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a level pyschology > BIOPSYCHOLOGY > Flashcards

BIOPSYCHOLOGY Flashcards

1
Q

what is a nervous system

A

network of cells which acts as primary communication and is based on electrical and chemical signals

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2
Q

whats the role of the central nervous system

A

the CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord. the CNS controls behaviour by regulating the bodies physiological processes

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3
Q

what does the brain do?

A

the brain is the centre of conscious awareness and receives info from the sensory receptors

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4
Q

the ……… is highly developed and gives us higher mental functions than animals

A

cerebral cortex

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5
Q

whats the spinal cord

A

responsible for reflex actions. it passes messages from the brain and connects nerves to the peripheral nervous system

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6
Q

what does the peripheral nervous system do

A

transmits messages from the environment to the central nervous system via millions of neurones

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7
Q

what does the somatic nervous system do

A

controls voluntary muscle movement and receives info from the sensory receptors eg: speaking

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8
Q

what does the autonomic nervous system do

A

controls involuntary, unconscious movement of the body eg: blinking, this is controlled by the hypothalamus

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9
Q

what does the sympathetic nervous system

A

fight or flight response, helps the body prepare for dangerous situations

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10
Q

name 3 things the sympathetic nervous system increases

A

heart rate
sweat
breathing

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11
Q

name 3 things the sympathetic nervous system decreases

A

digestion
urination
salivation

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12
Q

what does the parasympathetic nervous system do

A

rest and digest response, relaxes the body and returns us to our normal state

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13
Q

what are neurones

A

transmits signals electrically and chemically to provide the nervous system with the means to communicate

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14
Q

role of synapses

A

send electrical impulses to neighbouring neurones

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15
Q

role of myelin sheath

A

cover axon and acts as insulation to help keep electrical signals inside cell and allows them to move quicker

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16
Q

role of axon

A

transfers electrical impulse signals from the cell body to synapse

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17
Q

what does the soma do

A

the cell body, this contains most of the cells organelles

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18
Q

what does the nucleus do

A

contains the cells DNA

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19
Q

what do the dendrites do

A

receives electrical impulses from the neighbouring neurones

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20
Q

3 characteristics of sensory neuron

A

carry messages from peripheral nervous system to CNS
have myelin sheath
cell body is off axon

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21
Q

3 characteristics of relay neuron

A

no myelin sheath
only in CNS
connects sensory neurones to motor neurones and other relay neurones

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22
Q

3 characteristics of motor neurones

A

has myelin sheath
cell body within dendrites
connects CNS to muscles and glands to trigger response

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23
Q

whats synaptic transmission

A

neurones are seperated from eachother by tiny gap called synapse.
they pass messages to each other using synaptic transmission

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24
Q

first stage of synaptic transmission

A

electrical impulses pass down axon of the first neuron

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25
Q

second stage of synaptic transmission

A

vesicles containing neurotransmitters move towards pre synaptic membrane

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26
Q

third stage of synaptic transmission

A

vesicles fuse with pre synaptic membrane and release neurotransmitters into synaptic cleft ( the gap )

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27
Q

fourth stage of synaptic transmission

A

neurotransmitters diffuse across synapse and attach to receptors on post-synaptic membrane

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28
Q

fifth stage of synaptic transmission

A

activity in the receptors cause neurones to have an excitatory effect or inhibitory

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29
Q

whats an excitatory effect?

A

increases chance of neuron firing

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30
Q

whats an inhibitory effect

A

decreases chance of neuron firing

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31
Q

last stage of synaptic transmission

A

neurotransmitter are recycled back to pre synaptic neuron

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32
Q

whats summation?

A

excitatory and inhibitory influences are summed and must reach a certain threshold for an action potential to be triggered

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33
Q

whats the first way drugs can do to neurotransmitters

A

inhibit the re uptake of neurotransmitters ( increases neurotransmitters reaching post synaptic neuron )

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34
Q

whats the second thing drugs can do the neurotransmitters

A

block receptors, this decreases the amount of neurotransmitters reaching post synaptic neuron

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35
Q

whats the endocrine system

A

works alongside nervous system to control functions through use of hormones

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36
Q

whats a gland

A

organs that produce hormones

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37
Q

whats a hormone

A

whats secreted into the blood, which affects target cells that have receptors

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38
Q

what does the hypothalamus do

A

responsible for secretion of hormones
detects incorrect levels of hormones in blood

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39
Q

what hormone does the pituitary gland secrete

A

controls release of hormone from gland.
anterior- ACTH ( causes adrenal to secrete cortisol )
posterior- oxytocin , contractions and breastfeeding

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40
Q

pineal gland hormone secrete and effect

A

melatonin
sleep/ wake cycle
high melatonin = sleepy feeling

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41
Q

thyroid hormone secretion and effect

A

thyroxine, responsible for growth, metabolism and appetite

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42
Q

pancreas hormone secrete and effect

A

insulin and glucagon
insulin lowers blood sugar
glucagon- raises

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43
Q

adrenal gland hormone secretion and effect

A

cortisol and noradrenaline
c- stress hormone, releases glucose for energy
a: fight or flight response

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44
Q

ovaries hormone secretion and effect

A

oestrogen, regulates menstrual cycle

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45
Q

testes hormone secretion and effect

A

secretes testosterone, responsible for male characteristics eg: sperm production

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46
Q

define stress

A

biological and psychological response when encountering threat we dont feel able to deal with

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47
Q

how does the pituitary gland detect stress?

A

the hypothalamus is activated if a situation is stressful and then signals the pituitary gland

48
Q

what do we do in times of short term stress

A

flight or fight ( SAM pathway )

49
Q

what do we do in times of long term stress

A

HPA axis

50
Q

list the fight or flight steps
( AHSSC )

A

amygdala sends signal to hypothala

hypothalamus activates SAM

SAM stimulates sympathetic ns

sympathetic ns stimulates adrenal medulla, releasing adrenaline and noradrenaline into blood

cause physiological changes

51
Q

name 5 physiological changes during stress

A

inc heart rate
inc breathing rate
pupil dilation
sweat production
reduction of non essential functions eg: urination and salivation

52
Q

what does the parasympathetic action do

A

returns body back to normal state, working in the opposite direction to the sympathetic
THIS IS THE REST AND DIGEST

53
Q

define localisation of function

A

the theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for specific behaviours, processes and activities

54
Q

context ( 3 points ) of LOF

A

before 19th century, view of brain was hollistic. this means all parts of brain are involved
scientists disproved this in 19C
this suggests that if certain parts of brain are damaged, the function of area will be too

55
Q

front lobe responsibilities and what cortex is located

A

responsible for: movement, problem solving, concentration, behaviour and mood, stm
MOTOR CORTEX

56
Q

parietal lobe responsibilities and cortex

A
  • sensory info
  • perception
  • body awareness
  • attention
    SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX
57
Q

temporal lobe responsibilities and cortex

A
  • hearing
  • language
  • memory
  • smell and taste
    AUDITORY CORTEX
58
Q

occipital lobe responsibilities and cortex

A
  • vision
  • perception
    VISUAL CORTEX
59
Q

role of motor cortex

A

controls voluntary movement in opposite site of body
found in frontal lobe

60
Q

role of somatosensory cortex

A

where sensory info from skin is processed
located in parietal lobe

61
Q

role of visual cortex and where located

A

info from eyes processed
occipital lobe

62
Q

role of auditory cortex and location

A

speech based info is analysed
found in temporal

63
Q

where are the language centres in brain located

A

left hemisphere
broca and wernickes

64
Q

brocas area

A

located in left frontal lobe
responsible for speech production
damaged= brocas aphasia
characterised by slow speech, lacking fluency

65
Q

wernickes area

A

located in left temporal lobe
responsible for language understanding
damaged= wernickes aphasia

66
Q

define hemispheric lateralisation

A

the idea that the two halves of the brain are different and that certain behaviours and mental processes are controlled by one hemisphere

67
Q

left and right hemisphere responsibilities

A

left: language, music, analytical tasks, viewing objects
right: drawing, spatial awareness, recognising emotions in others

68
Q

define contralateral

A

right hemisphere controls left and left hemisphere controls right

69
Q

what connects the two hemispheres

A

the two hemispheres are connected through nerve fibres called the corpus callosum
allows communication

70
Q

epilepsy surgery

A

cutting the corpus callosum, stopping hemispheres communicating
we use this research to identify which behaviours are lateralised

71
Q

KEY STUDY
sperry and gazzaniga
AIM

A

aim: examine extent that two hemispheres had function roles

72
Q

KEY STUDY
sperry and gazzaniga
procedure

A

studied 11 split brain patients
showed word or imagine in right visual ( controlled by left ) and other.
patients couldnt complete picture

73
Q

sperry findings

A

objects shown in right visual field- pp could describe
objects in left: pp couldnt describe
LANGUAGE CENTRES IN LEFT

74
Q

sperry right hemisphere findings

A

shown in right- pp couldnt draw
shown in left- pp could draw
VISUAL CENTRE IN RIGHT

75
Q

define plasticity

A

brains ability to change and adapt as a result of experience

76
Q

how does plasticity work ( 3 points )

A

the functions change as a result of experience and injury
as a baby, the brain experiences growth of synaptic connections
as we get older, the used ones get strengthened- synaptic pruning

77
Q

key study- maguire
aim

A

to examine whether structural changes could be detected in the brains of people with extensive experience of spatial navigation

78
Q

key study- maguire
method

A

16 male london taxi drivers with more than 1.5 years experience
control group of 50 males non taxi
took mri scans of brain

79
Q

key study- maguire
findings and conclusion

A

increased ‘grey matter’ in taxi driver
positive correlation between amounts of time driving and volume of hippocampus
supports idea of brain plasticity

80
Q

define functional recovery

A

a form of plasticity following damage to brain. the brain is able to transfer functions from damaged area to non damaged

81
Q

define axonal sprouting

A

new nerve endings grow to make connections with undamaged nerves to form new pathways

82
Q

define recruitment of homologus area

A

the opposite side of brain takes over the task

83
Q

define stem cells within functional recovery

A

unspecialised cells that become different cells to cary out functions

84
Q

why do we look at the brain

A

to diagnose illness and investigate localisation

85
Q

define spatial resolution

A

this refers to the smallest feature that a scanner can detect. The greater the spatial resolution, the clearer the image

86
Q

temporal resolution definition

A

the accuracy of the scanner in relation to time. refers to how quickly the scanner can detect change

87
Q

whats a post mortem examination

A

analysing brain after death
often used in rare disorder cases
to identify area brain responsible for rare disorder
may be compared to normal

88
Q

whats FMRI

A

detects changes in blood oxygen levels and blood flow in specific areas of brain
uses big magnets to detect oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
produces 3D images

89
Q

EEG

A

measure electrical acitvity using skull cap
scan records brainwave patterns that are generated when neurons fire
used in abnormalities eg: epilepsy

90
Q

ERP

A

use electrodes attached to scalp
more specific measurements
remove any unwanted EEG data

91
Q

define a biological rhythm

A

distinct patterns of change in bodies activity that conform to time periods. influenced by internal clocks

92
Q

define an endogenous pacemaker

A

the internal body clock that regulates many biological rhythms eg: sleep and wake cycle

93
Q

define exogenous zeitgebers

A

external factors that affect biological rhythms, eg: the influence of light on our sleep/ wake cycle

94
Q

whats the difference between circadian and ultradian rhythms

A

circadian last for 24 hours
ultradian occur more then once in 24 hours
infrarian occur less than once in 24 hours

95
Q

example of circadian rhythm

A

sleep wake cycle
body temperature

96
Q

sleep wake cycle

A
  • light is detected by eye
  • sends a signal about light detected to the SCN ( biological clock )
  • if theres little light, SCN causes pineal gland to secrete melatonin
  • if theres lots of light, SCN causes pineal gland to stop secretion
97
Q

STUDY
siffre’s cave

A

spent a long period of time without any light to study his biological rhythm
bio rhythm became 25 hours instead of 24
suggests that endogenous pacemakers influence rhythms

98
Q

STUDY
aschoff and wever

A

sent pps into ww2 bunker no light
all but one pp ( 29 hours ) had a cycle of 24-25
suggests ez dictate 24 hours used to
cycle may be slightly longer

99
Q

STUDY
folkard

A

studied 12 people in dark cave for 3 weeks
slept 11.45pm woke 7.45am
researchers changed clock
only 1 pp adjusted to 22 hour day
SUGGESTS CIRCADIAN RHYTHM CAN BE EASILY OVERRIDEN

100
Q

example of infradian rhythms

A

menstrual cycle
monthly changes in hormone levels which regulate ovulation

101
Q

3 steps of menstrual cycle

A
  1. oestrogen causes ovary to develop egg and release through ovulation
  2. after o, progesterone helps womb lining to thicken
  3. egg absorbed into body and womb lining leaves through flow ( if pregnancy doesnt occur )
102
Q

STUDY
mcClintock 1998

A

29 irregular period women studied
samples of pheromones gathered from 9 via cotton pad on armpit
pads treated w alchol, frozen, rubbed on upper lip of all
pads from day were applied on that correct day
68% experiences changed to cycle

103
Q

define SAD

A

seasonal affective disorder
low mood, lack of interest in life
type of infradian rhythm, called circannual rhythm
linked with melatonin production
knock on effect of seratonin

104
Q

example of ultradian rhythm

A

sleep cycles
5 stages, lasting 90 mins each
characterised by different brainwave using EEG

105
Q

LIGHT SLEEP STAGE

A

stage1- muscle slows, twitching, brain waves h frquency s amplitude
stage2- breathing and heart slows, decrease in body temp
sleep spindles in alpha waves

106
Q

HEAVY SLEEP

A

stage3
- deep sleep
- difficult to wake
- brain begins to generate slow delta waves
stage 4
- very deep sleep
- rhythmic breathing
- limited muscle activity, delta wave

107
Q

REM SLEEP

A

stage 5
- rapid eye movements
- brainwaves speed up, dreaming
- muscles relax, heart rate inc
- breathing rapid and shallow

108
Q

what is the superchiasmatic nucleus

A

tiny bundle of nerve cells in the hypothalamus, in both hemispheres of the brain
one of main endogenous pacemakers and crucial for circadian rhythms

109
Q

SCN and the optic chasm

A

the optic chasm is the nerve fibres connected in the eye on the way yo the left and right visual cortex of the cerebral cortex
SCN above optic chasm and receives info on light
continues when eyes are shut, allowing us to adjust

110
Q

SCN and the optic chasm

A

the optic chasm is the nerve fibres connected in the eye on the way yo the left and right visual cortex of the cerebral cortex
SCN above optic chasm and receives info on light
continues when eyes are shut, allowing us to adjust

111
Q

where does SCN pass into to?

A

passes info of day length and light levels to pineal gland
pineal gland inc melatonin at night and decrease in day

112
Q

STUDY
deCoursey et al 2000

A

destroyed SCN in 30 chipmunks
sleep cycle dissapeared
killed by predators as they shouldve been asleep

113
Q

STUDY
Ralph et Al

A

bred mutant hamsters with 20 hour sleep cycle
when the scn cells from foetal tissue of mutant hamsters were transplanted into brains of normal, they had the same sleep/ wake
suggests endogenous pacemakers is mostly responsible for sleep/ wake

114
Q

whats an exogenous zeitberg

A

external factors that reset the internal body clock through ‘entrainment’
without these, the body clock continues

115
Q

study
campbell and murphy

A

light may be detected by skin instead of eyes
15 pps were woken and a light pad was shone on the back of knees
light may not rely on eyes to influence brain

116
Q

social cues in babies, regarding to sleep

A

6 weeks circadian rhythms begin
16 weeks trained by parents schedules

117
Q

social cues in babies, regarding to sleep

A

6 weeks circadian rhythms begin
16 weeks trained by parents schedules

a level pyschology (17 decks)

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