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psych paper 1 > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemical messengers within the brain

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1
Q

What is the role of neurotransmitters?

A
  • To transmit information from one neuron to another
  • so a person performs an action e.g. movement/emotional response
  • Process is called synaptic transmission
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1
Q

Describe the beginning of the synaptic transmission process

A

1 - Begins in pre-synaptic neuron
- Action potentials/electrical nerve impulses sent down axon
- Until they reach the pre-synaptic terminal

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1
Q

Describe the middle of the synaptic transmission process

A

2 - Causes the neurotransmitters to be released into synaptic cleft
- Neurotransmitters - stored in vesicles and ONLY located in pre-synaptic neuron

3 - Neurotransmiitters diffuse across synapse (high to low conc)
- bind with their specific receptor sites
- receptor sites - ONLY present on post-synaptic neuron

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2
Q

Describe the end of the synaptic transmission process

A

4 - there are 2 possible outcomes once enough neurotransmitters have attached to receptor sites

  • next neuron ready to fire impulse
  • depending on excitatory/inhibitory effect

OR

  • neurotransmitters recycled
  • to be stored back in vesicles in pre-synaptic neuron
  • process = reuptake
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3
Q

Describe the excitatory effect of neurotransmitters (e.g. adrenaline)

A
  • Excitatory N.T binds to post-synaptic receptors - post-synaptic cell becomes positively charged (1)
  • More likely for post-synaptic cell to fire - so impulse travels down axon (1)
  • Increases brain activity in CNS (1)
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4
Q

Describe the inhibitory effect of neurotransmitters (e.g. serotonin)

A
  • Inhibitory N.T binds to post-synaptic receptors - post-synaptic cell becomes negatively charged (1)
  • Prevents/reduces likelihood that post-synaptic cell will fire (1)
  • Decreases brain activity in CNS (1)
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5
Q

Describe summation

A
  • Occurs when excitatory and inhibitory influences are added together (1)
  • If overall effect is mainly inhibitory, reduces/inhibits likelihood that neuron will fire an impulse down the post-synaptic neuron (1)
  • If overall effect is mainly excitatory, neuron will fire an impulse down the post-synaptic neuron (1)
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6
Q

What is a gland?

A

An organ which releases a specific hormone to regulate bodily functions

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7
Q

What is a hormone?

A

Chemical messenger released by glands into the bloodstream

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8
Q

What is the function of the endocrine system?

A
  • Provides a chemical system of communication within the bloodstream
  • to regulate activity of cells and organs in the body
  • slower than nervous system
  • but more widespread and powerful
  • chemical messengers = hormones
  • released by glands within endocrine system
  • to regulate many bodily functions
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9
Q

What is the function of the pineal gland?

A
  • Secretes melatonin
  • Which is involved in regulating sleep-wake cycle
  • By making person tired, therefore ready to sleep
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10
Q

What is the function of the pituitary gland?

A
  • Known as master gland
  • Secretes many different hormones
  • That control functions of other glands
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11
Q

What is the function of the adrenal gland?

A
  • Releases adrenaline
  • Which causes physiological changes involved in F/F response e.g. increased blood flow
  • To transport oxygen to the brain
  • For rapid response planning
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12
Q

What is the function of the ovaries?

A
  • Anterior pituitary gland releases LH + FSH
  • Which encourages ovaries to release oestrogen and progesterone
  • Which regulate female menstrual cycle
  • Prepares body for reproduction
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13
Q

What is the function of the testes?

A
  • Anterior pituitary gland releases LH + FSH
  • Which encourages testes to release testosterone
  • Which is involved in creating male characteristics
  • And sperm production
14
Q

What is the fight/flight response?

Intro to essays

A
  • ANS and endocrine system play a major role in the stress response in producing the fight/flight response
  • stressor identified by the brain = sympathetic branch of the ANS activated
15
Q

What is the acronym to remember the F/F response?

A

Sally - stressor

Has - hypothalamus

Potentially - Pituitary gland

Seen - Sympathetic

A - Adrenaline from adrenal medulla

Piranha - Parasympathetic branch

16
Q

Describe the process of the F/F response

A

1 - a STRESSOR is identified by the HYPOTHALAMUS
- activates PITUITARY GLAND
- triggers activity in SYMPATHETIC BRANCH of ANS

2 - ADRENALINE is released by the ADRENAL MEDULLA into the bloodstream

3 - The F/F response is produced which prepares the body for physical action
- Physiological reactions are produced e.g increased heart rate, blood pressure, respiration
- saliva production reduced
- immediate and automatic response

4 - the PARASYMPATHETIC branch returns the body back to normal once the stressor is removed
- homeostasis (e.g. decreased heart rate, respiration, increased digestion)

17
Q

Outline the role of adrenaline in the F/F response

A
  • Adrenaline is the hormone released from the adrenal medulla
  • Travels through the blood stream and activates the heart and circulatory system
  • this increases heart rate and blood pressure
  • these changes are important in F/F response
  • Role of adrenaline in preparing body for F/F:
  • Direct effect of adrenaline:
  • Increases heart rate, blood flow and blood pressure
  • this increases blood flow to brain and skeletal muscles
  • Indirect effect of adrenaline:
  • prepares body for action e.g. F/F
  • increases blood supply to skeletal muscles for physical action
  • stops digestion and saliva production
  • increases oxygen to brain for rapid response planning
18
Q

What happens when the stressor removed in the F/F response?

A
  • Once stressor has passed, parasympathetic branch of the ANS takes over
  • main function = to activate rest and digest response
  • returns body to homeostasis after the F/F response
19
Q

What is one weakness of the F/F response? AO3

A

P - Human behaviour not limited to two responses

E - Some psychologists argue that first response to danger is to avoid confrontation ‘freeze’ response

E - Humans consider best course of action for threat they are faced with during this response

L - Suggests that F/F response does not consider other factors e.g. thought processes

19
Q

What is one weakness of the F/F response? AO3

A

P - Human behaviour not limited to two responses

E - Some psychologists argue that first response to danger is to avoid confrontation ‘freeze’ response

E - Humans consider best course of action for threat they are faced with during this response

L - Suggests that F/F response does not consider other factors e.g. thought processes

20
Q

What is one issue with the F/F response? AO3

A

P - Does not explain stress response in females

E - e.g. research found that women are more likely to protect their offspring (tend) and form alliances with other women (befriend) than to fight/run away

E - Suggests that there is a gender/beta bias
- F/F response assumed that men and women respond in the same way to threatening situation (prior to this research)

L - Limiting explanation of the F/F response

psych paper 1 (40 decks)

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