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AQA A-Level Psychology Year 2 > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the divisions of the nervous system

A

CNS
PNS- Somatic Nervous System
- Autonomic nervous system- sympathetic, parasympathetic

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2
Q

What makes up the cns?

A

the brain and the spinal cord

The brain has two hemispheres and cerebral cortex

The spinal cord is responsible for reflex actions

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3
Q

What does the peripheral ns do?

A

transmits messages to and from the CNS

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4
Q

What is the role of the somatic NS

A

controls muscle movement

received info from sensory receptors

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5
Q

what is the role of the autonomous NS?

A

governs vital functions in the body, such as breathing, heart rate, digestion

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6
Q

Name 7 glands in the endocrine system

A 
Hypothalamus 
Pituitary 
Thyroid 
Adrenals 
Pancreas 
Ovaries 
Testes
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7
Q

What is the role of the pituitary gland?

A

It is located in the brain

Controls the release of hormones from all other endocrine glands in the body

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8
Q

What hormone does the thyroid gland produce?

A

Thyroxine

This affects the cells in the heart, and increase metabolic rates, affecting growth rates

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9
Q

Name a hormone the adrenal gland produces

A

Adrenaline
Part of the bodies immediate stress response system
strong effect on the cells of the cardiovascular system
part of the fight or flight response

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10
Q

Describe the fight or flight response

A

stressor - hypothalamus triggers activity in the sympathetic branch - adrenaline realised from adrenal medulla- physiological changes - parasympathetic returns body to resting state

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11
Q

describe a sensory neuron

A

carries messages from pns to cns
long dendrites
short axons

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12
Q

describe a relay neuron

A

connects sensory neurons to motor neurons

short dendrites
short axons

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13
Q

describe a motor neuron

A

connects cns to muscles and glands

short dendrites
long axons

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14
Q

how big can neurons be?

A

a mm to a metre long

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15
Q

what makes up a neuron?

A

soma (cell body)- has a nucleus
dendrites carry impulses towards cell body
axons carry impulses away
myelin sheath protects axon and speeds up impulse
nodes of ranvier - gaps in the myelin sheath, , speeds up impulse
terminal buttons- communicate with next neuron in the chain across a synapse

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16
Q

what is action potential

A

when a neuron is activated by a stimulus, the inside of the cell becomes positively charged for a split second causing an action potential

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17
Q

What is a synapse

A

the gap between two neurones

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18
Q

how are signals between neuroma transmitter compared with inside neurons

A

chemically by synaptic transmission, electrically within the neuron

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19
Q

what happens when an electrical impulse reaches the end of the neuron (presymaptic terminal)

A

triggers the release of neurotransmitter from synaptic vesicles which leave the presynaptic nerve terminal and is taken up by the post synaptic receptor sites

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20
Q

give an example of a neurotransmitter

A

serotonin

acetylcholine- found where a motor neuron meets a muscle, on its realise , muscles contract

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21
Q

what is meant by excitatory and inhibitory

A

excitation- when a neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the post synaptic neuron

inhibition- when a neurotransmitter makes the charge more negative

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22
Q

What is localisation of function in the brain?

A

the theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours

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23
Q

what is the outer layer is the hemispheres called?

A

cerebral cortex

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24
Q

what is the motor area

A

voluntary movement in opposite sides of the body

back of frontal lobe

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25
Q

what is the somatosensory area

A

sensory info from skin is represented

separated from motor area by the central sulcus

front of parietal lobe

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26
Q

what is the visual area?

A

each eye sends info from eight visual field to left visual cortex and vice versa,

damage to left hemisphere can produce blindness in parts of the right visual field in both eyes

occipital lobe

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27
Q

where are the language areas of the brain restricted to?

A

the left side

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28
Q

what is broca’s area

A

left frontal lobe responsible for speech production

damage caused Broca’s aphasia, such as patient Tan

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29
Q

What is Wernicke’s area?

A

Left temporal lobe

Responsible for language comprehension

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30
Q

Evaluation of localisation if function in the brain

Brain scan evidence

What did Petersen et al (1988) find?

A

Used brain scans

showed how Wernickes area was active during listening tasks

Broca’s area active during a reading task

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31
Q

Evaluation of localisation if function in the brain

Brain scan evidence

What is Tulving et al (1994) find?

A

Revealed that semantic and episodic emperors are in different areas of the pre-frontal cortex

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32
Q

Evaluation of localisation if function in the brain

Neurosurgical evidence

What did Freeman do?

A

developed lobotomy (1950s)

severing connections in frontal lobe to control aggressive behaviours

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33
Q

Evaluation of localisation if function in the brain

Neurosurgical evidence

What is Dougherty et al (2004) find?

A

44 OCD patients

underwent a cingulotomy

after 32 weeks- 1/3 met criteria for a successful response, 14% for a partial response

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34
Q

Evaluation of localisation if function in the brain

Case study evidence

Who was Phineas Gage?

A

in 1848, a metre length pole went through his head , taking a portion of his brain (left frontal lobe)

turned quick tempered and rude

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35
Q

Evaluation of localisation if function in the brain

Evidence against

what did Lashley find?

A

removed different areas (10-50%) if the cortex in rats that were learning a maze

no area was proven to be any kore important

learning apeared to require every part of the cortex

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36
Q

what is plasticity?

A

the brains tendency to change and adapt as a result of learning and experience

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37
Q

what is functional recovery?

A

following damage, the brains ability to redistribute or transfer functions

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38
Q

what is synaptic pruning?

A

synaptic connections peak at 15,000 at age 2-3

rarely used connections are deleted and frequently used ones are strengthened

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39
Q

Plasticity

What did Maguire et al (2000) research and find?

A

London taxi drivers brains have significantly more grey matter on the posterior hippocampus (the development of spatial and navigational skills)

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40
Q

Plasticity

What did Draganski et al (2006) find?

A

images brains of medical students 3 months before and after final exams

learning-induced changes occyred in posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex

41
Q

Plasticity

What did Mechelli et al (2004) find?

A

Larger parietal cortex in bilingual people

42
Q

What is spontaneous recovery?

A

functional recovery occurring quickly after trauma

slows down after a few weeks

43
Q

how does functional recovery work?

A

new synaptic connections are made , secondary neural pathways are activated to enable functioning

44
Q

Functional recovery

What changes in the brain?

A

axonal sprouting - growth of new nerve endings

reformation of blood vessels

recruitment of homologous areas

45
Q

Evaluation of plasticity and functional recovery

practical application

what did research contribute to?

A

Neurorehabilitation - use of movement therapy and electrical stimulation of the brain

46
Q

Evaluation of plasticity and functional recovery

Negative plasticity

What is negative about plasticity ?

A

60-80% of amputees develop phantom limb syndrome - due to cortical reorganisation in somatosensory cortex

47
Q

Evaluation of plasticity and functional recovery

Age and Plasticity

What did Bezzola et al (2012) find?

A

40 hours of gold training caused nerve changes in the neural representation of movement in the participants ages 40-60

using fMRI researchers observed reduced motor cortex activity in novice golfers

48
Q

Evaluation of plasticity and functional recovery

Cognitive research

What did Schneider at al (2014) research?

A

the more time brian injury patients spend in education, the greater chance of a disability free recovery

2/5 of patients who achieved DFR has more than 16 years of education, compared to 10% of less than 12 years

49
Q

what is split brain research?

A

a series of studies involving epileptic patients who had experienced a surgical separation of the hemispheres

50
Q

what is hemispheric lateralisation?

A

the idea that 2 halves of the brains are fundamentally different and that certain mental processes and behaviours are mainly controlled by one hemisphere rather than the other

51
Q

What did Sperry (1968) research?

A

Split- brain studies

Corpus callousness cut to control frequent and severe seizures

52
Q

What was the procedure of Sperrys studies?

A

image projected into a patients right visual field and another of the left

53
Q

What was the findings of Sperrys studies?

A

Lack of language centres in the right hemisphere meant that only a picture shown in the right visual field they could describe

able to select a matching object with left hand but now able to say it

54
Q

Evaluation of split brain research

A

Demonstrated lateralised brian functions - left the analyser, right the synthesiser

strengths of methodology -
standardised and well controlled

theoretical basis -
promoted debate about 2 hemispheres in everyday functioning , Pucetti- two minds

Generalised

55
Q

WAYS OF INVESTIGATING THE BRAIN

What is fMRI?

A

3D images and detects changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur due to neural activity

shows which part of the brain are involved in mental processes

56
Q

WAYS OF INVESTIGATING THE BRAIN

what is an EEG?

A

measures electrical activity in the brain via electrodes

unusual arrhythmic patterns of activity may indicate neurological abnormalities , eg epilepsy

57
Q

WAYS OF INVESTIGATING THE BRAIN

What is an ERP?

A

ERPs use statistical averaging techniques , and all extraneous brain actitovy from an EEG is filtered out

58
Q

What are event related potentials?

A

types of brain waves that are triggered by particular events

59
Q

WAYS OF INVESTIGATING THE BRAIN

What are post-mortem examinations?

A

looking at the brain after death of people with rare disorders and compares with a neurotypical brain

60
Q

What are the strengths of an fMRI?

A

doesn’t rely on radiation

non invasive

high spatial resolution

61
Q

What are the weaknesses of an fMRI?

A

expensive

person has to stay still

poor temporal resolution

only measures blood flow

62
Q

What are the strengths of EEG?

A

invaluable diagnosis of epilepsy

contributed to a better understanding of sleep

high temporal resolution

63
Q

What are the weaknesses of EEG?

A

generalised info

low spatial resolution

64
Q

What are the strengths of ERPs?

A

temporal resolution

Been able to identity many ERPs and describe precise role in cognitive functioning

65
Q

what are the weaknesses of ERPs ?

A

lack of standardisation

difficult to completely eliminate extraneous variables

66
Q

What are the strengths of post mortems?

A

vital in providing a foundation for early understanding of key processes, (broca and wernicke)

improve medical knowledge

67
Q

what are the weaknesses of post-mortems?

A

correlation ≠ causation

ethical issues of informed consent

68
Q

What is a biological rhythm?

A

distinct patterns of changes in body activity that conform to cyclical time periods

69
Q

What are circadian rhythms?

A

24 hours cycles

regulates a number of body processes, such as the sleep/wake cycle

70
Q

What are biological rhythms governed by?

A

endogenous pacemakers

exogenous zeitgebers

71
Q

What was Siffre’s cave study?

A

2 months in a cave deprived of natural light and sound

resurfaced in mid-september but believed it to be mid- august

his free running biological rhythm settled down to just beyond 24 hours

72
Q

What was Aschoff and Wever’s study?

A

participants spent 4 weeks in a WW2 bunker

all but one participant displayed a circadian rhythm of between 24 and 25 hours

73
Q

What was Folkard et als study?

A

12 people in a dark cave for 3 weeks

researchers sped up the clocks for a 24 hour day was now 22 hours

only one participant was able to keep up

74
Q

Evaluation of circadian rhythms

Practical application shift work

A

Night workers concentration reduced around 6am

shiftwork and poor health- 3x more likely to develop heart disease

May have economic implications on managing workers productivity

75
Q

Evaluation of circadian rhythms

Practical application - drug treatments

A

effect on pharmacokinetics (the action of drugs on the body and how well they are absorbed)

research revealed how they are peak times when drugs will be more effective

led to development of guidelines to do with timing and drug dosing

76
Q

Evaluation of circadian rhythms

Use of case studies/ small samples

A

not representative

Siffre re-did his cave study aged 60, found his internal clock ticked much more slowly

77
Q

evaluation of circadian rhythms

individual differences

A

Duffey et al- revealed some people have a preference to go to bed early and wake up early (larks) and the opposite (owls)

Czeisler et al- individual cycles can vary from 13-65 hours

78
Q

What is an infradian rhythm?

A

a type of biological rhythm

frequency of less than one cycle every 24 hours

eg menstrual cycle

79
Q

What is an ultradian rhythm?

A

frequency of more than one cycle in 24 hours

eg stages of sleep

80
Q

What is the menstrual cycle?

A

28 days

oestrogen releases an egg

progesterone makes womb lining thicker

81
Q

What did Stern and McClintock find and study?

A

synchronisation due to pheromones

29 women, 9 samples taken from different stages of the cycle

68% experienced changes which bought them closer to the odour donor

82
Q

What is SAD

A

seasonal affective disorder

depression

circannual

83
Q

What causes SAD?

A

the pineal gland secretes melatonin until an increase in light, in winter, less light in mornings so secretion of melatonin for longer, inhibits serotonin production

84
Q

What are the stages of sleep?

A

stage 1+2 : light sleep, easily woken, alpha and theta waves

stage 3+4: delta waves, deep sleep

stage 5 + REM: body is paralysed, rapid eye movement, brian activity speeds up, dreaming

85
Q

Infradian and ultradian rhythms evaluation

Evolutionary basis of menstural cycle

A

pregnant same time, newborns cared for collectively, greater chance of survival

however

Schank argued if too many cycles together, produce competition for highest quality male so evolutionary disadvantage

86
Q

infradian and ultradian rhythms evaluation

methodological limitations in synchronising studies

A

too many factors affect cycles - stress, diet

small samples

any patterned is no more than what would have been expected by chance

87
Q

infradian and ultradian rhythms evaluation

evidence supports idea of distinct stages of sleep

A

Dement and Kleitman- sleep patterns of 9 p.s , REM correlates with dreaming and brain activity varied to how vivid dreams were

replications found similar findings

88
Q

infradian and dan ultradian rhythms evaluation

Practical application: SAD

A

phototherapy

stimulates very strong light in morning

reseats melatonin levels

60% of sufferers symptoms relieved

89
Q

What is the suprachiasmatic nucleus?

A

an endogenous pacemaker

bundle of nerve cells in hypothalamus

sits about optic chiasm

receives info about light

90
Q

Shat did DeCoursey study and find?

A

destroyed SCN connections in 30 chipmunks

sleep/ wake cycle disappeared

significant proportioned killed by predators

91
Q

What did Ralph et al find and study?

A

hamsters with 20 hour cycle

when SCN cells from them were transplanted into normal hamsters, these hamsters defaulted to 20 hours

92
Q

What is the pineal gland?

A

during night, pineal gland increases production of melatonin , which is the hormone that induced sleep

93
Q

What did Campbell and Murphy study and find?

A

light may be detected by skin receptor sites on body

15 participants woken up during sleep with light pads shone on the back of knees

94
Q

What are social cues?

A

an exogenous zeitgeber

by 16 weeks old, babies are entrained

adult determined mealtimes and bedtimes

95
Q

How can someone beat jet lag?

A

adapting to local times for eating and sleeping, entrains circadian rhythms

96
Q

EVALUATION OF ENDOGENOUS PACEMAKERS AND EXOGENOUS ZEITGEBERS

Beyond the master clock

A

Peripheral oscillators found in adrenal glands, lungs, skin

highly influenced by SCN but can act independently

97
Q

EVALUATION OF ENDOGENOUS PACEMAKERS AND EXOGENOUS ZEITGEBERS

Damiola et al

A

changing feeding patterns in mice can alter circadian rhythms of liver cells by up to 12 hours

98
Q

EVALUATION OF ENDOGENOUS PACEMAKERS AND EXOGENOUS ZEITGEBERS

Ethics in animal studies

A

animals exposed to harm

99
Q

EVALUATION OF ENDOGENOUS PACEMAKERS AND EXOGENOUS ZEITGEBERS

Influence of exogenous zeitgebers may be over stated

A

Miles et al: blind man with a circadian rhythm of 24.9 hours

despite expire to social cues , his sleep/wake cycle could not be adjusted

AQA A-Level Psychology Year 2 (10 decks)

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