Biopsychology AO1 Flashcards
Sperry split brain research
11 split brain ppts studied
Object shown to RVF - can describe what is seen
Shown to LVF - select objects closely associated
LH = verbal
RH = silent but emotional
Steps of synaptic transmission
- Impulse reaches presynaptic terminal
- Synaptic vesicles release neurotransmitters which get taken up by post synaptic vesicle
- Chemical message gets converted to electrical impulse
Infradian rhythms
- Menstrual cycle (more than 24 hours)
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Night = pineal gland secretes melatonin
Ultradian rhythms
Stage 1+2 = light sleep, high frequency waves
Stage 3+4 = slow wave sleep (SWS), lower frequency
Stage 5 = REM (rapid eye movement), body paralysed (brains awake), dreams
Circadian rhythms
- 24 hours
- Rhythm governed by SCN
- Siffre spent long times in dark caves, by end of each time, rhythm settled to 25hrs with regular sleep/wake cycle
Functional recovery of the brain
- Secondary neural pathway activated
- Axonal sprouting - new nerve endings
- Denervation - axons doing similar jobs are supersensitively aroused
Language centres
Broca - speech production
- damage = lack fluency, difficulty with prepositions
Wernicke = language understanding
- damage = fluent but meaningless
Plasticity
Rarely used connections deleted, frequently used strengthened - synaptic pruning
- Maguire et al - longer taxi drivers had more pronounced differences
What happens when a neuron is activated
Inside becomes positively charged so action potential occurs and electrical impulse travels down
Functions of areas of cerebral cortex
Motor area = back frontal lobe, voluntary movement
Somatosensory = front parietal lobe, process sensory info from skin
Visual = occipital lobe
Auditory = temporal lobe, analyse speech based info
Parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system
Sympathetic;
- Increase heart rate
- Dilate pupils
- Inhibit saliva production
Parasympathetic;
- Stimulate digestion
- Relax return
Structure and function of peripheral nervous system
Autonomic nervous system = vital responses e.g. breathing
Somatic nervous system = muscle movement
Structure and function of central nervous system
Brain = centre of conscious awareness
Spinal cord = reflex actions
What happens in fight or flight response
- Stressor perceived by hypothalamus which receives signals from amygdala
- Pituitary gland activated, SNS aroused
- Adrenaline released from adrenal medulla
- Parasympathetic nervous system takes place once threat has passed
Ways of scanning the brain
fMRI - haemodynamic response
EEG - electrical activity via electrodes
ERP - once EEG removed
Post mortem
