Biopsychology A2 and A1 Flashcards
How do animal behaviors relate to the complexity of their brain structures?
The more complex and adaptive an animal’s behaviors are, the more complex the brain structures.
What two important structures does the inferior lobe involve?
The inferior lobe has the pituitary gland inside it and the pituitary gland outside it.
What does the olfactory lobe control?
It controls sense of smell. Animals with a hypersensitive perception of smell like sharks) will have a very large olfactory lobe.
Why did dogs develop larger cerebral hemispheres than sheep?
As the cerebral hemispheres contain the structures related to sight and spatial awareness, so dogs require a larger cerebrum, as they need better vision and spatial awareness to hunt.
What system in the brain is associated with emotion?
The Limbic System.
Who was F___z g__l? What did he theorize about skull shape and personality traits?
Franz Gall— Founded Phenology in 1796. He divided the brain into 27 theoretical “organs”, of which we shared 19 with other animals (think of 2319!! from monsters inc, but 27 as that’s …..the right number). He suggested that personality traits could be felt as bumps on the skull above those corresponding brain areas.
Who was M___e-J__n-P____e Fl__r_ns?
He specialised in animal lesion studies (dissecting brains). He found, through cutting the brains of pigeons and rabbits, that different brain areas control different major functions.
What does localised function mean?
The theorising of how specific areas of the brain are associated with specific cognitive processes.
What is the function of the motor cortex? Whereabouts in the brain is it located?
It is responsible for the generation of voluntary motor movements, specifically conscious physical movements It is located in the cerebrum, just above the stomatosensory cortex
What is the function of the visual cortex? Whereabouts in the brain is it located?
It receives and relays visual signals like colour and movement from the optic nerve, that receives the signals from the retina, giving us visual perception. It is found at the back of the brain, within the occipital lobe.
What is the function of Broca’s Area? Whereabouts in the brain is it located?
It is one of the centres responsible for language production. It combines signals from multiple other regions of the brain to create speech. It is located in the LEFT cerebral hemisphere
What is the function of Wernicke’s Area? Whereabouts in the brain is it located?
The centre within the brain responsible for understanding language. It allows us to interpret and progress physical and verbal communication. It is also found only in the left cerebral hemisphere.
What is the function of the stomatosensory cortex? Whereabouts in the brain is it located?
It synthesizes information from peripheral neurons to create physical sensations. It is located just below the motor cortex
What is the function of the pineal gland? Whereabouts in the brain is it located?
It produces and regulates the release of melatonin, which could suggest its importance to sleeping patterns. It is pea-sized and located in a ventricle between the two cerebral hemispheres.
What is the Dorsal Stream?
It is part of the two-stream explanation for visual processing and hearing. It suggests the “stream” of neurotransmitters from the primary visual cortex to the occipital lobe and finally to the frontal lobe. (Through the structures near the top of the brain). It theoretically dictates location, movement and spatial reactions).
What is the Ventral Stream?
It is part of the two-stream explanation for visual processing and hearing. it’s pathway stretches from the primary visual cortex to the temporal lobe (through the structures more oriented towards the bottom of the brain). It helps process form, colour, size, texture and other pictorial details.
What are the ventricles?
Small openings in the brain that allow for the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid
What is the corpus callosum?
The connective tissue that joins the two cerebral hemispheres. It is imperative for the interaction between sight and speech.
What is one evaluation supporting localised function involving research support?
The evidence from many case studies supports localised function, for example split brain lasseration and stroke sufferers with damaged Broca’s area being unable to speak coherently.
What is one evaluation supporting localised function involving neurology?
EVidence of localised areas for specific functions have been shown by using fMRI scans to track brain activity in diffrent areas when doing specific tasks.
What is one evaluation supporting localised function involving evolutionary benefit?
These localised can help us explain how we have evolved and are therefore more equipped with these specific localised areas (e.g. larger temporal lobes than monkeys to allow for rational thinking and co-operation)
What is one evaluation criticising localised function that regards gender difference?
There are gender differences in neural structures, with many of the earlier case studies researching localised function being exclusively tested on men (reduces internal validity)
What is one evaluation criticising localised function that regarding age difference?
DIfferent age brains also have different neural structure. When we are young, for instance, we have a dense and very branched network of axons, especially when we are toddlers, but these then become denser and more specialised, though the axons/neuron connections become stronger.
What is one evaluation criticising localised function that regards neuroplasticity/reductionism?
Due to neuroplasticity, the brain structures can change, so localisation should usually be considered with uncertainty.











