Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

psychology > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

What are the two main sections of the nervous system ?

A

Central Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the two components of the Central Nervous System ?

A

The Brain
The Spinal Chord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the two components of the Peripheral Nervous System ?

A

Somatic Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the two components of the Autonomic Nervous System ?

A

Sympathetic Nervous System
Parasympathetic Nervous System

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the structure and function of the somatic nervous system ?

A

It is made up of sensory and motor neurons, it is conscious and in charge of voluntary movements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the structure and function of the autonomic nervous system ?

A

It consists of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems, it is in charge involuntary actions such as internal organs and glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the function of the CNS ?

A

It is in control of processing data received and transmitting signals to the rest of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a reflex arc ?

A

Where the body generates a response from a sensory input with the data being responded to by the spinal chord and not being processed by the brain, it is often to protect the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the function of the frontal lobes ?

A

It is in charge of movement, decision making, logic and problem solving

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the function of the Parietal lobes ?

A

It is in charge of the senses, temperature regulation and spacial awareness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the function of the occipital lobes ?

A

It is in charge of visual information and sight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the function of the temporal lobes ?

A

It is in charge of sound, memory and language

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the function of the cerebellum ?

A

It is in charge of movement, co-ordination and balance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the function of the brain stem ?

A

It is in charge of unconscious functions of the body such as breathing and heart-rate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the function of the sensory neuron ?

A

It transmits sensory information to the CNS from the sensory receptors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Where are sensory neurons found in the body ?

A

In the PNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the function of the relay neuron ?

A

It allows for the sensory and motor neurons to communicate, it passes information from

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Where are relay neurons found in the body ?

A

In the CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the function of motor neurons ?

A

They take information from the CNS to the effectors (muscles and glands)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Where are the motor neurons found in the body ?

A

In the PNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What common structures are found in all neurons ?

A

-Dendrites
-Cell body/Soma
-Axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the function of dendrites ?

A

They receive information from other neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the function of the axon ?

A

It carries electrical impulses through the neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the function of the cell body/soma

A

It stores the organelles which maintain normal cell function, such as protein and lipid synthesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is the function of the myelin sheath ?

A

It protects the axon and maintains the speed of the impulse (it acts as insulation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are the nodes of Ranvier and what is their function ?

A

They are gaps in the myelin sheath which allow for fast transmission of impulses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is the function of the axon terminals ?

A

They are used to transmit information to other axons via synapses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What is an action potential (in terms of ions) ?

A

A spike in charge in an axon caused by sodium ions crossing the cell membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What is the order in which neurons transmit an action potential ?

A

Sensory
Relay
Motor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is a synapse ?

A

A gap between neurons where the electrical signal has to be transmitted as a chemical signal (neurotransmitters) which diffuse through the gap

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What happens when neurotransmitters come to cross the synapse?

A

A vesicle containing neurotransmitters binds to the synaptic ending.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What happens when the vesicle binds to the synaptic ending?

A

It releases neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What happens after neurotransmitters are released into the cleft?

A

Action potential is stimulates/inhibited and reuptake occurs when neurotransmitters leaves the receptor site.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What are the two different typed of neurotransmitters?

A

Excitatory
Inhibitory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What are excitatory neurotransmitters?

A

They excite the nervous system, increase the likelihood that a neuron will fire an action potential. They are positively charged.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What are inhibitory neurotransmitters?

A

They inhibit the nervous system, decrease the likelihood that a neuron will fire and action potential. They are negatively charged.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What is summation?

A

The addition of positive and negative post-synaptic potentials.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

A network of glands across the body that secrete chemical messages called hormones.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What is the hypothalamus gland?

A

It stimulates and controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What is the pituitary gland?

A

Simulates the adrenal cortex and release of cortisol during the stress response.
Responsible for uterine contractions during childbirth.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What is the pineal gland?

A

Responsible for important biological rhythm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What is the thyroid gland?

A

Responsible for regulating metabolism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What is the adrenal gland?

A

Secretes adrenaline, key hormone in fight or flight.
Stimulates the release of glucose to provide the body with energy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

What are the ovaries?

A

Controls the regulation of the female reproductive system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

What are the testes?

A

Responsible for the development of male sex characteristics during puberty.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

What is the amygdala ?

A

It is a part of the limbic system which responds to sensory input and triggers fight or flight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

What are some differences between the nervous and endocrine system ?

A

The nervous system uses electrical signals in neurons not hormones in the blood stream
The nervous system is much faster
The endocrine system is only involuntary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

What is the hypothalamus ?

A

It responds to the amygdala and communicates with the SNS it can also activate the SAM pathway to trigger fight or flight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

What is Broca’s area?

A

Ability to speak fluently.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

What is Wernickes area?

A

Ability to understand speech.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

What does contralateral mean?

A

That each hemisphere of the brain controls opposite side of the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

How does the brain interpret visual information?

A

The left visual are processing information from the right visual field - not the right eye exclusively.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

What is localisation?

A

Different areas of the brain are involved with different parts of the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

How is auditory information processed?

A

Each auditory cortex processes sound from both the left and right ears.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

What studies support localisation?

A

Phineas Gage
Tan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

Where is Broca’s area?

A

In the frontal left lobe only.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

What happened to Tan?

A

Speech production is localised to Broca’s area. Brain scans showed damage to his Broca’s area. He was only able to say Tan for his entire life.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

What was Lashley’s procedure?

A

Trained rats to be able to solve a maze.
He then gave them brain damage by removing 10-50% of their brains.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

What happened to Phineas Gage?

A

A pole through the brain impacted certain functions.
Before the injury he was described as kind, caring and welcoming. After the injury he was described as irrational and violent.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

Where is Wernicke’s area?

A

In the frontal left lobe only.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

What did Phineas Gage prove?

A

There was damage to his frontal lobe where his personality traits reside.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

What studies do not support localisation?

A

Lashley’s rats.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

What were the benefits of Lashley’s study?

A

Disapproves localisation.
Couldn’t of been done on people.

64
Q

What was Lashley’s findings?

A

The rats were still able to find their way around the maze faster than untrained rats.

65
Q

What was the conclusion to Lashley’s study?

A

The damage had no affect and the study does not support localisation.

66
Q

What is brain plasticity?

A

The brains tendency to change and adapt.

67
Q

What were the costs of Lashley’s study?

A

Rats can’t give consent.
We are very different from rats so we cant extrapolate.

68
Q

What studies supports plasticity?

A

Maguire
Draganski.

69
Q

What was Maguire’s findings?

A

There was a larger volume of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus of taxi drivers.
The longer they were a taxi driver the larger amount of grey matter they had.

70
Q

What was the procedure of Maguire?

A

2 groups of right handed men.
Taxi drivers and non-taxi drivers.
MRI scans were taken of them.
Single blind procedure was in place for researchers.

71
Q

What was the conclusion to Maguire’s study?

A

Synapses for taxi drivers were strengthened due to more use.
Support the concept of plasticity.

72
Q

What were the strengths of Maguire’s study?

A

High internal validity
Objective/empirical evidence
Practical application - helped stroke patients form new connections.

73
Q

What were the weaknesses of Maguire’s study?

A

Low external validity
Lacks population validity - small sample size
Lacks cause and effect, only shows correlation.

74
Q

What was the procedure of Draganski?

A

24 volunteers.
All non-jugglers split into the jugglers and control group.
Jugglers’ and non jugglers’ brains scanned before any form of routine.
3 months of practice both group’s brains are scanned again.
3 months after that and not practice both groups are scanned again.

75
Q

What were the findings of Draganski?

A

Prior to the study there were non structural differences between the jugglers and non-jugglers.
After 3 months of practice jugglers have denser grey matter ion the mid temporal lobe.
After 3 months of no practice grey matter had reduced but was still denser than the control group.

76
Q

What were the conclusion of Draganski?

A

Supports plasticity.
Grey matter grows as a response to environmental demands such as learning.

77
Q

What is functional recovery?

A

Another example of plasticity.

78
Q

What is the process of functional recovery?

A

Reformation of blood vessels
Axonal sprouting
Recruitment of homologous area.

79
Q

What studies support functional recovery?

A

Elbert
Rasmussen disease.

80
Q

What did Elbert find?

A

The capacity for neural reorganisation is much greater in children than in adults.
Neural regeneration is less effective in older brains.

81
Q

How does the girl with Rasmussen disease support functional recovery?

A

She has half her brain removed at the age of 4.
Later in adult hood she showed no signs of only having half a brain accept from a limp on her left side and a stiff left arm.

82
Q

What study supports factors can affect functional recovery?

A

Schneider

83
Q

What did Schneider find about cognitive reserve?

A

Discovered that the more time a patient spent in education the greater chances of disability free recovery are.
2/5 patients studies who achieved DFR has more than 16 years of education.
compared to 10% of patients who had less than 12 years’ education.

84
Q

How does age affect functional recovery?

A

Brain is more plastic when we are young making it easier to uncover neural pathways.

85
Q

How does smoking affect functional recovery?

A

Smoking hardens blood vessels making it harder for them to reform.

86
Q

What does lateralisation mean?

A

The fact that two halves of the human brain are not entirely alike.

87
Q

How do the two hemispheres communicate?

A

Via the corpus callosum.

88
Q

What study supports lateralisation?

A

Sperry

89
Q

What was Sperry’s procedure?

A

11 participants that had undergone split brain procedure due to epilepsy.
They were shown an object in their RVF & LVF and asked to describe it.

90
Q

What were Sperry’s findings?

A

Participants could describe objects shown in their RVF because they use language processing in their left hemisphere.
They couldn’t describe object’s shown in their LVF and reported there was nothing there.

91
Q

What are the strengths of Sperry’s research?

A

High internal validity
Support from other researchers such as Broca’s suggests that language is lateralised to the left hemisphere.

92
Q

What are the weaknesses of Sperry’s research?

A

Poor external validity
Quasi experiments, difficult to establish cause and effect.

93
Q

What are the different ways of studying the brain?

A

Post mortem exams
fMRI
EEG
ERP’s

94
Q

What are post mortems?

A

An examination done on the brain after death.

95
Q

Are post-mortems useful?

A

Yes - Broca’s area with Tan.

96
Q

Can we establish cause and effect with post-mortems?

A

No

97
Q

Is there any evaluations for getting consent for post-mortem exams?

A

Some ethical issues with getting consent.

98
Q

What are fMRIs?

A

They measure changes in brain activity using increased/decreased blood flow.

99
Q

Are fMRIs useful?

A

Yes - establish localised functions.

100
Q

Are fMRIs invasive?

A

No

101
Q

Can we establish cause and effect with fMRIs?

A

No

102
Q

What is the spatial resolution for fMRIs?

A

1-2mm - Good

103
Q

What is the temporal resolution for fMRIs?

A

1.4 seconds

104
Q

Is there any evaluations for fMRIs?

A

Have to lie perfectly still or the scan has be to redone.

105
Q

What are EEGs?

A

It measures electrical activity in the brain.

106
Q

Are EEGs useful?

A

Yes - track progress of Alzheimer’s.

107
Q

Are EEGs invasive ?

A

No, but can be uncomfortable due to the cap wore.

108
Q

Can we establish cause and effect with EEGs?

A

Yes

109
Q

What is the spatial resolutions of EEGs?

A

Only measure superficial brain regions - Bad

110
Q

What is the temporal resolution of EEGs?

A

1-10ms - this is excellent as it is practically real time.

111
Q

What are ERPs?

A

Very small voltage changes in the brain that are triggered by specific stimuli.

112
Q

Are ERPs useful?

A

Yes - has helped with phonic learning.

113
Q

Are ERPs invasive?

A

No, but the cap can be uncomfortable to wear.

114
Q

Can we establish cause and effect with ERPs?

A

Yes

115
Q

What is the spatial resolution for ERPs?

A

Only measure superficial brain regions - Bad

116
Q

What is the temporal resolution for ERP’S?

A

1-10MS - This is excellent as it is practically real time.

117
Q

What are the different types of rhythms?

A

Ultradian
Circadian
Infradian

118
Q

What is the length of an ultradian cycle?

A

90 minute cycle, happens more than once a day.

119
Q

What is the length of an circadian cycle?

A

Once every 24 hours.

120
Q

What is a length of an infradian?

A

28 days.

121
Q

How are biological rhythms controlled?

A

Externally or internally.
(Zeitgebers or Pacemakers)

122
Q

What are Pacemakers and give examples.

A

Pacemakers - Endogenous - Internally controlled
SCN

123
Q

What are Zeitgebers and give examples.

A

Zeitgebers - Exogenous - Externally controlled
Day cycle, light and dark.

124
Q

What does the circadian rhythm regulate?

A

Bodily functions such as the sleep/wake cycle and core body temperature.

125
Q

What is the SCN?

A

Connected to the optic nerve and resides in the hypothalamus.
Acts as the internal body clock.

126
Q

What is the role of the SCN in the sleep/wake cycle?

A

Interprets information from out eyes then sends alerts to our brain to wake up are go to sleep.

127
Q

Is the SCN as pacemaker or a zeitgeber?

A

Pacemaker

128
Q

What studies supports the existence of the endogenous pacemaker and exogenous zeitgeber?

A

Siffre
Folkard

129
Q

What was Siffre’s procedure?

A

Spent six months in a cave underground in Texas with no access to daylight.
His biological clock was allowed to ‘free-run’, he ate and slept when he want.
He was wires up so that his body functions can be recorded.

130
Q

What was the findings of Siffre?

A

Siffre has a fairly erratic sleep-wake pattern at first, but it settled down to a pattern that averaged just over 25 hours instead of 24.

131
Q

What is the conclusions to Siffre’s study?

A

It is proof of the endogenous pacemaker but also shows the importance of exogenous zeitgebers.

132
Q

What are the strengths of Siffre’s study?

A

Informed consent
High internal validity
Longitudinal validity

133
Q

What are the limitations of the Siffre’s study?

A

Not generalisable due to it done on a singular man
No ecological validity.

134
Q

What was Folkard’s procedure?

A

A groups of 12 people lived in a dark cave for 3 weeks
Went to bed t 11:45 PM and woke up at 7:45 AM
The researchers gradually sped the clock up

135
Q

What were the findings of Folkard’s study?

A

None of the participants we able to comfortably adjust to the new regime.

136
Q

What was the conclusion to Folkard’s study?

A

There is a strong free-running circadian rhythm that cannot be easily be changed by an external environment.

137
Q

What is an example of an infradian rhythm?

A

Menstrual cycle

138
Q

What is a potential zeitgebers in the menstrual cycle?

A

Pheromones

139
Q

What study supports the existence of zeitgebers in the menstrual cycle?

A

McClintock
Russell

140
Q

What did McClintock study prove?

A

Students who spent time together whilst living in Uni halls of residence tended to synchronise their menstrual cycles. She gathered data by using diary entries.

141
Q

What did Wilson suggest about menstrual cycles?

A

That its statistically likely for friends to have an overlapping period - this is mistaken for menstrual synchrony
This throws double on the validity of McClintock’s claim.

142
Q

What was Russell’s study?

A

Collected odour by placing cotton pads under armpits of donors for 24 hours
They did not use deodorant nor wash then the pads were rubbed under p’s noses
P’s cycles shifted to match the donors

143
Q

What were the issues with the internal validity of Russel’s study?

A

There was no single/double blind
One of the donors was a female experimenter was also a participant.

144
Q

What study supports evidence of exogenous pacemakers affecting menstrual cycles?

A

Reinberg

145
Q

What was Reinburg’s study?

A

Spent 3 months in a cave
Her menstrual cycle shortened from 28 days to 25.7 days
Shows light affects menstrual cycle

146
Q

What were the strengths of Reinburg’s study?

A

High internal validity
Longitudinal

147
Q

What were the weaknesses of Reinburg’s study?

A

Lacks population validity
Could be due to stress

148
Q

What is an example of an ultradian rhythm?

A

Sleep cycle

149
Q

What are the two basic phases of sleep?

A

NREM (Non-rapid eye movement)
REM (Rapid eye movement)

150
Q

What is key research into the sleep cycle?

A

Dement and Kleitman

151
Q

What did Dement and Kleitman research?

A

Sample of 9 adults - 2 female 7 male
P’s avoided drinking alcoholic/caffeinated drinks
Monitored via EEF and EOG
Woken at various times in the night and asked to state whether they were dreaming or not

152
Q

What are the findings of Dement and Kleitman?

A

All p’s experienced several regular periods of REM sleep each night

153
Q

What are the conclusions of Dement and Kleitman?

A

We all have a natural REM sleep of 90 min

154
Q

What are the strengths of Dement and Kleitman?

A

Internal validity

155
Q

What are the weaknesses of Dement and Kleitman?

A

Low representativeness
Poor population validity
Artificial situation

psychology (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions