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Year 13 Pyschology > Biopyschology > Flashcards

Biopyschology Flashcards

1
Q

CNS contains

A

The brain and spinal cord
- brain responsible for receiving and processing info from senses, responsible for higher mental functions , stores memories
-spinal cord is responsible for conducting signals to and from the brain, controls reflex actions

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2
Q

The peripheral nervous system is split

A

-Into the autonomic n.s which is responsible for involuntary responses like breathing and heart rate , the ANS control centres are in the brain stem.
- and the somatic nervous system which is for voluntary responses like walking, it controls the skeletal muscles.

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3
Q

The autonomic nervous system is further split

A

Into a sympathetic branch which is fight or flight response
And parasympathetic branch which js when you conserve and restore body’s energy when relaxed

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4
Q

How does the fight or flight response take place

A

Stressor is activated by hypothalamus and activates the sympathetic branch of Autonomic nervous system
-adrenaline and noradrenaline released into blood by adrenal medulla
-fight or flight response is produced prepping the body for physiological reactions
-parasympathetic branch returns body back to normal once stressor is removed eg homeostasis

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5
Q

Adrenaline and its roles in fight or flight response

A

Increases respiration- increases blood flow and o2 to the brain to allow rapid response planning
Increases heart rate - inc blood and 02 supply to muscles

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6
Q

Fight or flight response ao3

A

:) research uses scientific methods as it’s based on objective and empirical techniques by using heart rate and blood pressure monitors which increases overall validity into f or f reponse

:( some critics argue human beh isn’t limited to just the 2 responses f or f , some psychologists argue there’s a first response to danger known as a freeze response where u consider the best course of action . Shows f or f doesn’t consider other processes like thought

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7
Q

What’s the role of a sensory neurone

A

Send info from senses towards brain
-receptors found in skin and eyes etc
- long dendrites short axons

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8
Q

Relay neurone

A

Carries signals between sensory and motor neurones
Have short dendrites and short axons, no myelin sheath

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9
Q

Motor neurone

A

Sends info from cns to effectors such as muscles or glands , short dendrites long axons

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10
Q

Describe the process of synaptic transmission

A
  1. Process begins at pre synaptic neuron , impulses sent down axon until they reach pre synaptic terminal
  2. Impulses cause neurotransmitters to be released into the synapse/synaptic cleft
  3. Neurotransmitters diffuse across synapse and bind to specific receptor sites on post synaptic neuron
  4. Once neurotransmitters have attached to receptor sites there are 2 possible outcomes

A) next neuron is ready to fire an impulse
B) neurotransmitters recycled to be stored back in vesicles in pre synaptic neuron called uptake

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11
Q

Excitatory neurotransmitter

A

A chemical messenger that makes it more likely the next neuron will fire so an impulse will travel down its axon

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12
Q

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

A

A chemical a messenger that reduces the likelihood the next neuron will fire

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13
Q

Function of the endocrine system

A

Provides a chemical system of communication within the blood stream
It’s slower than the nervous system but the effects are more widespread and powerful
Involves chemical messengers called hormones

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14
Q

What’s a gland

A

An organ that secretes hormones which controls functions in the body,

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15
Q

Localisation of function (both hemispheres of brain)

A

Specific areas of brain are specialised for certain functions
Visual cortex - receives info directly from the eyes
Somatosensory cortex - processes info from senses
Motor cortex - responsible for motor movements . each hemisphere controls mpvememts from opposite sides of the body
Auditory cortex - hearing

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16
Q

Localisation in the brain

A

Wernickes area (left hemisphere) - part of brain involved in understanding language
Broca’s area (left hemisphere) - area of the brain involved in production of spoken and written language

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17
Q

Ao3 localisation of function of brain

A

:) Research has Scientific evidence from brain scans , because objective and empirical techniques like mri scans are used in order to identify which part of the brain is responsible for each task. Eg Broca’s area was active during a reading task, improves internal validity into research into localisation of function of brain

:( a limitation to Broca’s research is that it’s low In population validity. It’s a case study with tan as the only pptp so the findings on the localisation of function on Broca’s area can’t be generalised to the rest of the population. Suggesting more research is needed before conclusions are made .

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18
Q

Hemispheric lateralisation

A

It’s the idea the left and right hemispheres of the brain are responsible for diff functions
- 2 hemispheres each have diff functions and roles
-left side = receives info from the right visual field and controls right side of body, language and comprehension
-right hemisphere = receives info from left visual field and controls left side of body , creativity

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19
Q

What is split brain

A

Split brain patients have had surgery to cut the area that connects the 2 hemispheres of the brain

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20
Q

Sperry split brain research
Aim
Method
PPTPs

A

Aim - investigate the effect of severing the connection between two hemispheres of the brain
Method - natural
Pptps- 11 indivs who had their corpus callosum severed due to surgery

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21
Q

Sperry split brain research results

A

Objects seen in right visual field can be named verbally and In writing as the image would be processed by language centeres in left side of brain
If objects are only seen in left visual field patient couldn’t describe what was seen and typically reported there was nothing there due to the lack of language centeres in the right side of the brain

Concluding 2 hemispheres of brain have diff abilities and functions, only left can’t produce language
Right hemisphere can identify info but can’t verbalise

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22
Q

Hemispheric and split brain lateralisation ao3

A

:) scientific evidence from controlled laboratory settings using objective and empirical techniques , eg pptp would be given a fixation point whilst one eye was b,ind folded .

:( only 11 PPTPs, unrepresentative findings can’t be Generalised to the whole split brain population .

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23
Q

What is plasticity
Synoptic pruning

A

The brains ability to change and adapt its structures and processes as a consequence of experience and new learning
As we age connections that aren’t used regularly are deleted and ones that are used regularly are strengthened

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24
Q

What’s the research that investigates plasticity by maguire et al

A

Brains of taxi drivers were studied , there was a greater matter of grey volume In the posterior hippocampus Which is responsible for spatial and navigation skills in those who had been a taxi driver for a long time than those who had been one for a short time
This difference was due to their greater knowledge of the roads suggesting the structure of their brain has been altered by their experience thru plasticity .

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25
Q

What’s functional recovery

A

A type of plasticity that refers to the recovery of mental processes (such as movement) that have been affected as a result of brain damage

26
Q

Axonal sprouting as an example of functional recovery
Mechanisms for recovery ^

A
  1. Unhealthy axon degenerates
  2. Healthy neurons that are close by to the damage axons grow new dendrties
  3. These attach to areas of the brain previously supplied by the damage neurons
27
Q

Mechanisms for recovery - substitution of function

A

The damaged regions function is taken over by another area of the brain . Depending on locations victims need to often relearn tasks such as walking

28
Q

What can affect recovery after trauma

A

Gender - females more likely to recover than males
Age - younger recover faster than older as older brains r more prone to deterioration
Stress and alcohol
Perseverance

29
Q

Ao3 for plasticity and functional recovery

A

:( lacks population validity because it’s a case study involving one pptp called EB who had severe brain damage , this limits how well the findings can be generalised to the wider population as different genders and ages may experience diff lvls of plasticity. Thus lowers external validity of research into plasticity and functional recovery.

:) a strength of the research is that is has practical applications bc the theory states an indivs brain can recover from damage which has led to neurohabilitation. This is great because it has positive affects for stroke victims by using motor therapy to help them recover. Thus this is useful because it treats patients and contributes to the economy

30
Q

What is an invasive way of studying the brain
What is a non invasive

A

PET scans
fMRI, EEG , ERP these r non invasive as they don’t involve inserting instruments into the brain

31
Q

What’s spatial resolution
Temporal resolution
Causation

A

How detailed the image of the brain is , refers to the smallest feature a scanner can detect
How quickly the method can detect changes in brain activity
Can we infer a cause and effect from the activity we r seeing

32
Q

How does fMRI work
Ao3

A

Using magnetic field and radio waves to monitor blood flow , increase in blood flow is a response to the need for more oxygen in that area of the brain when it becomes active causing an increase in neural, activity

A03 :) it’s a non invasive method so can be virtually risk free as it doesn’t require sources of radiation
:( they can have poor temporal resolution of 1-4 seconds whereas other methods like EEG have a resolution of 1-10 milliseconds

33
Q

How does EEG work
Ao3 is same as ERP

A

-electrodes placed on scalp using skull cap , they detect small electrical changes resulting from the activity of brain cells . Elec signals are then graphed over a period of time to show a persons general brain activity

34
Q

How does ERPs work
Ao3

A

Electrodes placed on scalp and detect neuronal activity below where they’re placed in response to a stimulus , a stimulus is presented to a pptp many times and specific electrical responses to that stimulus in the brain are measured.

Ao3 eeg and erp r non invasive unlike other scanning techniques like pet scans , meaning they r virtually risk free , also has good temporal resolution , takes readings every millisecond
:( poor spatial resolution so they can’t provide info ab what’s happening in deeper regions of the brain

35
Q

What’s the difference between ERP AND EEG

A

Unlike EEG erp shows specific brain activity as all extraneous brain activity from the original EEG recording is filtered out leaving only those responses that link to the presentation of the stimulus

36
Q

How do post mortems work as a brain scanning technique

A

The brain of a dead patient is examined and dissected to see if there are any structural abnormalities this brain can be compared with a brain that doesn’t show this particular behaviour. Eg ) broca went thru this

Ao3 - :) this is the only invasive way to study the brain to get a more detailed examination that wouldn’t be possible through using EEG and ERP allowing researchers to study deeper areas of the brain like the hypothalamus

:( it’s an invasive technique which isn’t an issue because the patient is dead however there are ethical issues in relation to inform consent and whether or not a patient provides consent before their death

37
Q

What’s a circadian rhythm
Endogenous pacemaker
Exogenous zeitgebers

A

A cycle that lasts for 24 hrs
Internal body clock that regulates our biological rhythms
External, cues that affect our biological rhythms

38
Q

What’s a biological rythym

A

A cycle that produces a change in the physiological and psychological processes over a period of time. Three main ones r
circadian (cycle that lasts for 24 hrs eg the sleep wake cycle),
infradian rhythms which is a cycle that lasts longer than 24 hrs eg menstrual cycle
Ultradian rhythms- cycle less than 24 hrs eg sleep

39
Q

Circadian rhythms are controlled by our ..
The master pacemaker is…

A

Endogenous pacemakers
The SCN in the hypothalamus which must be constantly reset so we can be in synchrony w the outside world, its reset by light an exogenous zeitgeber to maintain a rhythm of 24 hrs

40
Q

A01 research of circadian rhythms michel siffre . Exogenous zeitgebers

A

He lived in a cave for 2 months and isolated himself from all exogenous zeitgebers, allowing his biological clock to be free running , within a few days he developed a 25-30 hr sleep/wake cycle
This research suggests natural light sources in the environment are vital for keeping indivs to a 24 hr sleep / wake cycle

41
Q

Other circadian rhythms: temp

A

Our core body temp is a great indicator of the circadian rhythm, it’s at its lowest at 4am ans highest around. 6pm . Sleep occurs when the core temp begins to drop and body temp starts to rise in the last hours of sleep

42
Q

Ao3 evaluation for circadian rhythms

A

:( a limitation is they involve small groups of pptps so it has low population validity . Eg sifre is a case study so the findings can’t be gereralised to the rest of the pop. Eg older ppl may have slower rhythms ans more easily influenced by exogenous zeitgebers.

:) practical applications. Night workers disrupt their rhythm so around 6am they have reduced concentration and will start making more accidents and mistakes . This can be used by employers to manage worker productivity and increase overall money to the economy

43
Q

What’s melatonin

A

A hormone produced by pineal gland which controls sleep and wakefulness

44
Q

How does the master endogenous pacemaker control sleep wake cycle

A

Our eyes notice a change in light as it gets dark and less light is recieved by the retina this info is sent to SCN , scn stimulates pineal gland to release melatonin causing u to feel tired

45
Q

An example of the endogenous pacemaker is

A

The scn which controls the sleep wake cycle

46
Q

What’s research behind the endogenous pacemaker

A

Scn connections were destroyed In chipmunks who were then returned to their natural habitat and observed . Findings : sleep/ wake cycle of chipmunks disappeared leading to fatigue ans many of them had been killed by predators as when they were awake they should’ve been asleep making them vulnerable to attack . Ethical issues

47
Q

What are exogenous zeitgebers

A

External, factors which are in our environment which can influence our sleep / wake cyle thru entrainment like light which suppresses the release of melatonin from the pineal gland

48
Q

Biological rhythms can be affected by

A

Exogenous zeitgebers and these can make it difficult to maintain a consistent cycle leading to disruption

49
Q

What happens when our sleep wake cycle is disrupted

A

Difficulty in sleeping which can be fixed by keeping to local times for sleeping , decreased attention, more anxiety and irritability
ligth surpeses the release of melatonin from the pineal gland

50
Q

Ao3 of endogenous pacemakers on the sleep wake cycle (circadian rhthms)

A

:( Research has ethical issues and animal bias. Conducted on chipmunks so findings can’t be generalised to rest of population, weakening the finidsings

:) research conducted by siffre

51
Q

What is it called when exogenous zeitgebers and endogenous pace makers r out of sync
What can this be caused by

A

Entrainment
Jet lag and night shifts

52
Q

Infradian rhythms … and give an example

A

Last longer than 24 hrs
Menstrual cycle

53
Q

How are Infradian rhythms like periods influenced by endogenous factors

A

Endogenous pacemakers controls the release of LH which releases oestrogen and progesterone from the ovaries to regulate the cycle
- oestrogen promotes the release of an egg
Progesterone increases the thickness of uterus lining for fertilisation

54
Q

How are infradian rhythms like periods influenced by exogenous zeitgebers

A

-stressful life events can influence length of cycle
-light can lengthen the cycle
-pheromones

55
Q

How does research -on pheromones show it to be an exogenous factor

A

A sample of women were asked to where cotton pads under their arms which were replaced every 24 hrs
The pads were rubbed on the upper lip of 5 sexually active women . The process was repeated for months and findings said 4/5 women developed menstrual cycles that synchronised to within one day of the donor cycle

56
Q

Ao3 to endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers on infradian rhythms

A

Adv - research comes from women who spent months in a cave with access to only dim lighting and it was found her menstrual cycle shortened from 28 days to 25.7 which supports the ifluence of light as an exogenous zeitgebers in maintaining infradian rhythms

Disadv- low population validity, case study , findings can’t be generalised, weskingjng research into importance of exogenous zeitgebers on infradian rhythms

57
Q

whats an ultradian rhythm
what happens in stage 1 and 2

A

cycle that lasts less than 24 hrs. Eg sleep stages
s1 and 2 (light sleep) - brain waves become slower in frequ and greater in amplitude. there’s sleep spindles (short bursts brain activity)

-muscle activity slows and breathing and heart rate slows. person = easily woken

58
Q

stage 3 and 4

A

brain generates even slower delta waves with greater amplitude. person difficult to wake in this stage of sleep. low lvls brain activity

-rhythmic breathing and muscle repairs

59
Q

stage 5 (REM - rapid eye movement)

A

more brain activity than any other stage. brain resembles an awake brain in a brain scan

-dreaming
-paralysis of body, fast movement of eyes under eyelids

60
Q

how many cycles can a person experience per night that repeats in a rhythmic pattern

A

5

Year 13 Pyschology (5 decks)

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