Biopsychology Flashcards
1
Q
The Nervous System
A
- Internal communication system using specialised network of cells
- Central nervous system (CNS)
Brain
Spinal chord - Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Somatic nervous system- governs muscle movement
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)- governs vital functions - Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)- resting state
- Sympathetic nervous system (SNS)- fight or flight
2
Q
The Endocrine System
A
- Hormones secreted into bloodstream from glands and targets specific organs
- Pituitary gland=master gland
- Endocrine and ANS work together in fight or flight
Stressor-hypothalamus-pituitary-parasympathetic to sympathetic - Adrenaline from adrenal gland- physiological arousal for ForF
Increased H.R + B.R / dilated pupils / inhibits saliva + digestion
3
Q
The Structure and Functions of Neurons
A
- Sensory, relay, motor
- Sensory- from PNS to CNS
Long dendrite, short axon - Relay- connect sensory to motor
Short dendrite, short axon - Motor- connect CNS to effectors
Short dendrite, long axon - Nucleus / cell body / myelin sheath / nodes of ranvier / axon / dendrites
- Resting state=negative charge
- Neuron activated=positive charge
Action potential=electrical impulse
4
Q
Synaptic Transmission
A
- Axon / synaptic vesicle / neurotransmitter/ pre-synaptic nerve terminal / synapse / post-synaptic receptor site / dendrite
- One way direction- lock and key
- Excitation- neurotransmitter increase positive charge- increase likelihood impulse passed on
- Inhibition- neurotransmitter increase negative charge- decrease likelihood impulse passed on
- Whether neuron fires=summation
Overall inhibitory= less likely fire
Overall excitatory= more likely fire
5
Q
Localisation of Brain Function- AO1
A
- Lateralisation- functions dominated by hemisphere
- Cerebral cortex- outer layer- frontal lobe, parietal, occipital, temporal
- Back of frontal= motor area
Regulating movement - Front of parietal= somatosensory
Sensory info from skin - Occipital lobe=visual area
RVF to left visual cortex vice versa - Temporal lobes= auditory area
Speech based info - Language restricted to left hemisphere
Broca=frontal lobe=speech production
Wernicke=temporal lobe=language comprehension
6
Q
Localisation of Brain Function- AO3
A
- Evidence from neurosurgery +
Cingulotomy- cingulate gyrus- OCD
Dougherty- 44 OCD- 32 weeks, 30% met criteria successful response
Mental disorders localised - Evidence from brain scans +
Petersen- Wernicke=listening Broca=reading
LTM Tulving- semantic + episodic=different parts prefrontal cortex
Objective methods=scientific evidence - Language localisation questioned -
Dick + Tremblay- 2% modern researchers=language controlled solely Broca+Wernicke
fMRI=more clarity-language is holistic
Language streams=right hemisphere
Language organise holistically
7
Q
Brain Plasticity and Functional Recovery- AO1
A
- Plasticity- change and adapt due to experience/learning
Synaptic pruning- rarely used severed, frequently used strengthened - Macguire- cabbies=more grey matter
Spatial+navigational skills
Longer in job=more pronounced - Draganski- medical p’s before and after exams=changes in hippocampus
- Functional recovery- after trauma redistribution of functions to other areas
Spontaneous- quick then slow - Axonal sprouting- new neural pathway
- Denervation super-sensitivity- performing higher level to compensate
- Recruitment of homologous areas- specific tasks still perform
8
Q
Brain Plasticity and Functional Recovery- AO3
A
- Negative plasticity -
Drug use=increase dementia, decrease cognitive function
70% amputees=phantom limb- cortical reorganisation somatosensory
Adapt to damage not always useful - Age + plasticity +
Decrease with age- Bezzola, 40 hours golf training=changed movement
fMRI=increase motor cortex activity
Plasticity continues in life - Real world application +
Neurorehabilitation- axonal growth
Constraint induced movement therapy
Help professional know when intervene - Cognitive reserve -
Schneider- increase education, increase chances disability free recovery (DFR)
40% DFR=<16 years education
10% DFR=>10 years
Insufficient DFR=worse recovery
9
Q
Split Brain Research- AO1
A
- Severing corpus callosum between RH+LH to reduce epilepsy
- Sperry
11 split brain- word in RVF (LH), image in LVF (RH)
Couldn’t share info
RVF=describe what saw as links to language centres
Could match objects out of sight using left hand (RH)
Shown in LVF=emotional reaction but saw nothing - Certain functions lateralised in brain
- Supports view LH is verbal and RH is silent but emotional
10
Q
Split Brain Research- AO3
A
- Lateralisation in connected brain +
Fink- PET scans- identify active areas
Global elements=RH, detail=LH
Hemispheric lateralisation in all brains - One brain -
No dominant side=diff personality
Nielsen- 1000 p’s=certain hemispheres certain tasks but no dominant side
Notion of right/left brain is wrong - Research support +
Gazzaniga- split brain=better tasks than normal brain
LH’s better cognition watered down by inferior RH
Supports Sperry that left/right brain=distinct
11
Q
Ways of Studying the Brain- AO1
A
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Measures activity while doing tasks
Radio waves=changing magnetic fields- oxygen rich=active - Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Records tiny electrical impulses
Measures wave patterns to diagnose certain conditions - Event-related potential (ERP)
Electrophysiological response to sensory, cognitive, motor events isolated through statistical analysis of EEG data - Post mortem
Brain analysed after death to determine if observed behaviour linked to structural abnormalities in brain
12
Q
Ways of Studying the Brain- AO3
A
- fMRI
Doesn’t rely on radiation +
High spatial resolution +
Expensive -
Poor temporal resolution - - EEG
Diagnosis of conditions +
High temporal resolution +
Generalised -
Not useful pinpointing neural activity - - ERP
More specific +
Excellent temporal resolution +
Lacks standardisation -
Difficult eliminate extraneous - - Post mortem
Foundation early understanding +
Broca+Wernicke=post mortem +
Useful study HM +
Causation -
Ethical issue -
13
Q
Circadian Rhythms- AO1
A
- Biological rhythms- patterns in body activity conform cyclical time periods
Influenced by endogenous pacemakers + exogenous zeitgebers - Ultradian- many times during day
- Infradian- longer than a day
- Circadian- one day
- Sleep/wake cycle
Light=exogenous zeitgeber
SCN=endogenous pacemaker - Siffre
2 months caves in Alps
Deprived natural light + sound
Again 6 months in Texas cave
Free-running- just beyond usual 24hr - Aschoff+Weaver
4 weeks WW11 bunker
Deprived natural light
All but one=circadian rhythm between 24/25 hour
24 hour cycle entrained by EZ’s - Folkard
12 p’s, dark cave, 3 weeks
Bed 11:45 up 7:45, clocks changed
24 hour day only 22
Only one adjusted to new regime
14
Q
Circadian Rhythms- AO3
A
- Shift work +
Reduced concentration 6am- mistakes + accidents more likely
Shift workers 3x more likely heart disease
Real world economic implications - Medical treatment +
Body’s processes rise and fall in day- chronotheraputics
Aspirin most effective taken at night- reduce risk heart attack most likely in morning
Increase effectiveness drug treatment - Individual differences -
Sleep/wake cycle vary
Czeisler- 13 to 65 hour
Duffy- some prefer bed early wake early (larks) or opposite (owls)
Siffre- cycle slowed since young man
Averages may be meaningless
15
Q
Infradian Rhythms- AO1
A
- longer than 24 hours
- McClintock, menstrual cycle
29 women, pheromones from sweat
Treated and rubbed on upper lip
68% changes to cycle closer to donor - Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Persistent low mood triggered in winter when less daylight
Melatonin secreted pineal gland more as it’s darker=knock-on-effect of serotonin production
