation?

A

Excitation

87
Q

What is homeostasis?

A

Maintaining levels in the body

88
Q

What is the purpose of the endocrine system?

A

Homeostasis

89
Q

What is localisation of function?

A

The idea that different parts of the brain are responsible for particular skills and abilities

90
Q

Where is the motor centre?

A

The back of the frontal lobe

91
Q

What does the motor centre do?

A

Responsible for voluntary movements, sending messages to muscles via spinal cord, left hemisphere controls right side of body and vice versa

92
Q

How is the motor centre arranged?

A

Correspondent to the body (e.g. hand is next to arm)

93
Q

What do the somatosensory centres do?

A

Detects and processes sensory input (touch, pressure, pain, temperature) for the opposite side of the body

94
Q

Where are the somatosensory centres?

A

Behind the motor centre, in the parietal lobe, separate centres in each hemisphere

95
Q

How are the somatosensory centres arranged?

A

The amount of the centre that deals with information from a particular part of the body indicates the sensitivity of that area

96
Q

Where are the visual centres?

A

At the back of the brain in the occipital lobe, separate centres in each hemisphere

97
Q

What do the visual centres do?

A

Receives and processes input from the eyes, both eyes transmit information from the left visual field and the right, but each visual centre only deals with the opposite visual field

98
Q

How are the visual centres arranged?

A

Different parts process different types of visual information like colour, shape, movement

99
Q

Where is the auditory centre?

A

In the temporal lobes

100
Q

What does the auditory centre do?

A

Deals with the detection and processing of sounds, enabling us to identify what a sound is and its location, information is generally sent to the opposite hemisphere but it can be sent to the same side too

101
Q

Where is the language centre?

A

In the left hemisphere

102
Q

What are the 2 areas of the language centre?

A

Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area

103
Q

Where is Broca’s area?

A

In the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere

104
Q

What is Broca’s area responsible for?

A

Speech production

105
Q

What is the affliction called when there is damage to Broca’s area?

A

Broca’s aphasia

106
Q

If Broca’s area is damaged, what is speech like?

A

Slow, laboured, lacks fluency, the sentences are meaningful but only contain a few words

107
Q

Where is Wernicke’s area?

A

In the left temporal lobe close to the auditory centre

108
Q

What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?

A

Understanding language

109
Q

What is the affliction called when there is damage to Wernicke’s area?

A

Wernicke’s aphasia

110
Q

If Wernicke’s area is damaged, what is speech like?

A

Speech is fluid, but they have difficulty understanding language, often say nonsense words or make up words

111
Q

What did Wernicke propose in relation to Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area?

A

They are connected by a neural loop

112
Q

What is the supporting evidence for the localisation of function in the brain?

A

One study found(using fMRI scans) that Broca’s area was active when reading out loud.
Tulving et al found (using fMRI scans) semantic memories are associated with the left pre-frontal cortex

113
Q

What are the 2 pieces of challenging evidence for the localisation of function in the brain?

A

One study used rats in a maze who each had a different part of their cortex removed, no brain area was found to be more important for learning. Some functions aren’t localised.
Another study looked at brain plasticity. People with damage to their brain and lose specific cognitive functions are able to functionally recover those abilities as the brain rearranges itself, suggesting the brain operates on a holistic basis, not a localised basis

114
Q

What is hemispheric lateralisation?

A

Some functions of the brain are controlled by one hemisphere and not the other

115
Q

What is the left hemisphere responsible for?

A

Speech and language, fine details, logic, maths

116
Q

What is the right hemisphere responsible for?

A

Visual and spatial processing, ‘bigger picture’ (overall patterns), emotions, facial recognition

117
Q

What is the supporting evidence for hemispheric lateralisation?

A

Chicken study found brain lateralisation allowed them to forage and remain vigilant for predators at the same time, showing it is effective and useful

118
Q

What are the 3 pieces of challenging evidence or hemispheric lateralisation?

A

Turk et al reported a patient who damaged their left hemisphere but developed the capacity to speak using his right hemisphere.
Szaflarski et al found language became more lateralised but after age 25, it decreases, perhaps to deal with age-related declines.
Split-brain research showed the right hemisphere is capable of some language comprehension (not production)

119
Q

Why do some people have split-brains?

A

They have had surgery to sever the corpus callosum to control the frequency and severity of epileptic seizures

120
Q

Who did the split-brain research?

A

Sperry et al

121
Q

Who are the named psychologists for biopsychology?

A

None (but I’d advise at least Sperry)

122
Q

What happens when the corpus callosum is severed?

A

The information presented to one hemisphere has no way of travelling to the other hemisphere

123
Q

What was the procedure of Sperry’s split-brain research?

A

Participants fixate on a dot in the centre of a screen while information was briefly (a tenth of a second) presented to either visual field (or both). Then they would complete tasks and be compared to a control group

124
Q

What are the 3 types of split-brain studies?

A

Asking participants to describe what they see, asking them to recognise objects by touch, asking them to process composite words

125
Q

What are the findings of the 3 types of split-brain studies?

A

They can describe the right visual field, but not the left, but they could draw this.
They could pick up the right object with their left hand when presented to their left visual field or an object most closely associated with it, but they couldn’t name the object.
If 2 words were presented to either field which make a composite word, they would pick up what they saw on the left with their left hand, but say what was on the right side, they wouldn’t realise it was a composite word

126
Q

What can we conclude from split-brain research?

A

It shows the connectivity between the different regions is important, but not that the brain is organised into discrete regions with specific functions

127
Q

What is the supporting evidence for split-brain research?

A

The actual split-brain studies

128
Q

What is the challenging evidence for split-brain research?

A

Gazzaniga found a patient developed the ability to speak with his right hemisphere, so language may not be exclusively limited to the left hemisphere

129
Q

What are the methodological issues for split-brain research?

A

Small sample so not generalisable, case study, quasi experiment, standardised, internally valid, doesn’t represent real life because they can look at something with both visual fields, matched pairs but they had never had epilepsy

Psychology (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions