Biopsychology

Question 1

three types of neurons

Answer 1

Sensory - carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. LONG DENDRITES/SHORT AXONS
Located in clusters called ganglias

Relay - connect sensory neurons to motor or other relay neurons. SHORT DENDRITES & AXONS.

Motor - connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands. SHORT DENDRITES/LONG AXONS

Question 2

the structure of a neuron

Answer 2

cell body: includes a nucleus containing the genetic material of the cell

dendrites: branchlike structures protruding from the cell body. these carry nerve impulses from neighbouring neurons from the cell body.

axons: carries the electrical impulse away from the cell body down the length of the neuron (covered in the myelin sheath, and gaps in the axon i.e., nodes of Ranvier speed up the transmission of the impulse.)

Question 3

Outline Broca’s area
(localisation of function)

Answer 3

speech production.
left frontal lobe.
damage to this area causes Broca’s aphasia (characterised by slow speech with a lack of fluency). Broca’s patients may have difficulty naming objects and finding words.

Question 4

four lobes of the cerebral cortex

Answer 4

motor area
somatosensory area
visual area
auditory area

Question 5

define lateralisation

Answer 5

where some physical and psychological functions are controlled by a particular hemisphere.

Question 6

Outline Wernicke’s area.

Answer 6

responsible for language UNDERSTANDING left temporal lobe
damage causes to Wernicke’s aphasia.
patients produce fluent but meaningless speech - often producing nonsense words