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A Level: Psychology > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the cell body

A

Includes a nucleus which contains genetic material

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2
Q

What are dendrites

A

Branch like structures that come out of the nerve cell to connect with other neurons, they carry nerve impulses from other neurons towards the cell body

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3
Q

What is the axon

A

Carries nerve impulses away from the cell body, the length of axons varies from a few millimetres to over a meter in the spinal chord

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4
Q

What is the myelin sheath

What type of cells make up this

A

Insulated and protects the axon and helps speed up the electrical transmission along the axon

Schwann cells make the myelin

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5
Q

What is the node of ranvier

A

Are the gaps in the myelin sheath that forces the impulses to jump accords the gaps along the axon

Increases speed of the electrical impulse

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6
Q

What is the terminal button

A

At the end of the axon are the terminal buttons that send impulses to the next neurons across the synapse

Contain tiny sacs containing chemicals called neurotransmitters

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7
Q

What is the structure and function of a sensory neuron

A

They have long dendrites and short axons

Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS

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8
Q

Describe the structure and function of relay neurons

A

They have short dendrites and short axons

Connect the sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons

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9
Q

Describe the structure and function of motor neurons

A

They have short dendrites and long axons

Relay information from the cns to effectors such as muscles and glands

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10
Q

Name two types of effectors

A

Muscles

Glands

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11
Q

Define synaptic transmission

A

The process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the synapse

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12
Q

Describe what happens when the impulse travels down the axon and arrives at the ore synaptic terminal

A

1) Vesicles are release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft
2) receptors recieve the neurotransmitters in the post synaptic receptor site
3) the enzymes break down neurotransmitters if they don’t get to the receptors
4) the left over neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by vesicles in the pre synaptic membrane
5) neurotransmitters replenish
6) summation: the overall influence is summed, either: excitatory, inhibitory

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13
Q

What happens if the result of summation is excitatory

A

The neuron is more likely to fire and pass on the impulse

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14
Q

What happens if the overall influence is inhibitory

A

The neuron is less likely to fire

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15
Q

What does the central nervous system consist of

What is it’s function

A

The brain and spinal cord

It receives info from the senses and controls the body’s response

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16
Q

What is the function of the peripheral nervous system

A

To send information to the CNS from the outside world and transmit messages from the CNS to muscles and glands

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17
Q

What is the role of the somatic nervous system

A

Controls muscle movement and recieves information from sensory receptors to the CNS

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18
Q

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system

A

Controls vital functions in the body - transmits info to and from bodily organs

INVOLUNTARY

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19
Q

Name the two divisions of the ANS

A

Sympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system

Both work in opposition to one another

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20
Q

What is the job of the glands

A

An organ in the body that produced substances such as hormones

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21
Q

Name 3 glands

A

The thyroid gland - thyroxine
Pituitary gland-master gland
Adrenal gland-adrenaline

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22
Q

Explain what happens during sudden stress

A

The ANS changes from parasympathetic state to a sympathetic state which prepares the body for fight or flight - sends a signal to the adrenal medulla/ releases adrenaline

Adrenaline causes increased heart pumping breathing more rapid releases blood sugar

Parasympathetic branch dampens down stress response returning to to normal

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23
Q

What does adrenaline cause

A

Rapid breathing
Inhibited digestion
Increase blood sugar- more energy
Heart beats faster- o2 to muscles

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24
Q

What does HPA axis stand for

What is it

A

Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system

Sequence of bodily activity in response to stress

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25
Q

Explain what’s happens in response to prolonged stress

A

Hypothalamus releases CRH

CRH causes pituitary gland to release ACTH

ACTH stimulates the adrenal vortex to release cortisol

Cortisol fights inflammation and releases energy

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26
Q

Define localisation of function

A

The idea that specific parts of the brain have a specific function

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27
Q

Before the 19th century and Brocas and Wernickes work- what theory was accepted in relation to localisation do function

A

Holistic theory

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28
Q

What’s another word for localisation if function

A

Cortical specialisation

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29
Q

What is hemispheric lateralisation

A

One hemisphere has a different function to the other hemisphere

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30
Q

What is the function of the:

motor area
Somatosensory area
Visual area
Auditory area

A

1) movement
2) detects sensory events(pressure/touch/pain/temp)
3) processes light in retina
4) controls hearing (sound waves converted to nerve impulses)

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31
Q

What’s another word for a language abnormality

A

Aphasia

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32
Q

What is the function of
wernickes
Brocas

A

Wernickes/ speech comprehension

Brocas/ speech production

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33
Q

Explain Brocas work

A

Studied a patient- tan- with issues producing language-post morten…
He also studied 8 other patients with language deficits and lesions in the left hemisphere

SUPPORTS LOCALISATION

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34
Q

Explain Wernickes work

A

Discovered an area of the brain involved in understanding language in the left fontal hemisphere

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35
Q

Explain tulving work- what does this support

A

Tulving= radioactive gold/semantic & episodic memory/ monitored blood flow to DIFFERENT AREAS

Localisation of function

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36
Q

Explain Phineas Gage case study

What does this support

A

Phineas Gage= left frontal lobe removed/
Experienced mood problems/ left frontal lobe regulates mood/limited= non generalisable

Localisation of function

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37
Q

Explain Lashley work (animals)

What does this criticise

A

Removed part of cortex in rats that were learning a maze, found no area of the cortex was more or less important than any other part of the cortex when learning a maze

Criticises Localisation of function
(Pro holism)

Based on ANIMALS> not relatable

38
Q

Explain Brain plasticity

What does this reject

A

When the brain becomes damaged- the brain can reorganise itself in an attempt to recover lost function

Shows that if one area was damaged the whole function SHOULD be inhibited= not the case

Rejects localisation of function- supports holism

39
Q

Define brain plasticity

A

The brains ability to change and adapt because of experience- research has demonstrated that the brain continues to create neural pathways

40
Q

What is the corpus callosum

A

Connects the two hemispheres together by a bundle of nerve fibres- allows communication within the hemispheres

41
Q

Describe sperry’s research

A

Used split brain patients
Flashed a word into the right field of view- answer matches word

Flashed word into Left field of view, cannot say what they saw but can draw it

42
Q

Describe sperry’s research

A

Used split brain patients
Flashed a word into the right field of view- answer matches word

Flashed word into Left field of view, cannot say what they saw but can draw it

43
Q

Explain gazzanigas work

A

One patients developed the ability to speak out of the right hemisphere of the brain

Suggests language is too complex to be localised
Supporting holism

44
Q

What is a advantage of sperrys work

A

Laboratory experiment

  • high control
  • replicatable
45
Q

Name a disadvantage of sperrys work

A

Population validity

  • not generalisable
  • unique sample
46
Q

Define brain plasticity

A

Refers to the brains ability to change and adapt due to experience

47
Q

Define functional recovery

A

Refers to the transfer of functions from a damaged area of the brain after trauma to an undamaged area

48
Q

What happens in the brain during recovery

A

The brain is able to reorganise itself by forming new synaptic connections

49
Q

Name the four examples of brain plasticity

And summarise each one

A

Synaptic pruning- the process by which extra synaptic connections are eliminated

Axon sprouting- undamaged axons grow new nerve ending to reconnect neurons

Neuronal unmasking- dormant synapses open connections

Recruitment of homologous- similar areas

50
Q

Explain Maguires work

What does this support

A

Used structural MRIs to investigate Hippocampal volume of taxi drivers
Found taxi drivers have a larger posterior hippocampal volume

Supports brain plasticity as it shows brains ability to change and adapt over time spent as a taxi driver

51
Q

Explain Kuhn work

What does this support

A

Compared control group with one that spent time playing mario for two months at 30 mins a day

More grey matter in various brain areas
New synaptic connections

Supports brain plasticity shows how brain has adapted in response to the study

52
Q

Explain kemperman work

What does this support

A

Investigated whether an enriched environment could alter the number of neurons in the brain
-more new neuron in brain of enriched caged rats

Supports brain plasticity - brain adapted
ANIMALS not generalisable to human

53
Q

Explain Bezzola work

What did this support

A

Golfer- training for 40 hours, reduced motor cortex activity in novice golfers after 40 hours of practice

Brain plasticity- forms new connections

54
Q

Define post mortems

A

Researchers study the physical brain of a person who displayed a particular behaviour while they were alive

55
Q

Name and explain someone who used post mortems

A

Brocas- Tan
Examine his language ability when alive, then found he had a lesion in the area of the brain responsible for speech production in the post mortems

56
Q

What’s a strength and a disadvantage of post mortems

A

✅allow for a more detailed examination of anatomical and neurosurgical aspects of the brain

🚨issue of causation- the death may not be linked to deficits in the brain

57
Q

What is FMRI scans

A

Measures blood flow in the brain when a person performs a task

58
Q

How does fmri scans study the brain

A

Uses neurons in the brain that are most active and use most energy- this requires glucose and oxygen, the neurons use the oxygen forming deoxygenated haemoglobin

Deoxygenated haemoglovin has a doffering magnetic quality to oxygenated haemoglobin

FMRI can detect the different magnetic qualities to create a dynamic 3D image of the brain

59
Q

What is temporal resolution

A

How quickly the scanner can detect changes in brain activity.

60
Q

Define spatial resolution

A

The smallest feature that the scanner can detect- allowing scientists to discriminate between different brain regions

61
Q

Name an advantage and disadvantage of FMRI scans

A

Poor temporal resolution

Good spatial resolution

62
Q

Describe sperry’s research

A

Used split brain patients
Flashed a word into the right field of view- answer matches word

Flashed word into Left field of view, cannot say what they saw but can draw it

63
Q

Describe EEG scanners

A

Measure electrical activity through electrodes attached to the scalp

Small charges are detected by the electrodes in and are graphed over a period of time indicating the level of activity

64
Q

Name the four types of EEG patterns

A

Alpha beta theta and Delta

65
Q

Give an advantage and disadvantage of EEG scans

A

Good temporal resolution

Poor special recognition

Cannot provide information on what’s happening in the deepest parts of the brain

Can observe the brain in real time rather than the passive

66
Q

What does ERP stand for

A

Event related potentials

67
Q

Which of the method of scanning is similar to the ERP scans

A

EEGs

68
Q

How are ERPs triggered

A

By specific events or stimuli

69
Q

How are ERPs used

A

Electrodes on scalp to detect these very small voltage changes

70
Q

Advantage and disadvantage of ERPs

A

Good temporal resolution

Poor special recognition

Cannot provide information on what’s happening in the deepest parts of the brain

Can observe the brain in real time rather than the passive

71
Q

Define biological rhythms

A

Distinct patterns of changes in body activity that conform to a cyclical time period

72
Q

Name three types of biological rhythm

A

Ultradian Rhythm

Circadian rhythm

Infradian rhythm

73
Q

Define endogenous pacemakers

A

Internal body clock is that regulate many of our biological rhythms

74
Q

What is the most important pacemaker in human beings

Where is it

A 
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
In the hypothalamus
75
Q

What does the SCN do

A

Controls sleep/wake cycle by detecting light through the optic nerve

Also regulated the production and secretion of melatonin which induces sleep

76
Q

Define exogenous zeitgebers

A

External ques that affect our biological rhythms

77
Q

What is the process used to reset our biological clock called

A

Entraining

78
Q

Name three exogenous zeitgebers

A

Light
Food
Temp

79
Q

DeFind circadian rhythm

A

A type of biological rhythm subject to a 24 hour cycle which regulates a number of body processes E.G.sleep wake cycle

80
Q

Explain deCoursey work

What does this support

A

Destroyed the SCN connections in the brains of 30 chipmunks and returned them to their natural habitat
the sleep wake cycle disappeared

Supports the role of endogenous pacemaker in the sleep wake cycle because the rhythm disappeared
LIMITED=animals

81
Q

Explain Siffres work

What dies this support

A

Spent several periods of time underground to study the effect on his biological rhythms

Deprived of natural light and sound

He continued to fall asleep and wake on a regular schedule

Supports the role of endogenous pacemakers- body continued a cycle

One person/ NON GENERALISABLE

82
Q

Explain the work of Czeisler

What does this challenge

A

Most studies were not isolated from artificial light

Czeisler altered participants circadian rhythm down to 22 hours and up to 28 hours by using dim artificial lighting

Challenges previosu understanding of sleep wake cycle> failed to take into account artificial light

83
Q

Explain the work of Vetter

What did this support

A

Participants were exposed to blue enriched light during their office hours and this synchronised their rhythms to their office hours

showing that light is the dominant EZ for the SCN

84
Q

Define infradian rhythm

A

A type of biological rhythm that takes more than 24 hours to complete

Eg menstrual cycle

85
Q

Explain the work of Stern and McClintock

A

Conducted a study showing how menstrual cycles might synchronised based of the influence of female pheromones

They did this by rubbing pheromones on the upper lip of a participant- 68% of women experienced changes in their cycle > bringing them closer to the cycle of the woman whose pheromones had been used

Supports role of endogenous pacemakers on infradian rhythms and also EZs which can impact the EPs too

86
Q

What is a limitation of stern and McClintocks work

A

Small samples

Limited replication

87
Q

Define ultradian rhythm

A

A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of more than one cycle in 24 hours

Eg REM

88
Q

Name an experiment highlighting the importance of REM

A

Jouvet
Cats brains= woke them up during REM denying them of this stage of sleep
Cats got stressed n died

89
Q

Explain the work of Dement and Kleitman

A

They monitored the brainwave activity through EEG and woke them up at different stages of sleep cycle

Those women up during REM could recall more dreams than those in NREM

suggests we go through different stages of sleep which supports ultradian rhythms

90
Q

Suggest a limitation with Dement and Kleitmans work

A

Artificial
Small samples
Lack ecological validity

A Level: Psychology (11 decks)

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