Biopsychology Flashcards
Localisation of Function
Different areas of the brain that are responsible for different behaviours/ processes/ activities
Motor Area
Frontal lobe, involved in regulating movement
Somatosensory area
Parietal lobe, processes sensory info such as touch
Visual Area
Occipital lobe, receive/ processes visuals
Auditory Area
Temporal Lobe, analyses speech-based info
Language Area
Broca’s Area, frontal lobe in left hemisphere - speech production
Wernicke’s Area, temporal lobe in left hemisphere - language comprehension
CNS
brain, spinal cord
Nervous system definition
specialised network of cells in the body
Spinal cord use
reflexes
PNS
messages to and from CNS via neurones
Autonomic NS
Virtual functions - breathing / heart rate
Somatic NS
Control muscle movement
Gather information from sensory receptors
Endocrine system
Instruct glads to release hormones into bloodstream
Fight or flight
Endocrine system release adrenaline
Autonomic moves from resting parasympathetic state to aroused state
Aroused state = sympathetic
Parasympathetic NS reduces panic/ H.R
Characteristics of the Sympathetic NS
High heart right
increased breathing
Dilated pupils
increased saliva
Characteristics of the Parasympathetic NS
low HR
decreased breathing rate
Contracted pupils
Thyroid gland
Hormone- thyroxine increases heart rate
Hormone definition
Chemical substance affecting any cells in body with the receptors
Pituitary Gland
‘Master gland’
Controls hormones
Adrenal gland
Affects cardiovascular system
Stress response- adrenaline
Neurone types
sensory
relay
motor
Sensory neurone
Carries messages from PNS to CNS
Long dendrites
Short Axon
Relay Neuron
Connects all neurones together
Short dendrites and axons
Motor Neuron
Connects CNS to effectors such as muscles or glands
Short dendrites
Long axons
Parts of a neurone
Cell body - contain nucleus / DNA
Axon- long and carries impulses away
Myelin sheath- covers and protects axon Nodes of Ranvier- speed up transmission
Terminal Button- communicates with other neuones
Summation
nerve cell receives inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitter at the same time - net result of summation
more excitory - the cell fires at a high, positive rate
more inhibitory- not likely to fire / weak signal
Excitation
Increases positive charge on post synaptic neurone, increases the likelihood of the neurone firing
E.G: adrenaline
Inhibition
Increases negative charge on post synaptic neurone- decreases the likelihood of the cell firing
E.G: serotonin
Motor area
Frontal lobe
Voluntary movements
Both sides of brain
Somatosensory area
Parietal lobes
Sensory info from skin
pressure, pain, temperature
Both sides of brain
Visual Area
Occipital lobe
receive and process visual info
Both sides of brain
Auditory area
Temporal lobe
analyse and process acoustic info
both sides
Broca’s area
language production
only on left side- lateralised
Wernicks area
Language comprehension
Only left side
Lateralisation
right controls left and left controls right
where areas are located
Cerebral cortex
Protects the hemispheres
subdivisions
What are the lobes of the brain
frontal
parietal
occipital
temporal
Frontal lobe
movement
concentration
personality
Temporal lobe
hearing
language
memory
parietal lobe
sensations
body awareness
perception
attention
occipital lobe
vision
perception
supporting evidence for localisation of function
study and brain scans
peterson et al.
broca’s area during reading task
wernicks area during listening task
