Biopsychology Theories Flashcards
The Nervous System-Functions
- To collect,process and respond to information in the environment
- To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
The Nervous System-Central Nervous System
Made up of the Brain and Spinal Cord. The CNS passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS
The Nervous System-Peripheral Nervous System
It transmits messages, via millions of neurons, to and from the CNS. It is divided into the ANS and the SNS
The Nervous System-Peripheral Nervous System-Autonomic Nervous System
Governs vital functions in the body
The Nervous System-Peripheral Nervous System-Somatic Nervous System
Controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors
The Endocrine System-Function
It works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body
The Endocrine System-Glands and Hormones
Glands produce hormones
The Endocrine System-Glands and Hormones-The Pituitary Gland
The major endocrine gland is the Pituitary Gland in the brain. It controls the release of hormones from all other endocrine glands in the body
The Endocrine System-Fight or Flight
The fight or flight response is when the endocrine and the autonomic nervous system works together.
The Endocrine System-Fight or Flight-What?
The fight or flight response is the bodies response to a perceived threat. When in this state, the body goes from the parasympathetic state to the sympathetic state, which causes heart rate and breathing rate to increase. Once the threat has passed, the body returns to the parasympathetic state
Neurons-Types-Sensory
Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons
Neurons-Types-Relay
Connect the sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons. They have short dendrites and short axons
Neurons-Types-Motor
Connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands. They have short dendrites and long axons
Neurons-Structure
Cell body has a nucleus (contains genetic material). Dendrites protrude from cell body, which carry nerve impulse from neighboring neurons towards the cell body
Axon-Carries the impulses away from the cell body down the myelin sheath, which speeds up electrical transmission
The end of the axon are the terminal buttons, which communicate with the next neuron in the chain across the synapse
Neurons-Electric Transmission
When it is in a resting state, the neuron is negatively charged. When it is activated by a stimulus, it becomes positively charged, causing an action potential to occur. This creates an electrical impulse which travels down the axon towards the end of the neuron
Synaptic Transmission-Chemical Transmission
Each neuron is separated by a gap called a synapse. Signals within neurons and transmitted electrically. Signals between neurons are transmitted chemically, via neurotransmitters
Synaptic Transmission-Neurotransmitter
Once the neurotransmitter crosses the synapse, it is taken up by the postsynaptic receptor site (dendrites on next neuron). It is then converted into an electrical impulse and the process of transmission begins again
Synaptic Transmission-Excitation and Inhibition-Excitation
A neurotransmitter increases the negative charge of the receiving neuron, making the neuron less likely to pass on the electrical impulse
Synaptic Transmission-Excitation and Inhibition-Inhibition
A neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the receiving neuron, making the neuron more likely to pass on the electrical impulse
Localisation of Function-What is it
The theory that different parts of the brain is responsible for different actions and areas of the body
Localisation of Function-Hemispheres of Brain
The brain has two hemispheres. The left hemisphere controls the right hand side of the body. The right hemisphere controls the left hand side of the body
Localisation of Function-The Cerebral Cortex
A developed part of the brain that is covering the outer layer of both hemispheres
Localisation of Function-Areas-Motor Area
In the back of both frontal lobes is the motor area. It controls movement in the body. Damage may result in a loss of control over movements
Localisation of Function-Areas-Somatosensory Area
This area is in the front of both parietal lobes. This is where sensory information from the skin is represented
Localisation of Function-Areas-Visual Area
In the occipital lobe is the visual area. Each eye sends information to this area (right eye sends to left visual area and vice versa). Damage to the visual area can cause blindness
Localisation of Function-Areas-Auditory Area
In the temporal lobe is the auditory area. This analyses speech based information. Damage to this area may create hearing loss
Localisation of Function-Language Areas-Brocas
Brocas area is in the left frontal lobe and is responsible for producing speech. Damage to this area creates Broca’ s Aphasia, characterised by slow and laborious speech
Localisation of Function-Language Areas-Wernicke
Wernicke’ s area is in the left temporal lobe and is responsible for language comprehension. Damage to this area causes Wernicks Aphasia, which is characterised by nonsense words being produced in speech
Localisation of Function-Evaluation
+Brain Scan evidence support it-Petersen Study
+Neurosurgical Evidence-Dougherty Study
+Case Study Evidence-Phineas Gage study
Plasticity and Functional Recovery-Synaptic Pruning
During infancy, the brain experiences a growth of synaptic conditions. It has almost double the number that an adult brain has. As we age, connections that we do not use are deleted. This is called synaptic pruning
Plasticity and Functional Recovery-Plasticity
Synaptic pruning was originally thought to only occur during childhood. Research suggests that the brain is constantly forming New connection due to learning and experience
Plasticity and Functional Recovery-Functional Recovery after Trauma
The brain can adapt itself after trauma. Healthy areas in the brain may take other the functions of the damaged area
Plasticity and Functional Recovery-What happens during Functional Recovery-Axonal Sprouting
Growth of new nerve endings that connect with other nerves to form new neural pathways
Plasticity and Functional Recovery-What happens during Functional Recovery-Blood Vessels
Blood vessels are reformed
Plasticity and Functional Recovery-What happens during Functional Recovery-Recruitment
Similar areas on the opposite area of the brain are recruited to perform the specific tasks of the damaged area
Plasticity and Functional Recovery-Evaluation
+Practical Application-Used in the development of neurorehabiltation
-Negative Plasticity-Rewiring of the brain can cause maladative behaviours-Phantom Limb Syndrome
+Research Support-Maguire and Bezzola studies
Ways of Investigating the Brain-fMRI
A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imagining (fMRI) device works be detecting changes in blood flow to show active areas
Ways of Investigating the Brain-fMRI-Evaluation
+Does not use radiation
+Produces a clear, detailed image
-Expensive
-Only creates a clear image in person lies perfectly still
-Can only measure blood flow-Doesn’t tell us what kind of activity create it
Ways of Investigating the Brain-EEG
A Electroencephalogram measures brainwave patterns via electrodes inserted on the face. These brainwaves are generated via neurons
Ways of Investigating the Brain-EEG-Evaluation
+Good for diagnosing illnesses
+High temporal resolution
-Creates general results
Ways of Investigating the Brain-ERP’s
A Event Related Potential is a type of brainwave triggered by particular events that can be extracted from EEG recordings
Ways of Investigating the Brain-ERP’s-Evaluation
+More precise measurement-create precise results
+High Temporal resolution
-Background noise must be fully eliminated to get a accurate reading
-Lack of a standardised method
Ways of Investigating the Brain-Post Mortem Examinations
The analysis of a [persons brain after they have died, in the name of science. Areas that have been damaged can be used to work out the cause of death
Ways of Investigating the Brain-Post Mortem Examinations-Evaluation
+Vital in providing a foundation for early understand of key processes of the brain
+Improve medical knowledge
-Causation- We don’t know if the damage caused the death, or was due to something else
-Patients may not be able to give informed consent to use their brain
Circadian Rhythms-Biological Rhythms
All biological rhythms are controlled by endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers
Circadian Rhythms-How Long
A circadian rhythm is a biological rhythm that occurs for 24 hours
Circadian Rhythms-Sleep/Wake Cycle
This cycle determines sleepiness, due to the influence of daylight
Circadian Rhythms-Evaluation
+Practical Application-Shift Work-reduced concentration at 6 AM makes accidents more likely to occur then
+Practical Application-Drug Treatments-Knowledge of Circadian rhythms can be used to improve drug effectiveness
-Use of case studies and small samples-Cannot Generalise results
-Individual Differences- Everyone’s sleep/wake cycle is different
Infradian Rhythms-How Long
A infradian rhythm is a biological rhythm that occurs for more than 24 hours
Infradian Rhythms-Menstrual Cycle
An example of a Infradian rhythm. oestrogen regulates ovulation, progesterone readies the body for pregnancy
Infradian Rhythms-Seasonal Affective Disorder
An example of a infradian rhythm. It is a form of depression triggered in the winter months , where melotonin is not released during the long dark hours.This affects mood and creates symptoms similar to depression
Ultradian Rhythm-How Long
A Ultradian rhythm is a biological rhythm that occurs for less than 24 hours
Ultradian Rhythm-Stages of Sleep Cycle-Stage 1 and 2
Light sleep where the person may be easily awoken. Brainwave patterns become slower and more rhythmic (alpha waves) become more slower as sleep progresses (theta waves)
Ultradian Rhythm-Stages of Sleep Cycle-Stage 3 and 4
Involves delta waves which are slower still and have a greater amplitude than the earlier waves. This is known as deep sleep
Ultradian Rhythm-Stages of Sleep Cycle-Stage 5
REM sleep, where the body is paralyzed yet brain activity speeds up in a manner which resembles a active brain. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement
Ultradian Rhythm-Stages of Sleep Cycle
These stages last for 90 minutes altogether, and then repeat
Infradian Rhythms and Ultradian Rhythms- Evaluation
+Evolutionary Basis of Menstrual Cycle-Synchronization means that women are pregnant at the same time. New born could be cared for collectively-increases chances of survival
-Methodological Problems in Synchronization Study- Did not control confounding variables
+Research support for stages of sleep- Dement and Kleitman study
Endogenous Pacemakers-The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
The SCN is a tiny bundle of nerve cells located in the hypothalamus. They’re one of the prints endogenous pacemaker in mammalian species. They receive information about light directly,which is used to regulate the sleep/Wake cycle
Endogenous Pacemakers-The Pineal Gland and Melatonin
The SCN passes information about day length to the pineal gland. During the night, this gland increases production of melatonin, a chemical which induces sleep
Exogenous Zeitgebers-Light and Sleep Wake
Light is a key zeitgeber in humans as it can resets the SCN, thus it plays a role in the maintenance of the sleep wake cycle
Exogenous Zeitgebers-Social Cues
Babies biological rhythms can be regulated by the routine that their parents impose on them
Endogenous Pacemakers and Exogenous Zeitgebers-Evaluation
- There are other influence on Sleep/Wake cycle aside from the SCN-Damiola Study
- Uses animal studies-Ethical Issues, Cannot Generalise to other species or humans
- Overstation of Exogenous Zeitgeber’ s Influence-Miles study
