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Psychology: Biopsych > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

1
Q

Define Genotype

A

The particular set of genes a person has

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2
Q

Define phenotype

A

The characteristics of an individual express through their genes but also environmental

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3
Q

Define evolution

A

A change in allele frequency in a population over successive generations

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4
Q

Define central nervous system

A

Consists of brain and spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and decisions

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5
Q

Define peripheral nervous system

A

Sends information to the CNS from the outside world, and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands on the body

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6
Q

How does fMRI work

A

Detects changes in blow oxygenation levels as a result of neural activity in specific areas of the brain

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7
Q

When blood flow is directed to an active area it is known as a…

A

Haemodynamic response

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8
Q

Strengths of fMRI

A

Straightforward and easy to use

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9
Q

What sort of image does fMRI produce

A

Very high spatial resolution, depicting detail to the millimetre

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10
Q

What is localisation of function

A

different areas of the brain are responsible for behaviours and processes

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11
Q

Where is the motor area

A

Frontal lobe

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12
Q

What is the function of the motor area

A

Regulating voluntary movement

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13
Q

Where is the somatosensory area

A

Parietal lobe

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14
Q

What is the function of the somatosensory area

A

Processes sensory information from the skin such as heat or pressure

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15
Q

What makes our hand and faces more sensitive than other body parts?

A

More of the somatosensory area devoted to it

Half the receptors in the area devoted to hands and face

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16
Q

lateralisation is the idea that…

A

Some functions are dominated by a particular hemisphere

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17
Q

Generally, activity on the left hand side of the body is controlled by…

A

The right hemisphere

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18
Q

What is the Cerebral Cortex

A

Grey matter, outer layer of each hemisphere

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19
Q

The cortex of both hemispheres are sub-divided into…

A

Each lobe is associated with a different function

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20
Q

What can happen when the motor area gets damaged

A

May result in loss of fine movements

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21
Q

Where is the visual cortex

A

Occipital lobe

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22
Q

Which hemisphere would information from the right side of your visual field be sent to?

A

Left hemisphere

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23
Q

Damage to the left hemisphere could result in blindness in…?

A

The right of your visual field in one or both eyes

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24
Q

Where is the auditory area

A

Temporal lobes

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25
What is the function of the auditory area
Analyses speech based information
26
Damage of the auditory area could result in
Hearing loss
27
Damage to the Wernicke’s area could affect...
The ability to comprehend language
28
Which hemisphere is language restricted to (in most people)
Left hemisphere
29
Where is the Broca’s area?
Left frontal lobe
30
What is the function of the Broca’s area
Speech production
31
Damage to the Broca’s area can cause
Broca’s aphasia
32
Broca’s aphasia is characterised by...
Speech that is slow, laborious, and lacking in fluency
33
Where is the Wernickes area?
Left temporal lobe
34
Function of Wernickes area?
Language comprehension
35
Wernickes aphasia is characterised by...
Nonsense words as part of their speech
36
Nonsense words are also known as...
Neologisms
37
Define a neuron
Nerve cells that process and transmit through chemical/electric signals
38
Where are sensory neurones and what is their function
Carry signals from PNS to CNS
39
Describe the structure of sensory neurones
Long dendrites - Short axons
40
Function of relay neurones
Connect sensory neurones to relay neurones
41
Describe the structure of relay neurones
Short densities - Short axons
42
Function of motor neurones?
Connect CNS to effectors such as muscle and glands
43
Structure of motor neurones
Short dendrites - Long axons
44
Describe the function and structure of the myelin sheath
Fatty layer covering axon - Protects and speeds up electric transmission
45
What are groups of neurones called
Neural networks
46
What is the function of neurotransmitters
Relay signals across gap of neurones
47
What two studies support plasticity
Taxi drivers-higher vol of grey matter in posterior hippocampus Medical students- 3 months before and after Medical exam
48
Define circadian rhythm
Biological rhythm - Subject to 24 hour cycle
49
What happens when our brain is not regulated with exogenous zeitgabers
Our free running body clock would go to 25 hours
50
All biological Rhythms are governed by two things...
Internal biological clock: endogenous pacemaker External changes in the environment: exogenous zeitgabers
51
Outline Siffre’s cave study
Spent several extended periods underground - Without natural light his FREE RUNNING body clock settled at 25 hours
52
2 applications to circadian rhythms
Application to shift work: increased chance of CVD and stress - Drug treatments: better/worse times of day to take drugs
53
Problem with circadian rhythm research
Use of case studies and small samples - Can’t generalise
54
Define infradian rhythms
Biological rhythm with frequency of less than 24 hours - Such as menstruation or SAD
55
What is the menstrual cycle controlled by?
Monthly changes in hormone levels that govern ovulation
56
Research into menstrual cycle
``` McClintlock rubbed pheromones onto upper lip of other women - Found their menstual cycle aligned - Shows can be effected by external things ```
57
What type of rhythm is SAD
Circannual rhythms (yearly cycle)
58
How might long nights in winter cause depression (SAD)
During night PINEAL gland secretes melatonin - In winter this process happens for longer - Might disrupt serotonin levels
59
Define ultradian rhythm
A type of biological with frequency of more than one cycle/ 24 hours - Such as stages of sleep
60
How long does the stages of sleep cycle last?
90 mins
61
Describe stages 1-2
Light sleep Easily woken Brainwave patterns become slower/more rhythmic
62
Describe stages 3-4
Involve delta waves Which are slower and have greater amplitude than earlier wave patterns - This is SLOW WAVE SLEEP and it is difficult to wake someone
63
Stage 5 (REM sleep)
``` Body is paralysed but brain speeds up to resemble an awake person - Jerky eye movements - Correlated with dreaming ```
64
What is the Superchiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
Tiny bundle of nerve cells in hypothalamus of each hemisphere
65
How does SCN control our body clock?
``` Optic fibres cross OPTIC CHIASM on way to visual area - SCN lies just above this - Receives information from eyes - Passes this info onto the pineal gland ```
66
Hampstead study for importance of SCN
Ralph et al (1990) bred mutant Hamsters with 20-hour sleep/wake cycles - Transplanted SCN cells into other hamsters, these hamsters then had 20 hour cycles
67
Study about peripheral oscillators
Circadian rhythm of liver cells could be altered by 12 hours while leaving SCN unaffected

Psychology: Biopsych (7 decks)

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