Biopsychology Flashcards

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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
Q

What is the function of the auditory area

A

Analyses speech based information

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26
Q

Damage of the auditory area could result in

A

Hearing loss

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27
Q

Damage to the Wernicke’s area could affect…

A

The ability to comprehend language

28
Q

Which hemisphere is language restricted to (in most people)

A

Left hemisphere

29
Q

Where is the Broca’s area?

A

Left frontal lobe

30
Q

What is the function of the Broca’s area

A

Speech production

31
Q

Damage to the Broca’s area can cause

A

Broca’s aphasia

32
Q

Broca’s aphasia is characterised by…

A

Speech that is slow, laborious, and lacking in fluency

33
Q

Where is the Wernickes area?

A

Left temporal lobe

34
Q

Function of Wernickes area?

A

Language comprehension

35
Q

Wernickes aphasia is characterised by…

A

Nonsense words as part of their speech

36
Q

Nonsense words are also known as…

A

Neologisms

37
Q

Define a neuron

A

Nerve cells that process and transmit through chemical/electric signals

38
Q

Where are sensory neurones and what is their function

A

Carry signals from PNS to CNS

39
Q

Describe the structure of sensory neurones

A

Short axons

40
Q

Function of relay neurones

A

Connect sensory neurones to relay neurones

41
Q

Describe the structure of relay neurones

A

Short axons

42
Q

Function of motor neurones?

A

Connect CNS to effectors such as muscle and glands

43
Q

Structure of motor neurones

A

Long axons

44
Q

Describe the function and structure of the myelin sheath

A

Protects and speeds up electric transmission

45
Q

What are groups of neurones called

A

Neural networks

46
Q

What is the function of neurotransmitters

A

Relay signals across gap of neurones

47
Q

What two studies support plasticity

A

Taxi drivers-higher vol of grey matter in posterior hippocampus

Medical students- 3 months before and after Medical exam

48
Q

Define circadian rhythm

A

Subject to 24 hour cycle

49
Q

What happens when our brain is not regulated with exogenous zeitgabers

A

Our free running body clock would go to 25 hours

50
Q

All biological Rhythms are governed by two things…

A

Internal biological clock: endogenous pacemaker

External changes in the environment: exogenous zeitgabers

51
Q

Outline Siffre’s cave study

A

Without natural light his FREE RUNNING body clock settled at 25 hours

52
Q

2 applications to circadian rhythms

A

Drug treatments: better/worse times of day to take drugs

53
Q

Problem with circadian rhythm research

A

Can’t generalise

54
Q

Define infradian rhythms

A

Such as menstruation or SAD

55
Q

What is the menstrual cycle controlled by?

A

Monthly changes in hormone levels that govern ovulation

56
Q

Research into menstrual cycle

A
McClintlock rubbed pheromones onto upper lip of other women 
-
Found their menstual cycle aligned 
-
Shows can be effected by external things
57
Q

What type of rhythm is SAD

A

Circannual rhythms (yearly cycle)

58
Q

How might long nights in winter cause depression (SAD)

A

In winter this process happens for longer
-
Might disrupt serotonin levels

59
Q

Define ultradian rhythm

A

Such as stages of sleep

60
Q

How long does the stages of sleep cycle last?

A

90 mins

61
Q

Describe stages 1-2

A

Light sleep
Easily woken
Brainwave patterns become slower/more rhythmic

62
Q

Describe stages 3-4

A

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
Q

Stage 5 (REM sleep)

A
Body is paralysed but brain speeds up to resemble an awake person 
-
Jerky eye movements 
-
Correlated with dreaming
64
Q

What is the Superchiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

A

Tiny bundle of nerve cells in hypothalamus of each hemisphere

65
Q

How does SCN control our body clock?

A
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
Q

Hampstead study for importance of SCN

A

Transplanted SCN cells into other hamsters, these hamsters then had 20 hour cycles

67
Q

Study about peripheral oscillators

A

Circadian rhythm of liver cells could be altered by 12 hours while leaving SCN unaffected