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Psychology Paper 2 > Biopsychology Year 13 Content > Flashcards

Biopsychology Year 13 Content Flashcards

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1
Q

Definition of “localisation of the function”

A

The idea that specific parts of the brain might have specific functions

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2
Q

Which case study questioned the holistic theory of the brain in 1848?

A

In 1848, the case study of Phineas Gage questioned the holistic theory.

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3
Q

Holistic theory of the brain (before the 19th century)

A

Before the 19th century, scientists held a holistic theory of the brain - that all parts of the brain were involved in all thoughts and actions

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4
Q

What happened to Phineas Gage?

A

He pushed an iron rod into the railway he was working on, and it hit dynamite before going back out of the track, through his cheek, behind his left eye and through the top of his skull

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5
Q

Which part of the brain was involved with Phineas Gage’s injury?

A

Orbital frontal lobe, which is important for decision-making

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6
Q

What were the changes to Phineas Gage’s behaviour?

A

Rude and impatient, he was said to be “no longer Gage” by his family/ friends
His behaviours were similar to those with Alzheimers disease

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7
Q

How hemispheres is the brain divided into?

A

There are two hemispheres

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8
Q

What are the two hemispheres joined?

A

Corpus callosum

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9
Q

What’s the corpus callosum made up of?

A

Bundles of nerve fibres

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10
Q

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

A

It is to allow communication between the hemispheres of the brain

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11
Q

In most people the brain is contralateral, what does this mean?

A

This is when the function on one side of the body is controlled by the opposite hemisphere of the brain

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12
Q

Contralateral example

A

Movement of left hand is controlled by right hemisphere of brain

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13
Q

What does it mean when a function is only dealt with by one hemisphere of the brain?

A

It is said to be lateralised (to one side)

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14
Q

What is the cortex of the brain?

A

It is a thin layer, 3mm thick, covering inner parts of the brain
It looks grey and is more developed than in other animals

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15
Q

What is the cortex of the brain compared to?

A

It is compared to a tea cosy because it covers the inner parts of the brain, the same way a tea cosy covers a teapot

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16
Q

How many lobes does each hemisphere have, and what are they?

A

Four lobes:

  • frontal lobe
  • parietal lobe
  • occipital lobe
  • temporal lobe
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17
Q

Function of:

Motor cortex, frontal lobe (at the back)

A

A region of the frontal lobe involved in regulating movement

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18
Q

Function of:

Somatosensory cortex, parietal lobe (at the front)

A

Receives and processes all sensory input from the body, e.g. touch

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19
Q

Function of:

Visual centres, occipital lobe

A

Part of the occipital lobe that receives and processes visual information

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20
Q

Function of:

Auditory centres, temporal lobe

A

Concerned with the analysis of speech-based information

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21
Q

Function of:

Wernicke’s area, temporal lobe

A

It is localised and lateralised to the left
An area of the temporal lobe (encircling the auditory cortex) in the left hemisphere (in most people) responsible for language comprehension

22
Q

Function of:

Broca’s area, frontal lobe

A

It is localised and lateralised to the left
Broca examined this part of the brain when dealing with people who had speech impairments to determine that it is responsible for speech production

23
Q

Language centres in the brain are…?

(hint: LLLL)

A

Langauge centres are
Localised and
Lateralised to the
Left

24
Q

What is the Broca’s area and Broca’s aphasia?

A

In the 1880’s Broca identified an area linked to speech production
Damage to this area causes “Broca’s aphasia” which is speech that is slow, laborious and lacking in fluency
People with this can understand what is being said, but struggle to speak and write due to the brain injury

25
Q

Broca’s aphasia case study examples?

A

Sarah Scott

Tan

26
Q

Explain Sarah Scott’s case of Broca’s aphasia

A

Sarah had a stroke on her left side, her right side felt like she had pins and needles (because brain is contralateral)
Now she struggles to make her language flow; she has Broca’s aphasia

27
Q

What is Wernicke’s area and Wernicke’s aphasia?

A

Carl Wernicke discovered this region and it is linked to language comprehension.
Damage results in “Wernicke’s aphasia”;this effects people’s ability to understand words (spoken or written) and this often means patients will add nonsense words in with their speech

28
Q

What is the definition of lateralisation of function

A

Some mental processes in the brain are mainly specified to one hemisphere of the brain - either the right or the left

29
Q

What is an example of a lateralisation

A

Language is in the left hemisphere of the brain so it is lateralised (it is also localised)

30
Q

Definition of split-brain procedure

A

Research where people have had their brain hemispheres separated by severing the corpus callosum

31
Q

Biological rhythms definition

A

A biological rhythm is a cycle of activity that occurs with some regularity in a living organism
Work in this area examines the role of internal “clocks” as well as environmental changes

32
Q

What are biological rhythms governed by?

A

They are. governed by both internal biological clocks and environmental cues

33
Q

What is an endogenous pacemaker?

A
  • an internal biological structure
34
Q

What is an exogenous zeitgeber?

A
  • an environmental influence that is external to the body
35
Q

Types of biological rhythms and the frequency of cycle

A

Infradian - less than 1 in 24 hours
Circadian - 1 in 24 hours
Ultradian - more than 1 in 24 hours

36
Q

Examples of circadian rhythms

A
  • sleep/wake cycle

- core body temperature

37
Q

Examples of infradian rhythms

A
  • menstrual cycle

- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

38
Q

Examples of ultradian rhythms

A
  • basic rest activity cycle (90 mins)

- stages of sleep

39
Q

Example of a circadian rhythm:

Explain the sleep/wake cycle

A

Light is an important exogenous zeitgeber that helps to guide when we feel drowsy and sleep, an d when we wake and are more alert

40
Q

What is the aim of light deprivation studies?

A

Aim to assess the role of a person’s internal body clock (endogenous pacemaker)

41
Q

When is the biological clock said to be “free running”?

A

When the influence of natural light (exogenous zeitgeber) has been removed
Research then looks at whether the body clock and maintain its usual rhythms and cycles without external cues (exogenous zeitgebers)

42
Q

Outline the light deprivation study and findings:

Siffre Cave Studies

A
  • several cave studies with no natural light or external sound
  • 2 to 6 months underground carried out a decade apart
  • Found that “free running” rhythm was about 25 hours and that they still had a regular sleep/wale cycle
43
Q

What do the findings of Siffre Cave Studies suggest?

A

This suggests clocks and external zeitgebers may “entrain” sleep/wake cycle to 24 hours

44
Q

Outline the light deprivation study and findings:

Aschoff and Weaver (1976) Bunker Study

A
  • Group of participants spent 4 weeks in a bunker with no natural light
  • Found that most participants rhythm was between 24 and 25 hours, but 1 participants cycle extended to 24 hours
45
Q

What do the findings of the Aschoff and Weaver (1976) Bunker Study suggest?

A
  • Suggests clocks and external zeitgebers may “entrain” sleep/wake cycle to 24 hours
46
Q

Outline the light deprivation study and findings:

Folkard et al (1985) Cave Study with Sped up Clock

A
  • 12 people lived in a cave 12 weeks going to bed when the clock said 11:45pm and waking up at 7:45am
  • Researchers gradually sped up the clock so that in the end, a day was only 22 hours.
  • Found that only one person comfortably adjusted to the new timing
47
Q

What do the findings of the Folkard et al (1985) Cave Study with Sped up Clock suggest?

A
  • Suggested strong circadian rhythm governed by biological aspects cannot be changed with exogenous zeitgebers e.g. clocks
48
Q

Circadian rhythms: core body temperature

- time when body is at its lowest temperature

A

Around 4am (circadian trough)

49
Q

Circadian rhythms: core body temperature

- time when body is at it’s highest temperature

A

Around 6pm

50
Q

Circadian rhythms: core body temperature

Why is this important?

A

This is important because there may be a link with cognitive ability - we may perform better when we are warm

51
Q

Studies that support higher cognitive functioning later in the day, when higher body temperature:

A

Folkard (1977)
Children who had stories read to them at 3pm showed superior recall and understanding than those who heard them at 9am

Gupta’s (1991)
Improved performance on IQ tests when participants assessed at 7pm compared to 2pm and 9am

52
Q

What do Folkard and Gupta’s studies into cognitive functioning and core body temperature suggest about school’s timetables and heating?

A
  • These studies make us think whether or not schools should start later in the day to maximise learning?
  • Should the timetable be planned to place harder cognitive demand when children are at their warmest?
  • Should heating be increased in school?

Psychology Paper 2 (3 decks)

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