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Psychology Paper 2 > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of the nervous system?

A
  • collect process and respond to information in the environment
  • Coordinate working different organs and cells in the body
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2
Q

What are the two components of the nervous system?

A

Central nervous system
Peripheral nervous system

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3
Q

What are the components of the central nervous system?

A

Brain and spinal cord

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4
Q

What are the components of the peripheral nervous system?

A

autonomic nervous system

somatic nervous system

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5
Q

What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?

A

is responsible for your unconscious bodily functions

transmit and receives impulses from the organs

involuntary

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6
Q

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

A

Sympathetic nervous system

Parasympathetic nervous system

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7
Q

What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?

A

coordinates organs in situations that require the individual to be aroused

signals the heart and longs to work harder

prepares the body for fight or flight

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8
Q

What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

coordinates are organs when we are relaxed

promote digested and slows a heart rate and breathing

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9
Q

What is the function of the somatic nervous system?

A

transmits information from receptor cells in the sentence organ to the CNS

Direct muscles to react and move

voluntary

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10
Q

What are the two components of the somatic nervous system?

A

sensory nervous system

Motor nervous system

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11
Q

What is the function of the brain?

A

involved in psychological processes and its main job is to ensure life is maintained

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12
Q

What is the function of the spinal cord?

A

transfers electrical impulses between the brain and peripheral nervous system

this allows the brain to monitor and regulate bodily processes

Contains circuits of nervous cells that enable us to perform simple reflexes without involvement of the brain

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13
Q

What is a similarity of the brain and spinal cord?

A

both control involuntary processes

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14
Q

what is the difference between the brain and spinal cord functions?

A

Brain consist of multiple regions responsible for different functions

whereas the spinal cord has one made function

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15
Q

what are the differences between what the brain and spinal cord allow

A

Brain provides conscious awareness and allows for higher order thinking

Whereas the spinal cord allows for simple reflex responses

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16
Q

what is a similarity of the responses of the sympathetic nervous system and somatic nervous system?

A

They both respond to an external stimuli

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17
Q

what is the difference of the pathways in the semantic nervous system and autonomic nervous system?

A

SNS has sensory and motor pathways, whereas ANS only has motor pathways

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18
Q

what are the differences in what are the autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system control ?

A

ANS controlled internal organs and glands, whereas SNS controls muscles and movement

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19
Q

what are the differences in where controls are in the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system?

A

ANS control centres are in the brain stem whereas SNS carries commands from the motor cortex

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20
Q

What is a Neuron?

A

nerve cell that receives and transmits impulses

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21
Q

How dies an impulse travel down a neuron?

A

impulse > dendrites > cell body > axon > terminal branches > synapse > dendrites

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22
Q

What is the function of the cell body?

A

Control centre of the neuron
includes the nucleus

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23
Q

What is the function of the nucleus?

A

Contains genetic material of the cell

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24
Q

What is the function of dendrites?

A

Receive signals from other neurons or sensory receptor cells

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25
Q

What is the function of the axon?

A

carries nerve impulses in the form of an electrical signal action potential

The impulse travel down the axon to the synapse

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26
Q

what is the function of the myelin sheath?

A

insulate the axon sub electrical impulses travel faster

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27
Q

What is the function of the axon terminal?

A

connects the neuron to other neurons/organs using a process called synaptic transmission

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28
Q

What is the function of the sensory neuron?

A

transmit nerve impulses from sensory receptors to the CNS

When they reach the brain, they are translated into sensations

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29
Q

What causes reflex actions?

A

Impulses transmitted by the sensory neurons from sensory preceptors terminate in the spinal cord without the delay of sending them to the brain

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30
Q

What is the function of the motor neurons

A

carry impulses from CNS to other areas of the body and control muscles

they release neurotransmitters that bind the receptors on muscles and trigger muscle movement

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31
Q

What causes muscle relaxation?

A

The inhibition of the motor neuron

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32
Q

What is the function of the relay neuron?

A

Connect sensory and motor neurons

Lie between the sensory and multi

Found solely within the brain and spinal cord

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33
Q

define and name a unipolar neuron

A

only transmit impulses

sensory neurons

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34
Q

Define a name multipolar neurons

A

send AND receive impulses

Motor and relay neurons

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35
Q

What is synaptic transmission?

A

process where neighbouring neurons communicate by sending chemical messages across the synapse that separates them

36
Q

What is a neurotransmitter?

A

Brain chemicals released from synaptic vesicles that relay signals across the synapse from one to another

37
Q

outline synaptic transmission

A
  • information is passed on the axon as action potential
  • which is the end of the axon I needs to cross the synaptic gap
  • axon terminals possess synaptic vehicles which contain neurotransmitter’s
  • action potential stimulates the release of these neurotransmitters
  • Neurotransmitters then carry the signals across the synaptic gap then bind to receptor sites on the post synaptic cell
  • The PSC is now activated and produce excitatory or inhibitory effects
38
Q

What is an excitatory neurotransmitter?

A

increase the positive charge on the post synaptic neuron

This increases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse

39
Q

what is an inhibitory neurotransmitter?

A

increase negative charge on the post synaptic neuron

Decreases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse

40
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

information system that instructs glands to release hormones into the bloodstream

Hormones are then carried towards target organs

41
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

information system that instructs glands to release hormones into the bloodstream

Hormones are then carried towards target organs

42
Q

What is a gland?

A

An organ that synthesises substances

43
Q

what is a hormone?

A

Chemical substances that circulate to bloodstream and only affected organs

Produced in large quantities but disappear quickly

44
Q

how does the nervous system and endocrine system differ?

A

nervous system releases neurotransmitters through a network of neurons

whereas the endocrine system releases hormones through blood vessels

45
Q

How does the endocrine system work?

A
  • endocrine gland hormones into the blood in response to a signal from the brain
  • Hormones travel to their target themselves and stimulate receptors on the surface/inside the cells
  • Presence of hormone causes physiological reaction in the cell which alters its activity
46
Q

what is the function of the pituary gland?

A

Master gland

Produce hormones that regulate the endocrine system

Releases ACTH and plays a large role in how your body response to stress

release of ATCH triggers adrenal gland to produce cortisol

47
Q

What is the function of the adrenal gland?

A

Releases adrenaline an important part of the fight of response

48
Q

what is the function of testes?

A

Facilitate release of testosterone

49
Q

What is the function of ovaries?

A

Facilitate the release of oestrogen and progesterone

50
Q

Outline the fight or flight response

A
  • The way an animal responds when stressed, body becomes physiologically aroused
  • sympathetic nervous system
  • helps an individual react quickly and facilitates optimum functioning so they can fight a threat or
51
Q

What is adrenaline?

A

hormone produced by a gland which is part of the bodys immediate stress response system

52
Q

outline the fight or flight response

A
  • Threats activates the hypothalamus which activates the autonomic nervous system
  • Sympathetic nervous system raises the bodies arousal (heart/breathing rate)
  • sympathetic nerves cause adrenal medulla to release adrenaline into blood
  • fight or flight response increases O2 in blood reduces activity in digestive system, causes surge energy, pupils dilate, sweating occurs, muscle tense
  • Stressor disappears and parasympathetic nervous system returns body back to normal
53
Q

What is localisation of function?

A

Believe the specific areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours cognitive processes or activities

54
Q

What is the holistic theory of the brain?

A

Believe that all parts of the brain are involved in behaviours cognitive processes conductivities

55
Q

what is the visual cortex?

A

located in the occipital lobe

responsible for processing different types of visual information (colour shape or movement)

Spans both hemispheres of the brain

56
Q

how does damage to the left hemisphere affect the visual cortex?

A

Can produce blindness in parts of the right visual field in both eyes

57
Q

how do the hemispheres of the brain work together for the visual cortex?

A

right hemisphere receives input from the left hand side of the visual field

left hemisphere receives its input from the right hand side of the visual field

58
Q

What is the function of the auditory cortex?

A

Processes sound based information (pictures and volume)

59
Q

Where is the auditory cortex located?

A

Temporal lobe

60
Q

What will happen if there’s damage to the auditory cortex?

A

hearing loss
the more extensive damage the poor extensive to loss

61
Q

what is the function of the motor cortex?

A

Responsible for voluntary motor movements

  • both hemispheres have a multiple cortex
  • Cortex on one side of the brain controls the muscles on the opposite side of the body
62
Q

Where is the Motor cortex located?

A

The frontal lobe

63
Q

What happens if there’s damage to the motor cortex?

A

Loss of control over fine movements

64
Q

what is the function of the somatosensory cortex?

A

detect sensory events

produce sensations of touch pressure, pain and heat

  • both hemispheres have a somatosensory cortex, cortex on one side receive sensory info from the opposite side of the body
65
Q

Where is the Somatosensory cortex located?

A

parietal lobe

66
Q

What will happen if there is damage to the somatosensory cortex?

A

Decrease sensitivity

67
Q

What is the function of the Brocas area?

A

critical for speech production

68
Q

where is the Brocad area located?

A

The left frontal lobe

69
Q

what will happen if there is damage to the brocas area?

A

brocas aphasia, slow laborious speech

70
Q

what is the function of the wernickes area?

A

Responsible for language comprehension

71
Q

where is Wernickes area located?

A

Left temporal lobe

72
Q

what happens if there is damage to the wernickes area?

A

wernickes aphasia
producing nonsense words

73
Q

Evaluate supported by research as a strength for localisation

A
  • supported by research
  • Peterson at all used brain grants to demonstrate how wernickes area was active during a listening task and brocas area was active during a reading task
  • Strength as it provides evidence to suggest the specific areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours
74
Q

Evaluate empirical info as a strength of localisation

A
  • strength of Peterson et al’s research is that it is highly empirical
  • Brain scans provide objective evidence to show that different areas of the brain were active during different tasks
  • Strength because these findings provide verifiable evidence for localisation
  • Study therefore provides strong evidence of localisation in the brain, supporting the theory that thetrs different areas of the brain responsible for different processes
75
Q

evaluate the case study of Tan as the strength of localisation

A
  • supported by brocas case studies
  • Studied a patient who could only say the word “Tan” but could understand speech. performed an autopsy on his brain and found damage to an area towards the base of the frontal lobe. He also investigated other patients with the same symptoms and found damage in the same area. He concluded that this area was responsible for speech production.
  • Strength of localisation because these cases demonstrate that different functions are located in specific areas of the brain
76
Q

evaluate the case study of Phineas gage as a strength of localisation

A
  • supported by the case study of Phineas Gage
  • he was an accident where a meter length pole penetrated through his left cheek and eye and exited from the top of his head destroying most of his frontal lobe. He changed from being a calm person to someone who was quick tempered and rude.
  • strength of localisation because the case studies suggest that the frontal lobe may be responsible for regulating mood
77
Q

if I were contradictory evidence as a limitation of localisation

A
  • There is evidence to suggest that the theory is not correct
  • Lashley removed areas of the cortex in rats which were learning maze. No area was proving to be more important than another in terms of the ability to learn the maze. Process of learning appears to require every part of the cortex.
  • This contradict localisation and suggest that some functions such as learning how to complex localised and required the whole brain. This supports the holistic brain theory.
78
Q

evaluate extrapolation as a limitation of Lashleys research

A
  • A limitation is that his research cannot be extrapolated to humans
  • Although both humans and rats are mammals, the human brain is more sophisticated and complex
  • so as this research that localisation is not part in right this doesn’t prove the same as true in humans
  • Lashleys work does not disprove localisation it just suggests that it may be flawed
79
Q

What is hemispheric lateralisation?

A

The idea that the two hemispheres of the brain are functionally different and certain processes are mini controlled by one rather than the other

80
Q

what is the corpus Callosom?

A

bundle of nerve fibres which connect the two hemispheres

Allows the two hemispheres to communicate by sending information to and receiving from each other

81
Q

what was the method of Sperry and Gazzanigas split brain research?

A
  • 11 split brain patient who had surgery for epilepsy
  • In lab conditions they were asked to fixate on a dot on the centre of the screen while a word/image was presented to the left or right visual field for a split second
  • they would then be asked to make responses with their left/right hand, verbally or without being able to see what their hands were doing
82
Q

how did patients react when they were shown an object in the RVF compared to the LVF?

A

when a picture was shown to the RVF as they could easily describe it

however if the same thing was shown in the LVF, they reported that nothing was there

However, they were able to slap their matching object from a bag using their left hands and will also able to draw the object

83
Q

What would split brain participants do if two words were simultaneously represented on either side of the visual field and why?

A

Write the word on the left with the left hand and say the word on the right

this is because the left side of the brain is responsible for language which affects the RVF, as there’s no language on the right side of the brain and the cc has been severed information cannot pass to reach the LVF

84
Q

How to split brain participants act when they had to do facial recognition

A

when asked to match a face from a series of other faces the picture processed by the right was consistently selected and the picture presented to the left was ignored

85
Q

evaluate high control as a strength of sperrys research

A
  • it is a quasi-experiment as they were able to take advantage of a naturally occurring variable as the epileptic patients had suffered hemisphere disconnection
  • they were able to have high control over the experimental environment and demonstrate the effect the hemisphere had brain function
  • as hemisphere connection was the only significant difference between the two groups the observed difference in performance was seen to have been caused by this disconnection, thus providing support to the series of hemispheric lateralisation
  • High internal validity
86
Q

Evaluate population of validity as a limitation of Sperry’s research

A
  • has low population validity
  • Only 11 split brain patients which is a small sample may not be representative of how other brains function. The participants epilepsy may have cause changes in their brain which are not present in brands of others another reason why the sample may be unrepresentative thus not applicable to others
  • lacks eternal ability
87
Q

Evaluate contradictory evidence about language as a limitation of hemispheric lateralisation

A
  • language may not be restricted to the left hemisphere in all people
  • e.g right handed people generally develop language in the left whereas left handed people may have them on either side
  • limitation as it may be wrong to assume that lateralisation of language centres is universal

Psychology Paper 2 (4 decks)

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