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Biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the two systems within the body of which communicate around the body

A

Endocrine and Nervous

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2
Q

What are the 2 main functions of the nervous system

A
  • Collect, process and respond to information in the environment
  • Co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
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3
Q

What are the two main subdivisions of the nervous system

A

-Peripheral nervous system : Transmits messages via neurone to and from the central nervous system
-Central nervous system:
Brain and spin, connects from spine to PNS

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4
Q

What are the subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system

A
  • Autonomic (unconscious responses, such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses)
  • Somatic (muscle movement, conscious)
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5
Q

What is the endocrine system

A

Sends information around the body by instructing glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones are carried towards the target organs. Communicates via chemicals.

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6
Q

Where are hormones released from give an example

A

From glands around the body

-Pituitary gland

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7
Q

What is the subdivision of autonomic nervous system

A

Parasympathetic :resting

Sympathetic :stress

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8
Q

What is adrenaline

A

A hormone produced by the adrenal glands which is a part of the human body’s immediate response system.

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9
Q

Fight or flight brief

A

-Hypothalamus activates pituitary gland increasing activity in the sympathetic branch. Changed to sympathetic.
Adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla, physical responses begin. When threat is passed, the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to its resting state.

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10
Q

Draw a neurone and describe its parts

A
  • Myelin sheath
  • Nodes of Ranvier
  • Dendrite
  • Axon
  • Terminal button
  • Cell body
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11
Q

Describe and draw how each neurone is different, what is the function of each of them

A

Function:

Sensory organ - sensory neurone - CNS (decide where)-relay neurone- motor neurone- effector cells

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12
Q

What is the change of neurone resting and action potential?

A
  • Negative

- Positive, creating an electrical impulse.

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13
Q

How do neurones communicate

A

Through synaptic transmission

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14
Q

Explain the parts of synaptic transmission

A
  • Pre synaptic neurone
  • Post synaptic neurone
  • Synaptic cleft
  • Vesicle with neurotransmitters
  • Axon
  • Pre synaptic nerve terminal
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15
Q

What is a neurotransmitter

A

Brain chemicals released from synaptic vesicles that relay signals across the synapse from one neurone to another. Excitatory or inhibitory function.

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16
Q

One main neurotransmitter within synaptic transmission

A

Acetylcholine

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17
Q

What is ganglia

A

Clusters of sensory neurones in the PNS

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18
Q

Chemical or electrical synaptic transmission?

A

Signals within neurones are transmitted electrically

Signals between neurones are transmitted chemically

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19
Q

What is the difference between excitation and inhibition neurotransmitters?

A

Excitatory:
e.g adrenaline, making the post-synaptic neurone more positively charged meaning that it is more likely to fire.
Inhibitory:
e.g serotonin, making the post-synaptic neurone more negatively charged meaning it is less likely to fire

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20
Q

What is summation

A

Excitatory and inhibitory influences are summed, if the net effect on the post-synaptic neurone inhibitory then postsynaptic less likely to fire. If it’s net is negative makes it excitatory meaning it more likely to fire.
Has to reach a threshold.

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21
Q

What is localisation of function

A

Theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for specific behaviours,

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22
Q

Who discovered that specific areas of the brain are associated with particular physical and psychological functions?

A

Broca and Wernicke

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23
Q

What was believed before Broca and Wernicke

A

That the brain should be studied holistically, that all parts of the brain were involved

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24
Q

What is a hemisphere

A

Left or right,
generally speaking the left hemisphere controls the right-side of the body and the right hemisphere controls the left-side of the body.

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25
Q

What and where are the 4 lobes in the brain

A
  • Frontal
  • Parietal
  • Occipital
  • Temporal
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26
Q

What does the frontal lobe do

A

Motor area, which controls voluntary movement in the opposite side of the body. Damage to this means loss over fine movements

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27
Q

What does the front of partial lobe do

A

Somatosensory, sensory information from the skin (touch, heat and pressure) is represented.
The amount of the somatosensory receptors determines how sensitive that part of the body is.

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28
Q

What does the occipital lobe do

A

Visual area, each eye sends information from the right visual field to the left. And from left to right. Damage to one side can cause damage to both.

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29
Q

What does the temporal lobe do

A

Auditory area, analyses speech based information, damage can lead to partial hearing loss.

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30
Q

What are the two language centres

A

Brocas

Wernickes

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31
Q

Where is the Broca’s and Wernicke’s area located

A

Temporal lobe ; Wernickes

Frontal lobe ; Brocas

32
Q

What happens when there is damage to Wernickes or Broca’s areas

A

Wernickes aphasia: Word salad, pronounce nonsense

Broca’s apahsia: slow speech

33
Q

Localisation of function in the brain- EVAL

A
  • Localisation theory proven by damage to certain areas causing some mental disorders. Cingulotomy, isolating region of cingulate gyrus which has implicated in OCD. Dougherty et al reported 44 people ow OCD undergone cingulotomy, after 32 weeks 30% had successful response and 14% partial response
  • Brain scans supports that everyday brain functions are localised. Peterson et al showed Wernicke’s active during listening task and Broca’s during reading. Buckner and Peterson somatic and episodic memories are in diff parts of the prefrontal cortex.
  • But Lashley removed areas of cortex in rats (10-50%), in rats learning a route. Process of learning each part was important, not a particular area. (Hollistic)
  • Language isn’t just Wernicks or Broca’s, Dick and Tremblay only 2% think that language is totally controlled. Identified across brain, cortex and right hemisphere, subcortical regions like thalamus by fMRI
34
Q

What is hemispheric lateralisation

A

2 halves of the brain are functionally different

35
Q

What does the LH and RH do

A

LH language

RH rudimentary words and emotions

36
Q

What is the analyser or synthesiser

A

LH analyser

RH synthesiser

37
Q

What is meant by crosswired

A

Motor area
RH controls left side of the body
LH controls right side pf the body

38
Q

Is vision contralateral or ipsilateral

A

Opposite and same sided

39
Q

How is vision contralateral and ipsilateral

A

LVF is connected to RH and RVF is connected to LH

40
Q

What is the main split brain research and how was it carried out

A

Sperry, study how two separated hemisphere deal with e.g speech and visions.
11 people who had split brain operation had image projected to LVF and RVF
In neurotypical image was seen in both. Split brain when shown to RVF (LH) they could see it- when to LVF (RH) nothing there but could pick a similar one. Portrays lateralisation

41
Q

Hemispheric lateralisation Evaluation

A
  • Even in connected brains the hemispheres process info differently. Fink et al used PET scans to see active areas. Whole images better for RH but finer detail for LH
  • LH analyser and RH synthesiser may be wrong. Nielsen et al analysed 1000 brain scans 7-29 people use different hemispheres but there is no dominant side
42
Q

Split-brain research Evaluation

A
  • Gazziniga showed split brain research participants perform better on certain tasks, faster at identifying odd objects, watered down in normal brain (Kingstone et al )
  • Sperry’s participants control neurotypical not those w epilepsy but no split brain so differences may just be due to epilepsy
43
Q

What is plasticity

A

brains tendency to change and adapt through age

44
Q

Explain brain plasticity with Gopnik et al

A

Kids have many synaptic transmissions. Infants have 15000 at 2-3 years, 2x more than adult. Those frequently used remain and those that are not frequent do not remain. Lifelong plasticity

45
Q

Research into plasticity

A

Maguire et al studied London taxi drivers found more grey matter in posterior hippocampus than in control. Have a ‘the knowledge’ test. More pronounced grey matter longer on the job

Draganski looked at brain scans of students 3 months pre and post exams, learning induced change happened in posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex

46
Q

What is functional recovery

A

A form of plasticity following damage after trauma. Brain has ability to redistribute and alter functions

47
Q

How is brain trauma plasticity

A

Secondary neural pathways not normally carried out are unmasked per say

48
Q

Plasticity Evaluation

A

-Plasticity may have negative behavioural consequences. Brains adaptation to prolonged drug use leads to poor cognitive mental in future like dementias
60-80% of amputees have phantom limb syndrome. Due to somatosensory cortex
-Plasticity has life long ability. Bezzola et al demonstrated how 40hrs of golf training changes in the neural representations of movement in participants of 40-60 years. fMRI used, increased motor activity in novice compared to control

49
Q

Functional recovery Evaluation

A
  • Functional recovery research is real-world application. Contributed to neurone-rehabilitation, understanding axonal growth allows new therapies to be tried. Constraint-induced movement therapy is used w stroke patentients repeatedly practicing affected parts of body
  • Level of education may influence recovery rates, Schneider et al the more time people w a brain injury had spent in education greater chance of a disability-free recovery. 40% DFR had 16 or more years in education, 10% if 12 years
50
Q

What are the 4 ways of studying the brain

A

Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Electroencephalogram
Event-related potentials
Post-mortem examinations

51
Q

how does functional magnetic resonance imaging allow people to study the brain

A

fMRI
detects the changes in both oxygenation and the flow that occur as a result of neural activity.
When a brain is more active it consumes more oxygen so to meet this increased demand blood flow is directed to the active area.
(haemodynamic response)
Produces a 3D image showing what parts of the brain are involved in a particular mental process

52
Q

How does electroencephalogram allow people to study the brain

A

Measures electrical activity in brain via electrodes fixed to an individuals swap using a skull cap.
Scan recording represents brainwave patterns from neurone, providing an overall account of brain activity.
Can be used for diagnosis such as epilepsy

53
Q

How does event-related potentials allow people to study the brain

A

EEG is general activity- to observe the specific stimulus and response
ERP’s are types of brainwaves triggered by particular events
Using statistical averaging technique, all extraneous brain activity is filtered out

54
Q

How do post-mortem examinations allow people to study the brain

A

Post death
Likely those w rare disorders, through lifetime
Comparison
Likely cause of affliction the person experienced

55
Q

Functional magnetic resonance imaging strengths and limitations

A

Strengths:

  • Does not rely on radiation, risk free, non invasive
  • Produces very spatial images, depicting detail

Limitations:

  • Expensive
  • Has 5 second lag, does not truly represent
56
Q

Electroencephalogram strengths and limitations

A

Strengths:

  • Bursts of energy easily detected so easy to diagnose conditions like epilepsy
  • Extremely high temporal resolution
  • resolution of a single millisecond

Limitations:
-Generalised nature of activity not useful for straight up pinpointing, cannot distinguish activities

57
Q

Event-related potentials strengths and limitations

A

Strengths:

  • More specific than EEG
  • Excellent temporal resolution (as from EEG)

Limitations:

  • Lack of standardisation
  • Background noises should be completely eliminated, which cannot always be
58
Q

Post-mortem examinations strengths and limitations

A

Strengths:

  • Provide a good understanding, like Broca’s and Wernickes
  • HMs study used for memory defects

Limitations:

  • May be due to trauma and decay
  • It is not super ethical, no consent
59
Q

What is a biological rhythm

A

Distinct patterns of changes in body activity that conform to cyclical time periods

60
Q

Difference between endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers

A

Endogenous- internal biological clock

Exogenous- external changes in the environment

61
Q

What is the name for rhythms occurring

  • many times a day
  • longer than a day
  • Even longer
A
  • Ultradian rhythms
  • Infradian rhythms
  • Circannual rhythms
62
Q

What are 2 examples of circadian rhythms

A
  • Sleep/wake cycle

- Core body temperature

63
Q

Explain the sleep wake cycle

A
  • Exogenous Zeitgeber (sleep during night)
  • Endogenous pacemaker (biological clock) called suprachiasmatic nucleus. This lies just above the optic chiasm (eye information)
64
Q

What is the Siffre’s cave study

A

Spent several extended periods underground.
Access to food and drink no light or sound. Resurfaced mid-Sept 1962, thought it was mid-August. Was there for 2 months.
Also did in Texan cave.
Circadian rhythm around 25 hours, a little longer

65
Q

Aschoff and Wever research
Folkard et al research
Circadian rhythms

A

Aschoff and Wever convinced a group to spend 4 weeks in WW2 bunk. All displayed 24/25 hours- one did 29 hours.

Folkard et al studied 12 people 3 weeks. Bed when clock said 11;45pm and rise at 7;45am. Researchers sped up the clock. 24 hours only 22 now. Only one comfortably adjusted, so not always external factors

66
Q

Example of an infradian cycle

A

Less than one cycle in 24 hours, such as menstruation and seasonal affective disorder.

67
Q

What hormones are adjusted during menstruation

A

Levels of oestrogen cause ovary to develop an egg and release it (ovulation).
After ovulation progesterone helps woo lining to thicken, readying womb for pregnancy.

68
Q

what study to prove exogenous factors affect the menstrual cycle

A

McClintock studied 29 women w irregular periods.
Samples of pheromones were gathered from 9 women at different stages via cotton pad in armpit. Pad was worn for at least 8 hours , treated w alcohol and froze. Rubbed on upper lip of participants. Day 1; pads from start of cycle were applied to 20 women. Day 2 given day 2. So on.
68% experienced changes

69
Q

Why does seasonal depression occur and is it a circadian rhythm?

A

Hormone melatonin is released through pineal glands during the night until there is an increase in light. In winter more dark.
Type of infradian rhythm

70
Q

Difference between infradian and ultradian rhythm

A
  • Frequency of less than one cycle in 24 hrs

- More than one cycle in 24 hours

71
Q

What is the SCN and where is it located and what is its function?

A
  • Tiny bundle of nettles
  • Located above the hypothalamus in each hemisphere. Lies above the optic chasm, receives info about light
  • Primary endogenous pacemakers and influential in circadian rhythms like sleep/wake cycle
72
Q

An animal studies regarding the superchiasmic nucleus

A

DeCoursey at al destroyed the SCN connections in the brains of 30 chipmunks then returned to natural habitat and observed for 80 days.
Sleep/wake cycle disappeared and by the end most had been killed

Ralph et al made mutant hamsters with 20 hour sleep wake cycles and transplanted this into normal hamsters who adjusted

73
Q

What are the two exogenous zeitgebers in the sleep wake cycle

A
  • Light

- Social cues

74
Q

Explain light as a exogenous zeitgeber in the sleep wake cycle and a study

A

Light is an indirect influence on the body

Campbell and Murphy woke participants and shone light on their knees. Deviation up to 3 hours

75
Q

Explain social cues through life and jet lag as an exogenous zeitgeber in the sleep wake cycle

A

Newborn sleep wake cycle is random
6 weeks it begins
16 weeks babies have entrained by the schedules imposed by parents and mealtimes

Adjusting to local times for eating and sleeping is effective way of entraining the sleep wake cycle

Psychology (12 decks)

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