biopsychology Flashcards
discuss localisation of function AO1
localisation of function is the argument
- each hemisphere
motor area - planning &
- contralateral representation, frontal lobe, anterior to central sulcus
somatosensory - skin sensation
- upside-down contralateral, parietal lobe
auditory - audio perception, auditory nerve & thalamus
- temporal lobe
visual area - visual perception, occipital
Broca’s area - production of spoken language
- plans for motor movement
Wernicke’s area - comprehension of spoken language
discuss localisation of function AO3
- Dronkers - re-examined preserved brains > language production is more complicated & networks of regions
- Dejerine loss of ability to read resulted from damage to connection between visual cortex & Wernickes > challenges concept of absolute localisation
+ Broca’s aphasia in Tan > language centre for speech production localised to specific area
+ Phineas Gage - left frontal lobe > calm & reserved to aggressive > change in his temperament following accident suggests frontal lobe is responsible for regulating mood
outline and evaluate research into lateralisation AO1
language - left
Broca’s (left frontal, anterior to motor)
- plans for motor movement required > motor area
Wernicke’s (left parietal lobe, store of sounds)
- case studies confirmed by PET
visual & spatial (drawing & facial recog) in right
- sperrys research - identify faces & draw in left visual
outline and evaluate research into lateralisation AO3
+ increased neural processing (multi-tasking) - Rogers (chickens 2 tasks simultaneously) > enhances brain efficiency in cognitive tasks that demand simultaneous but diff use of both hemispheres
- Turk, J.W. damage to left hemisphere > brain can reorganise itself & recruit similar areas in opp hemisphere
- Beaumont meta-analysis - 5% RH - RHL for lang, 75% LH - bilateral representation for lang > lang not always lateralised to left
- individual differences - Szaflarski lang lateralised to LH in children & adolescents, decreased 25 > older = recruit other hemisphere to compensate for age related decline in function
outline and evaluate split brain research AO1
11 split brain face screen - central fixation point
- words/images 1/10th second in L/R visual
- short presentation time > be sure info not shared
1 - words in LVF & identify by touch object > could identify but not recall
2- words in LVF & write using LH > could write but not recall
3- images of shapes in L/RVF & asked to draw > could draw in LVF but not right
4 - images of faces in L/RVF & asked to identify > could identify in LVF but not right
outline and evaluate split brain research AO3
- individual differences (disconnection between hemispheres greater in some before) > undermined internal validity
- low external validity (11 ppts) so can’t make generalisations > impossible to overcome as so few exist
- extraneous variables (drug therapies to reduce epileptic symptoms for longer) > can’t be certain commissurotomy caused results
outline and evaluate evidence for plasticity and functional recovery after trauma AO1
p - brain’s ability to change due to experience or learning
- brain can change as new neural pathways created & existing altered to adapt to new, revisited > stronger
-myelination (activated > more myelin sheath wraps axon, increasing speed of impulse)
- forget > pathways weakened > deleted
f - recover after trauma or illness
- brain rewires & reorganises > new synaptic connections> recruited similar undamaged areas in opp side of brain
- e.g. if Broca’s damaged
- axonal sprouting > undamaged axons grow new nerve endings & reconnect with other undamaged neurones to form new neural pathways & replace links
outline and evaluate evidence for plasticity and functional recovery after trauma AO3
+ practical applications (neurorehabilitation, PT & ES of brain to counteract problems in functioning) > research into plasticity proven useful to society
+ Maguire MRI scans London taxi drivers (posterior hippocampus - spatial & navigational skills) > re-wire itself based on experiences, plasticity
+ Turk, J.W. damage to LH & language centres recovered > evidence for functional recovery as after injury brain can reorganise itself & recruit similar areas in opposite hemisphere
- individual differences - Elbert greater tendency for reorganisation in childhood > challenges concept plasticity can occur in all age groups, questioning how useful certain interventions my be in older age
outline and evaluate circadian rhythms AO1
rhythms that occur once in 24hr period e.g. sleep wake cycle - controlled by: endogenous pacemakers (body’s internal biological clock) and exogenous zeitgebers (external changes to env e.g. light)
SCN in hypothalamus - groups of neurons regulate actions of pineal gland (responsive to light)
darkness - pineal gland converts serotonin > melatonin & changing levels affect rhythms of body
Siffre - 61 days in underground cave, deprived of natural light
- biological rhythm remained regular (fell asleep & woke on regular basis) but rhythm extended to >25hrs
outline and evaluate circadian rhythms AO3
+practical applications - disrupting circadian rhythm has neg effects e.g. reduced conc at 6am > preventative measures implemented
- individual differences (cycle length may vary 13-65hrs) + cycle onset (why some people rise early & sleep late) > challenges idea rhythms same in all of us, decreases validity of research
+ Decoursey, destroyed SCN in 30 chipmunks & returned to habitat & observed for 80 > endogenous pacemakers e.g. SCn are important in regulating bio rhythms, aid survival
outline and evaluate infradian rhythms AO1
less than once in 24hrs - menstrual cycle (controlled by monthly hormonal change which regulates ovulation, approx 28 days)
- all bio rhythms controlled by 2 factors: endogenous pacemakers & exogenous zeitgebers
McClinktock - 29 women history of irregular periods
- samples of pheromones at diff stages via cotton pad under armpit for 8hrs
- treated w/alcohol & frozen. Day 1 > pads taken from another ppt from start of cycle rubbed on upper lip of ppt
- day 2 - same ppt given 2 days pad from same odour donor > 68% women changes to cycle
- infradian rhythms affected by exogenous zeitgebers as synchronisation (env) caused changes to bio cycle
outline and evaluate infradian rhythms AO3
+ practical applications - informed us of neg effects of IR e.g. SAD > phototherapy stimulates v strong light in morning & evening > relieved symptoms in up to 60% of sufferers
- high extraneous variables e.g. relies on patterns of synchronisation however, could have occurred by chance as other factors affect cycle > can’t be certain results due to synchronisation, decreasing IV
outline and evaluate ultradian rhythms AO1
more than once in 24hrs - 5 distinct stages of sleep (90mins, throughout night) - diff levels of brain wave activity
- all bio rhythms controlled by 2 factors: EP, EZ
- 1-2 (light sleep) - easily woken, slow & rhythmic BA
- 3-4 (deep sleep) - difficult to wake, slower & greater amplitude of BW
- 5 - body paralysed but brain like awake (REM- fast activity from eyes - dreaming)
hobson REM-On & REM-Off cells (inhibits)
- asleep = less REM-Off > REM sleep
- effect quickly reversed > NREM sleep
- repeats > sleep stages
- stages controlled by EP which help regulate cycle
outline and evaluate ultradian rhythms AO3
- individual differences - Tucker differences in duration of sleep stages (3&4) - genetic individual differences > future research to focus on differences
+ Derment & Kleitmen BA activity varied between stages of sleep (REM highest, if awoken = recall) > stages governed by biological processes including BW activity
outline and evaluate fMRIs AO1
changes in BA while performing a task (changes in blood flow)
- active = more O2 used to meet increased demand & increase in BF
- 3D images, shows specific parts
- develop understanding (localisation)
e.g. alternate between visual stimulus & control > map which areas activated by visual stimulus
