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AQA A-level psychology > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the parts of the CNS?

A

Spinal chord, brain

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2
Q

what are the 2 parts of the peripheral nervous system? what do they do?

A

Autonomic nervous system - governs vital functions like breathing and heart rate/
Somatic nervous system - governs voluntary movements like muscle contraction.

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3
Q

What are the components of the autonomic nervous system?

A
  • parasympathetic and sympathetic
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4
Q

Describe the fight or flight response

A
  • hypothalamus activates pituitary gland, activating the sympathetic nervous system.
  • adrenaline released from adrenal medulla, creating physiological arousal needed for fight or flight response.
  • It is immediate and automatic - happens as soon as threat is detected, causing sweating, ‘butterflies in stomach’
  • pupils dilate
  • dryness in mouth
  • heart rate increases.
  • After this response, parasympathetic nervous system is reactivated, working antagonistically to the sympathetic nervous system.
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5
Q

Define the peripheral nervous system

A

sends info from the outside world to the CNS, and transmits messages from CNS to rest of the body.

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6
Q

Define the Somatic nervous system

A
  • recieves info from receptor cells in the body about outside threats, and recieves info from CNS that directs muscles to act.
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7
Q

Describe the structure of a neuron

A
  • cell body (soma) - contains a nucleus.
  • dendrites: branch like structures from the soma, carry electrical impulses from the neighbouring neurons to the cell body.
  • axon: carries impulses away from the cell body down the length of the neuron.
  • myelin sheath: covers the axon to speed up transmission of impulses and protect the axon.
    Nodes of Ranvier: gaps in the myelin sheath that speed up transmission, and force impulses to ‘jump’ across the myelin sheath.
  • terminal buttons: located at the end of axons, that communicate with the next neuron in the chain across a synapse.
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8
Q

what hormone is released during long term stress

A
  • cortisol
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9
Q

name 2 glands and describe their functions

A
  • pineal gland: release melatonin to regulate sleep-wake cycle.
  • thyroid: release thyroxine to regulate metabolism.
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10
Q

describe structure of sensory neurons

A
  • smaller cell body, with myelin sheath and nodes of ranvier going off to both sides, one side of dendrites connects to relay neuron, other connects of receptor.
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11
Q

Describe the structure of a relay neuron

A
  • large cell body, no myeling sheath or nodes of ranvier, but longer axons that connect to sensory and motor neuron.
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12
Q

describe the strucutre of a motor neuron

A
  • large cell body, large axons connecting to effector to carry out response.
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13
Q

where are these neurons located? what about their axons?

A
  • cell bodies may be in the CNS, but axons (branches coming off the cell body) may form part of the PNS.
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14
Q

Where are sensory neurons located?

A

outside the CNS, in the PNS in the GANGLIA.

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15
Q

Where are relay neurons most often found?

A

Mostly found withing the brain and visual system.

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16
Q

describe how a neuron is fired.

A
  • resting state: negatively charged to the outside.
  • activated by stimulus: inside of cell becomes positively charged for a split second, causing action potential.
  • creates electrical impulse that travels towards the end of the neuron.
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17
Q

define synaptic transmission

A

the process in which neurons communicate by sending chemical messages across the synapse (neurotransmitters)

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18
Q

define excitation

A

when a neurotransmitter increases positive charge of the POST synaptic neuron, increases likelihood of electrical impulse being sent down the post synaptic neuron.

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19
Q

Define inhibition

A

when a neurotransmitter increases the negative charge of the postsynaptic neuron, decreases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will pass on the electrical impulse.

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20
Q

define summation

A

the net effect of excitation and inhibition - so if more positively charged, then will pass on electrical impulse etc.
so this is what determines action potential.

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21
Q

describe what is meant by localisation of function

A

theory that different parts of the brain are responsible for specific behaviours and processes.

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22
Q

define lateralisation

A

the idea that certain hemispheres of the brain are responsible for certain functions.

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23
Q

what is the somatosensory area responsible for? where is it located?

A
  • processes sensory info like touch
  • located in the parietal lobe.
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24
Q

where is the motor area located?

A
  • frontal lobe
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25
Q

where is the visual area located

A
  • occipital lobe
26
Q

where is the auditory and Wernicke’s area located?

A

temporal lobe

27
Q

where is Broca’s area located?

A

frontal lobe, left hemisphere

28
Q

Name one study that shows support FOR localisation of function

A
  • Peterson et al: brain scans
  • During listening task, Wernicke’s area was active, and during speech task, Broca’s area was active.
  • since method was object, shows that there is reliable scientific evidence that brain functions are localised.
29
Q

Name a study that also supports localisation but with counterpoints.

A
  • Phineas Gage case study: had a metal pole go through his skull, which changed his personality from once agreeable and kind, to rude, unable to hold down a job.
  • provided evidence for the fact that the frontal lobe may be involved in controlling aspects of personality.
  • BUT: case study evidence, so cannot be generalised to findings from one person.
  • this shows that Phineas Gage’s case study may simply be too unique to provide valid evidence of localisation of function.
30
Q

define Hemispheric Lateralisation

A

idea that two halves of the brain are functionally different - eg one hemisphere controls one behaviour and the other controls cognition etc.

31
Q

what is the general rule of thumb when addressing lateralisation?

A
  • left hemisphere controls right side.
  • right hemisphere controls left side.
32
Q

Describe the general procedure of Sperry’s split brain research.

A

Sample size: 11 people
- all patients had their corpus collosum severed (a kind of bridge between the right and left hemispheres of the brain)
- two words/ objects simultaneously placed on either side of visual field, and split brain individual was observed for how they would identify the object.

33
Q

Describe the findings of Sperry’s study

A
  • if image presented to RVF, they could describe what was seen (linked to left side)
  • but if presented to LVF, they claimed nothing was there - corpus collosum severed so could not relay messages from each hemisphere.
  • (right is for visual, left is for speech)
  • but if asked to draw out or pick object, they could do so, but they couldn’t verbally express what it was.
  • show how certain functions are lateralised in the brain and support the view that the LH is verbal, and the RH is emotional, but ‘silent’
34
Q

give the pros and cons of Sperry’s research.

A
  • Pro: done in a lab, so controlled EVs, giving more reliable results, and variables are more likely to be measured accurately using equipment.
  • Con: small sample size, so cannot be generalised to whole population.
  • Con: Ethics, trauma of the operation could mean that pps weren’t fully aware of the procedure that they had agreed to.
    BUT: they weren’t deliberately harmed, as the severing of the corpus collosum was done to help treat severe epilepsy.
35
Q

Give another point supporting Lateralisation of function with a counterpoint

A
  • ‘Tony’ case study at Caltech by Paul - 20 year old man who had ACC - born without a corpus collosum, had social difficulties, had trouble in logical tasks, and underwent the same procedure as Sperry’s case study, showing same results.
  • supports Sperry’s study .
  • but case study, cant be generalised to whole population.
36
Q

Define plasticity

A

The idea that the brain appears to be able to reorganise itself to recover a certain lost function.

37
Q

Give 3 points FOR laterlisation

A
  • Phineas Gage case study
  • Clive Wearing case study
  • Brain scan research from Peterson et al. (support for Wernicke’s and Broca’s area being active during speaking and listening tasks.
38
Q

Give 3 points AGAINST lateralisation

A
  • Lashley’s rat study (removing 10-50% areas of their cortex while learnign a maze, no effect on memorising pattern.)
  • Plasticity
  • the fact that case studies are not generalisable to wider population.
39
Q

Define synaptic pruning

A

a process by which connections in the brain that are most often used are strengthened, and that are not used are weakened/’deleted’ - often a process that occurs with aging.

40
Q

Outline Maguire’s research into taxi drivers

A
  • carried out study on London Taxi drivers - examining the grey matter in their brain.
  • found a positive correlation between the amount of grey matter, and how long they had been in the job (so the more streets they’ve been to, memorised etc.)
41
Q

Give 3 ways in which functional recovery may occur

A
  • axonal sprouting
  • Reformation of blood vessels
  • recruitment of homologous areas ( basically similar areas on the other side of the brain that take over function)
42
Q

Give one point FOR Functional recovery and plasticity

A
  • RWA in neurorehabilitation, eg in electrical stimulation to help with stroke recovery, or being aware that starting physical therapy is essential in maintaining improvements in functioning. - shows that this has practical application today.
43
Q

Give 2 Points AGAINST functional recovery + plasticity

A
  • Negative plasticity - where rewiring does not always have positive consequences - eg phantom limb cases which can cause painful sensations to the patient.
  • Individual differences - might be that its hard to tell HOW the brain will rewire itself - factoring in education, age and gender for eg is important.
44
Q

Summarise finding’s from Sperry’s research

A
  • Language laterlised in left hemisphere
  • when picture was projected to RVF, no prob but to LVF, could not identify object - but could draw/pick it out.
45
Q

Describe how an fMRI works

A
  • works by detecting change in blood oxygenation levels
  • producing 3d images - where more active areas light up (more O2 consumed)
46
Q

Give pros and cons of fMRIs

A

+: no radiation, no risk :D
+: very high spatial resolution (mm by mm detail) so can more clearly show localisation.
-: expensive
-: poor temporal resolution (cant show change over time)

47
Q

Describe how an EEG works.

A
  • measure electrical activity within the brain via electrodes that are placed on the head.
  • Produces brain waves (alpha, beta, theta, delta)
48
Q

Give pros and cons of EEGs.

A

+: good temporal resolution
+: can help in diagnosis and understanding of sleep issues.
-: cannot pinpoint source of neural activity
-: cannot detect activity in deeper brain regions.

49
Q

Describe how ERPs work

A
  • Stimulus presented to patient who has electrodes attached.
  • aim to investigate how the wave pattern changes in response to a stimulus - a statistical averaging technique.
50
Q

Give pros and cons of ERPs

A

+: much more specific to the measurement of neural processes
+: continuous, quantitative data so easier to measure
-: lack of standardisation - so difficult to confirm findings
-: not always possible to eliminate extraneous variables.

51
Q

Give pros and cons of post mortem examinations

A

+: Vital foundation for early understanding of the brain
+: can help generate hypotheses for further study.
-: ethical issues with consent - eg patient might be too ill to give consent
-: causation an issue - eg observed damage may be due to drugs or age than an actual neural issue.

52
Q

Define circadian rhythms + example

A

once every 24 hours
- sleep wake cycle

53
Q

Define Infradian rhythms + example

A
  • longer than 24 hours
  • menstrual cycle
54
Q

Ultradian rhythms + example

A

fewer than 24 hours
within human sleep - eg rem sleep, light sleep etc.

55
Q

Describe Siffre’s cave study.

A
  • Siffre spent 2 months living isolated in a cave with no access to the outside world
  • so had only endogenous pacemakers
  • found that the free running circadian rhythm was around 25 hours
56
Q
  • pros and cons of Siffre’s study
A

+: only one individual, hard to generalise
+: Practical applications to Shift work, so may suggest that internal cues are enough to tell workers when to stop etc. (to avoid any economic implications)
-: individual differences: some people may simply be owls or larks, plus age may effect rhythms (eg teens having different patterns than expected)

57
Q

Name some endogenous pacemakers

A
  • SCN (superchiasmatic nucleus)
  • Pineal gland (melatonin)
  • Pituitary gland for menstrual cycle
58
Q

Name a study that supports the role of the SCN

A
  • Hamster study by Morgan - SCN implanted into normal hamsters to make then have a 20 hour cycle, and hamsters did actually follow the donor Hamster’s patterns of sleep and wake (disruption to their usual nocturnal nature)
  • suggests that SCN and important EPs for biological rhythms
59
Q

Name some exogenous zeitgebers

A
  • sunlight
  • social cues (eg meal times)
60
Q

Give a supporting study for exogenous zeitgebers

A
  • Murphy et al skin + light study
  • suggested that skin might have light receptors, even when info not received by eyes
  • when light was shone at the back of their knees - found changes of up to 3 hours in sleep wake cycle.

AQA A-level psychology (12 decks)

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