Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

A-Level AQA Psychology > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

What does the nervous system do?

A
  • Helps us respond to a change in enviroment
  • Enables us to coordinate our actions
  • Relays messages from the brain to the body
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does the structure of the nervous system include?

A
  • Central nervous system (CNS)
  • Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
  • Somatic nervous system (SNS)
  • Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does the Central nervous system consist of?

A

The brain & Spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does the Peripheral nervous system consist of?

A

The Somatic and Autonomic nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does the Autonomic nervous system consit of

A

The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

The brain

A

Provides conscious awareness and is involved in all psychological processes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 4 main regions of the brain

The fairy princess Ophelia

A
  • Frontal Lobe = High cognitve functioning. eg tramatic brain injury .
  • Temporal Lobe = for processing emotions, language etc
  • Parietal Lobe = Recieve imformation from the outside world eg touch, taste
  • Occipital Lobe = Visual processing
  • Cerebellum
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Function of the Brain stem

A

Connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls involuntary processes such as breathing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Function of the spinal cord

REMEBER:
LOcated in the CNS so..

A

Transfers messages to and from the brain to the rest of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What region of the brain is responsible for higher order processes such as decison making?

A

Frontal lobe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the occipital region responsible for?

A

Processing visual information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the Peripheral nervous system?

A

Made up of neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Receptors

A

Detect the change in the environment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Effectors

TRIGGER WORDS;

  1. Organ
A

An organ, tissue, or cell that produces a response to a stimulus.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the Automonic nervous system?

What does it control?
Is it unconcious of concious
give and example?

What does it help us response and recover to?

A

Controls our unconscious actions such as blood temperature and homeostasis.

-Helps us respond to and recover from stressors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

The similaries between the Brain and the spinal cord (CNS)?
TRIGGER WORDS:

  1. Reflexes
A

The brain stem and spinal cord both control involuntary processes

EXAMPLE: brain stem controls breathing and the spinal cord controls involuntary reflexes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the Sympathetic nervous system?

A

Activates the fight or flight system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the Parasympathetic nervous system?

A

A subcomponent of the autonominc nervous that initiates a calm and return to equilibrium in preparation for the next sympathetic situation.
‘Rest and digest”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the somatic nervous system?

A
  • Allows the CNS to communicate to the environment

Eg. sensory receptors that carry information to the brain and spinal cord
Motor pathways

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

The differences between the brain the spinal cord?

A

The brain provides conscious awarness and allows for higher-order thinking whereas the spinal cord allows for simple reflex responses.

The brain consists of multiple regions responsible for different functions,whereas the spinal cord has one main function.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

The similaries betweens the somatic and autonomic nervous system? (PNS)

A

ANS
-The sympathetic nervous system responds to external stimuli by preparing the body for fight or flight

SNS
-the somatic nervous system responds to external stimuli (by carrying information from sensory receptors to the spinal cord and brain).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

The differences between the Somatic and Autonomic nervous system?

A

The autonomic nervous system =

  • consists of two sub-components
  • autonomic nervous system only has motor pathways.
  • controls internal organs and glands,

The somatic nervous system =

  • only has one subcomponent
  • has sensory and motor pathways
  • controls muscles and movement.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How many divisons are in the Peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

A

4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Which chemicals are responsible for fight or flight?

A

Adrenaline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Which part of the nervous system are responsible for involuntary movements?

A

Somatic nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How many sub-divisons are in the CNS?

A

2

The brain + Spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Which part of the nervous system is responsible for fight or flight?

A

Sympathetic nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What are the two parts of the autonomic nervous system?

A

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What happens to the pupils when the Sympathetic nervous system is active?

A

Pupils dilate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

what does ‘structure’ mean?

A

What it looks like

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What does ‘function’ mean?

A

What the neuron does, What it’s role is

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Neuron

TRIGGER WORDS:

  1. Cell
  2. transmitts
  3. nerve
A

A cell in the nervous system which transmits information to other nerve cells or muscle glands.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What are the 3 types of neurons?

A

Sensory
Motor
*Relay (Interneuron)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Where are the motor neurons located in?

A

Brain and spinal cord (CNS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What do motor neurons do in terms of the PNS?

A

They control movement within the PNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What are 2 types of motor neurons? `

A

Lower motor neuron: Spinal cord to muscles

Upper motor neuron: Brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Dendrites
TRIGGER WORDS:
1. Recieve
2. other

SR

A

Recieve signals from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Axon

A

A long slender fibre that carries nerve impulses, in the form of an electrical signal know as action potential.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Myelin Sheath

what does it insulate?

why is this an advantage?

TRIGGER WORD

  1. Electrical
A

insulates the axon so electrical impulses travel faster along the axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Axon terminal

A

Connects neuron to other neurons (or directly to organs), using the process of synaptic transmission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Where are the relay neurons located

A

In the CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What is the functions of the relay neuron

TRIGGER WORDS:

what do they allow to communicate?

A

They allow sensory and motor neurons to communicate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What do relay neurons not require a myelin sheath?

relate to distance

A

Because they don’t need to travel far

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Where are sensory neurons located?

from somewhere to CNS

A

In the PNS. They transmit messages from the PNS to the CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

What does Pseudounipolar?

TRIGGER WORDS:
Two extentions
1. Gather receptor cells
2. transmits info to cns

A

The axon has two extentions with the cell body in the middle.

1 extention = gather the receptor cells which gather sensory input.

Other extention = transmits information to the spinal cord in the CNS.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

What are sensory neurons activated by?

A

Sensory input

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Difference between sensory neuron and relay neuron?

Related to insulation

A

Sensory neuron = Myelin shealth

Relay neuron = No Myelin shealth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

Difference between sensory neuron and motor neuron?

Transmits messages

A

Sensory neuron = Transmits message from the PNS into the CNS
Motor neuron = transmits messages from CNS into PNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

Step 1 of sysnaptic transmission

TRIGGER WORDS:

  1. information passed ↓
  2. electrical

neuron

A

Information is passed down the axon of the neuron as an electrical impluse known as action potential.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Step 2 of Synaptic transmission

What happens once it reaches the end of axon?

TRIGGER WORDS
1. another neuron

A

Once action potential reaches the end of the axon it needs be transferred to another neuron or tissue, by crossing the synaptic gap.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

Step 3 of synaptic transmission

what is at the end of the neuron (axon terminal)?

TRIGGER WORDS

  1. vesicle
A

At the end of the neuron (in the axon terminal) are the synaptic vesicles which contain neurotransmitters.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

Excitation

Occur when neurotransmitter is what?

TRIGGER WORDS:
1. Stimulates

A

Occurs when the neurotransmitter is ‘excitatory’

-Stimulates activity in areas of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

Inhibition

Occurs when a neurotransmitter is what

TRIGGER WORDS:
1. Calms

A

Occurs when the neurotransmitter is ‘inhibitory’

Calms the brain and the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

GABA

What type of neurotransmitter?
What does it do to the active of your Nervous system?

TRIGGER WORDS

  1. blocks
  2. decreases
A

An inhibitory neurotransmitter as it blocks, or inhibits, certain brain signals and decreases activity in your nervous system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

Acetylcholine

What type of neurotransmitter?
What is it responsible for?
Who has more of this?
Who has less?

  1. Voluntary
A

An excitatory neurotransmitter that is responsible for voluntary movement and it is high in people who have depression and low in people who have dementia.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

Dopamine

Is it inhibitory or excitatory
Depending of what receptor binds to?
High in people with?
Low in people with?

A

A type of neurotransmitter Involved in learning and attention.
High level = Schizophrenia
Low = Parkinson’s Disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

Serotonin

A

Regulates mood and emotion

Low = Depression

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

Summation

A

A way of achieving an action potential.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

Exitatory

A

Neurotransmitter increases the likelihood that an electrical impluse will be triggered in the postsynaptic neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

Inhibtory

A

Neurotransmitter decrease the likeihood that an electrical impluse will be triggered in postsynaptic neuron.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

Action potential

A

The information is passed down the axon of the neuron as an electrical impluse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

Synaptic transmission

A
  1. An action potential travels along the axon carrying an electrical impluse
  2. This causes vesicles in the postsynaptic neuron to release neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine
  3. These travel across synaptic gap in between the presynaptic neuron and postsynaptic neuron.
  4. Once they reach the postsynpatic neuron, the neurotransmitters binds to receptor site
  5. Any that do not, will go through the re-uptake for later use
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

The Endocrine system

A

Works alongslide the nervous system to regulate phisological processes. It is a network of glands across the body that secrete chemical messages called hormones into the bloodstream

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

The Pituitary gland

A

The ‘master gland’, whose primary function is to influence the release of hormones from other glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
66
Q

What is the Pituitary gland controlled by

A

The hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
67
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A region of the brain just above the pituitary gland that recieves information from many sources about basic functions of the body, this helps regulate the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
68
Q

What are the two parts of the Pituitary gland?

A

The anterior (front) & The posterior (back)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
69
Q

Endocrine glands

A

Produce and secrete hormones, chemical substances that regulate the activity of cells or organs in the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
70
Q

What are the Major glands of the endocrine system

A

Pituitary gland, Adrenal glands and reproductive organs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
71
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical that circulate in the bloodstream and are carried to target sites throughout the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
72
Q

Target cells

A

Respond to particular hormone as they have receptors for that hormone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
73
Q

Is Serotonin a hormone or neurotransmitter?

A

Neurotransmitter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
74
Q

Is Dopamine a hormone or neurotransmitter?

A

Neurotransmitter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
75
Q

Is Testosterone a hormone or neurotransmitter?

A

Hormone

76
Q

Is GABA a hormone or neurotransmitter?

A

Neurotransmitter

77
Q

Is Melatonin a hormone or neurotransmitter?

A

Hormone

78
Q

Is Oxytocin a hormone or neurotransmitter?

A

Hormone

79
Q

The main endocrine gland

A

-Hypothalamus
- Piturarty gland
- Pineal gland
- Thymus
- Ovary
- Testicle
- Pancreas
- Adrenal gland
- Thyroid and Parathyroid glands
-

80
Q

Name all Hormones

A 
Melatonin
Oestrogen
ACTH and Oxytocin
Insulin
Thyroxine
Testosterone
Thymosin
Cortisol/adrenaline
81
Q

Where is Melatonin released?

A

Pineal gland

82
Q

Where is Oestrogen released?

A

Ovaries

83
Q

Where is ACTH and Oxytocin released?

A

Anterior pituitary/Posterior pituitary

84
Q

Where is insulin released?

A

Pancreas

85
Q

Where is Thyroxine released?

A

Thyroid

86
Q

Where is Testosterone released?

A

Testes

87
Q

Where is Thymosin released?

A

Thymus

88
Q

Where is Cortisol/adrenaline released?

A

Adrenal Cortext/Adrenal Medulla

89
Q

Does the Hypothalamus release a hormone?

A

No

90
Q

Fight or flight

A

The sympathetic response that increases activity to areas designed to help you escape or prepare for fight.

91
Q

What the difference between the ‘stressor’ and ‘stress’?

A

Stressor - Something that activates the stress response

Stress - A bodily response to a stressor

92
Q

Why do pupils dilate? during stress

A

So more light enters the eye leading to better vision

93
Q

Why do our lungs expand in response to adrenaline?

A

To increase oxygen level

94
Q

Why do our Muscles tense in response to adrenaline?

A

Enable to prepare for action

95
Q

Why does our HR increases in response to adrenaline?

A

To increase blood flow to organs and increase the movement of adrenaline around the body

96
Q

Why does our BP increase in response to adrenaline?

A

For clotting purposes

97
Q

Why do we sweat in response to adrenaline?

A

To cool the body down

98
Q

Why is our digestion inhibited in response to adrenaline?

A

To increase energy for other essential functions

99
Q

AO2 Fight or Flight

A
100
Q

What is the role of Adrenaline?

A
  • Triggers fight or flight
  • Increases HR and BP
  • Dilate pupils
  • Expands lungs
  • Muscle tension
101
Q

Explain the first 2 process of fight or flight

A
  1. A person enters a potential dangerous or threating situation
  2. The brain detects the threat and the hypothalamus communicates it to the autonomic nervous system
102
Q

Explain the 2nd two processes of fight or flight

A
  1. The sympathetic nervous system is activated and communicates the threat to the adrenal medulla
  2. This gland releases adrenaline into the bloodstream
103
Q

Explain the 3rd two processes of fight or flight

A
  1. This triggers the fight or flight response

6. During this response, HR and BP increases

104
Q

Explain the 4th two processes of fight or flight?

A
  1. Functions such as digestion and salivation are inhibited.

8. After the threat is removed, the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to it’s normal state.

105
Q

Beta Bias

A

Research on a Male sample that is then inaccuratley generalised to women

106
Q

Why is beta bias a pronlem when research for the fight or flight response
AO3

A

These are physiological difference that should not be ignored, such as effect of oxytocin on the body

107
Q

Lee and Harley (2012) A genetic basis to sex differences in the fight or flight response

(Individual differences)
AO3

A

Found evidence for gender differences in fight or flight.

  • SRY gene, found in Y chromes directs male development. Promotes agression.
  • Suggest that SRY gene may prime males responses to stress hormones (adrenaline)

Absense in females together with action of oestrogen and oxytocin may prevent this response to stress.

108
Q

Taylor et all (2000) Tend & Befriend Response
(Individual differences)
AO3
Androcentrism

A

Men react to stress with a FOFR whereas women react with a “tend & befriend response”

Gender difference seen in many species eg rats
Women – protect and nurture their young (“tend”) and seek social contact and support from other females (“befriend”)

109
Q

Von Dawans et all 2012
(Individual differences)
AO3

A
  • Found acute stress can lead to greater cooperation and friendly behaviour

– could explain human connection in times of great crisis eg: 9/11 – explained because humans are social animals and the protective nature of human relationships has allowed us to survive as a race.

110
Q

Gray (1988)
Oxytocin
AO3

A

1st phase of threat is to “stop, look and listen” – the freeze response – animal is hyper vigilant, alert to slightest sign of danger. Freezing focuses attention to help us look for new information to make the best response.

111
Q

HPA axis

A

Describes the sequences of bodily activity in response to stress that involves the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal cortex

112
Q

Effects of adrenaline

A
  • Increased heart rate
  • Pupils dilate
  • Muscles tension
  • Lungs expand
113
Q

Effects of the parasympathetic system

A
  • Muscle relaxation
  • Salvation resumes
  • Digestive system returns to main function
  • HR Slows down
114
Q

Nervous systems

A
  • Pepherial
  • Autonomic
  • Somatic
  • Sympathetic
  • Parasympathetic
115
Q

Parts of the body that play a role in fight or flight

A
  • Adrenal Medulla
  • Muscles
  • Hypothalamus
  • The brain
116
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

Recieve imformation from the outside world eg touch, taste

117
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

High cognitve functioning. eg tramatic brain injury .

118
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

For processing emotions, language etc

119
Q

Localisation of function

A

A theory that certain functions (e.g. language, memory, etc.) have certain locations or areas within the brain.

120
Q

What is Broca’s Area?

A

An area in the frontal lobe of the brain, usually in the left hemisphere, related to speech production.

  • Can comprehend language
  • Unable to speak fluently
  • Left frontal lobe
121
Q

What is Wernicke’s area?

A

An area in the temporal lobe of the brain important in the understanding of language.

  • Can comprehend language
  • Left temporal
  • Able to speak
122
Q

What is the Motor cortex?

A

A region of the brain responsible for the generation of voluntary motor movements.

123
Q

What is the Somatosensory cortex?

A

A region of the brain that processes input from the sensory receptors in the body that are sensitive to touch.

124
Q

What is cognitive functioning?

A

Thinking processes.

125
Q

Where is the Somatosensory cortex located?

A

It is located in the parietal lobe and receives incoming sensory information from the skin to produce sensations related to pressure, pain, temperature, etc.

126
Q

Robertson (1995) discovery of the Somatosensory cortex?

A

He found that this area of the brain is highly adaptable, with Braille readers having larger areas in the somatosensory area for their fingertips compared to normally sighted participants.

127
Q

Who found the Somatosensory cortex?

A

Brodmann

128
Q

Location of Motor area

A

Frontal lobe

129
Q

Location of Somatosensory area

A

Partial lobe

130
Q

Location of Visual area

A

Occipital lobe

131
Q

Location of Auditory area

A

Temporal

132
Q

Function of Motor area

A

Responsible for voluntary movements by sending signals to the muscles in the body

133
Q

Function of the Somatosensory

A

Responsible for recieving incoming sensory information from the skin to produce sensations related to produce sensations relation pressure, pain, temperature, etc

134
Q

Function of the visual area

A

Responsible for recieving and processes visual information. eg colour, shape and movement

135
Q

Function of the auditory

A

Responsible for analysing and processing acoustic information

136
Q

Left, Right, or Both hemisphere?

Motor Area

A

The motor area on one side the brain controls muscles on the opposite side

137
Q

Left, Right, or Both hemisphere?

Somatosensory Area

A

BOTH

The somasensory area on one side of the brain recicves sensory information from the opposite side of the body

138
Q

Left, Right, or Both hemisphere?

Visual Area

A

BOTH
Information from the right-hand side visual field is processed in the left hemisphere, information from the left-hand side is processed on the right hemisphere

139
Q

Left, Right, or Both hemisphere?

Auditory Area

A

BOTH

Information the left ear goes primarly to the right hemisphere etc

140
Q

Localisation of function AO3
Language production may not be confined to Broca’s area alone
Evidence - Case studies

A

Dronkers et al. (2007) conducted an MRI scan on Tan’s brain, to try to confirm Broca’s findings. Although there was a lesion found in Broca’s area, they also found evidence to suggest other areas may have contributed to the failure in speech production.

141
Q

Localisation of function AO3

Support for language centres for aphasia studies

A

Evidence for different functions of Broca’s and Wernicke’s area in a language production and understandings comes from the discovery that damage to these different areas results in different types of aphasia.

142
Q

Localisation of function AO3

Communication may be more important than localisation

A

Research suggests that what might be more important how brain areas communicate with each other, rather than which specific brain regions control a particular cognitive process.

eg Dejerine (1892) case

143
Q

Localisation of function AO3

There are individual differences in language areas

A

Herasty (1997) found that women have proportionally larger Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas than men, which can perhaps explain the greater ease of language use amongst women.

144
Q

Localisation of Function AO3

Issues & Debates

A

This, however, suggests a level of beta bias in the theory: the differences between men and woman are ignored, and variations in the pattern of activation and the size of areas observed during various language activities are not considered.

145
Q

Broca’s aphasia

A
  • Caused by damage to left frontal lobe
  • Speech production impaired
  • Speech comprehension intact
146
Q

Wernicke’s aphasia

A
  • Caused by damage to left temporal lobe
  • Speech production intact
  • Speech comprehension impaired
147
Q

Localisation of function AO3

Challenges to localisation: equipotentiality

A

Lashley, 1930) suggests that basic motor and sensory functions are localised, but that higher mental functions were not.

-Using rats he demonstrated using leisons that when the brain area is involved in memory is damaged, another part of the area can take over the memory function

148
Q

Lateralisation

A

The idea that the two halves of the brain are functionally different and certain processes or behaviours are controlled by one hemisphere.

149
Q

Lateralisation

What does the right side processes

A

The RIGHT side of the brain processes info from LEFT half of body (e.g visual info from the left eye)

150
Q

Lateralisation

What does the Left side processes

A

The LEFT side of brain processes info from RIGHT half of body (e.g visual info from the right eye)

151
Q

Hemispheric Lateralisation (AO1)

A

The brain has two hemispheres (right and left) which are connected by a bundle of fibres called the corpus callosum.

152
Q

Lateralisation

What is the Left hemisphere dominant?

A

Left hemisphere is dominant for language

153
Q

Lateralisation

What is Right hemisphere dominant for?

A

Right hemisphere is dominant for visual-motor tasks

154
Q

Lateralisation

A

Brain processes are lateralised to a specific half of the brai

155
Q

Commissurotomy

A

A type of surgery that some paitents with severe epilepsy may undergo to have their corpus callousum removed

156
Q

What was the aim of Sperry (1968)’s study?

A

To investigate what functions of the brain are lateralised.

157
Q

What was the procedure of Sperry’s study?

A

Compared split-brain patients to others with no hemisphere separation. Different activities were tried with the patients including touch of objects and visual presentation of stimuli to see how the different sides perform on tasks.

158
Q

What were the findings of Sperry’s study?

A

LEFT visual field: they could not describe it (they often reported that there was nothing there).

RIGHT visual field: they could easily describe the picture shown to their right visual field.

159
Q

What are the strengths and limitations you can think of, about using split brain paitents in research that aims to understand the brain better.

A
  • Small numbers
  • Specialised sample
  • Idiographic approach taken
160
Q

Localised regions of the brain

A

Frontal lobe
Temporal lobe
Partial lobe
Occipital lobe

161
Q

Features of Sperry’s study

A

11 participants
All right handed
All had brain surgery to remove corpous callosum
Aparatus created for the study

162
Q

Results of sperry’s study

A
  • Language lateralised to the left
  • Drawing was better with left hand (right brain)
  • Description was possible if information was presented in the RVF
  • Visual motor skills are lateralised to the right
163
Q

Advantages of Lateralisation

AO3

A

Increases neural processings capacity eg By using only one hemisphere to engage with a particular task (eg language or mathematical ability), this would lead to other hemisphere free to engage in another function.

164
Q

Advantages of Lateralisation
AO3
Rogers et al

A

suggested that brain lateralisation enhances brain efficiency in cognitive tasks that demand simultaneous use of the hemispheres. For instance in domestic chickens they found that the chickens could hunt for food as well as look out for predators.

165
Q

Lateralisation changes with age
AO3
Szaflarski et al. (2006)

A

Found that language became more lateralised to the left hemisphere with increasing age in children and adolescents, but after the age of 25 it decreased with each decade of their life

166
Q

Brain plasicity

A

Refers the brains ability to change and adapt because of experience

167
Q

Functional recovery

A

Is the transfer of function from a damaged area of the brain after trauma to undamaged areas

168
Q

Language may not be restricted the left hemisphere

A

Gazzaniga’s (1998) split brain research had suggested that right hemisphere was unable to handle even the most basic language. Damage to the left hemisphere was found to be more detrimental to language function than damage to the right. JW patient: can speak about information presented to the right or left side of the brain

169
Q

Limitations of split-brain research

A

-The procedure is rarely carried out nowadays and not enough research out there

170
Q

Limitations of split-brain research
(AO3)

Andrewes (2001)

A

Many studies only have 3 p’s or even just 1 p’s – makes generalisation difficult as these patients had confounding physical disorders that made the split brain necessary. Results- failed to be replicated as they are ‘rogue’ cases.

171
Q

Neuronal unmasking

A

Dormant synapses open to connections to compensate for nearby damaged area of the brain

172
Q

Turk et al. (2002) - it could be argued that language may not be restricted to the left hemisphere

A

Discovered a patient who suffered damage to the left hemisphere but developed the capacity to speak in the right hemisphere, eventually leading to the ability to speak about the information presented to either side of the brain.

173
Q

Maguire et al. (2000) Functional recovery

A

found that the posterior hippocampal volume of London taxi drivers’ brains was positively correlated with their time as a taxi driver and that there were significant differences between the taxi drivers’ brains and those of controls. This shows that the brain can permanently change in response to frequent exposure to a particular task.

174
Q

Taijiri et al. (2013) Functional recovery

A

Found that stem cells provided to rats after brain trauma showed a clear development of neuron-like cells in the area of injury. This demonstrates the ability of the brain to create new connections using neurons manufactured by stem cells.

175
Q

Aim of Maguire’s research

A

To examine whether structural changes could be detected in the brains of people with extensive experiences of spatial navigation

176
Q

Findings of Maguire’s research

A
177
Q

Kuhn et al

Plastcity

A

Found a significant increase in grey matter in various regions of the brain after p’s played video games for 30 min a day over two-month period

178
Q

Elbert et al Functional recovery

A

Concluded the capacity for neural reorganisation after trauma is much greater in children than adults, meaning neural regeneration is less effective in older brain

179
Q

Davidson et al

AO3

A

Demonstrated the permenant change in the brain generatedby prolonged meditation: Buddhist monk who mediated frequently had much greater activation of gamma waves than students with no experience of meditation.

180
Q

Outline and evalutate split-brain research [8 marks]

A
181
Q

Which area is responsible for processing sensation such as pain and pressure?

A

parietal lobe - Somatosensory cortext

182
Q

Which area of the brain processes information such as colour and shape?

A

Occipital lobe - visual cortex

183
Q

Which area of the brain processes information such as pitch and volume?

A

Temporal lobe - auditory cortex

184
Q

Which area of the brain is responsible for voluntary movements?

A

Frontal lobe - motor cortex

185
Q

Outline and evaluate one or more ways of studying the brain. [8 marks}

A
  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a brain-scanning

Function = technique that measures blood flow in the brain when a person performs a task.

  • An electroencephalogram (EEG) measures electrical activity through electrodes attached to the scalp.

Function = EEG scanners work on the idea that information is processed in the brain as electrical activity in the form of action potentials or nerve impulses.

Advantage of EEG AO3

Advantage of fMRI AO3

Conclude what is better

A-Level AQA Psychology (99 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions