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Pyschology > Biopyschology > Flashcards

Biopyschology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the nervous system?

A

A specialized network of cells that enables communication within the body, responsible for coordinating voluntary/involuntary processes like thought, movement and organ function

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2
Q

What does agnostic mean in relation to ANS?

A

Working in opposition to eachother

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3
Q

What happens to each of the organs in fight/flight mode?

A

Heart- Increased heart rate
Lungs- Increased intake of oxygen
Pupils- Dilated
Digestion- Slowed down
Saliva- Less saliva

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4
Q

What happens to each of the organs in rest and digest mode?

A

Heart-Normal rate
Lungs- Normal rate
Pupils- Contract
Digestion- More digestion
Saliva- Increased saliva

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5
Q

What is in the CNS?

A

Central Nervous System:
Brain- controls thought, perception and voluntary movement
Spinal cord- relays information between the brain and the rest of the body

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6
Q

What is the PNS?

A

Peripheral Nervous System:
-Transmits messaged to/from CNS to the rest of the body

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7
Q

What is the SNS?

A

Somatic Nervous System:
-Controls voluntary movements, motor neurones and sensory neurones to the CNS

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8
Q

What is the ANS?

A

Autonomic Nervous System:
-Manages involuntary processes like heart rate, digestion and transmits from/to the bodily organs

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9
Q

What is the Sympathetic NS?

A

Controls fight/flight

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10
Q

What is the Parasympathetic NS?

A

Controls rest/digest

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11
Q

What is a neuron?

A

Specialised nerve cells that form the basic building blocks of the nervous system, communicating information through electrical or chemical signals

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12
Q

Describe the parts of a neuron

A

Dendrites- receive signals from other neurons
Cell body- nucleus, controls activities and provides energy
Cell membrane- protects cell
Axon-long fibre that transmits electrical signals away from cell body
Axon hillock- Generates impulses in the neuron
Nodes of ranvier- electrical impulses jumps from node to node to speed up transmittion
Myelin sheath- insulates axon and increases speed
Axon terminal- signals are transmitted to next cell via synaptic transmittion, containing neurotransmitters
Schwann cell- produces myelin sheath

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13
Q

What is the structure and function of a sensory neuron?

A

Structure- Long dendrites, short axon and cell body in middle
Function- Carries info from sensory organs to CNS like heat or pressure

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14
Q

What is the structure and function of a relay neurone?

A

Structure- Short dendrites, short axon, lack of myelin sheath as less speed is needed
Function- Found only in CNS, connects motor and sensory neurones

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15
Q

What is the structure and function of a motor neurone?

A

Structure- Short dendrites, long axonss, cell bodies in CNS, spinal cord
Function- Transmits signals from CNS to effectors enabling movement

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16
Q

How can the reflex arc be remembered?

A

Sausage Roll Sausage Roll M E

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17
Q

What is synaptic transmittion?

A

A process by which neighbouring neurons send messages. A signal is released from the presynaptic and received by receptors at the postsynaptic

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18
Q

What kind of signals are ones within a neuron?

A

Electrical

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19
Q

What kind of signals are ones between neurons?

A

Chemical

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20
Q

What are synaptic vesicles?

A

Holds neurotransmitters which are released when an electric impulse reaches the presynaptic terminal

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21
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Brain chemicals that relay signals across neurons via the synapse which are excitatory or inhibitory

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22
Q

What is excitation?

A

Increased positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron which increases the chance of the electrical signal being passed on

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23
Q

What is the higher chance of an electrical signal being passed on called?

A

Depolarisation

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24
Q

What is inhibition?

A

Increased negative charge of the postsynaptic neuron which decreases the likelihood of passing on the electrical impulse

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25
Q

What is the lower chance of an electrical signal being passed on called?

A

Hyperpolarization

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26
Q

What are examples of excitation and inhibition as chemicals?

A

Excitation- Adrenaline
Inhibition- Seretonin

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27
Q

What is summation?

A

The process where the effects of multiple excitatory and inhibitory signals received by a neuron are integrated to determine whether the neuron will fire an action potential

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28
Q

Where does summation occur?

A

Axon hillock

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29
Q

Outline the process of synaptic transmission

A
  1. The electrical signal reaches axon terminal
    2.Vesicles in pre-synaptic membrane is triggered, releasing neurotransmitters via diffusion which turns into it into a chemical signal
    3.Chemical locks into pre-synaptic receptor sites, found only in membrane of adjacent post-synaptic neuron which converts it back to an electrical impulse
    4.Stimulation of post-synaptic reception results in excitation or inhibition via summation
    5.If total effect is inhibitory, negative and less likely. If total effect is excitatory, positive and more likely
    6.Enzymes are released to break down the excess neurotransmitters
    6.Or, excess neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the synaptic terminals
    8.Vesicles are replenished with new/reused neurotransmitters
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30
Q

What is dopamine related to?

A

Pleasure, satisfaction, motivation, mood, memory, sleep

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31
Q

What is seretonin related to?

A

Mood, sleep, digestion, nausea

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32
Q

What is adrenaline related to?

A

Fight/flight response in stressful situations

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33
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

A network of glands which secrete hormones into the bloodstream to regulate physiological processes

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34
Q

What are glands?

A

Specialised organs which secrete substances like hormones, enzymes and other fluids- examplea are pituitary, adrenal, thyroid

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35
Q

What are hormones?

A

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands and released into bloodstream to target organs and tissues with growth and metabolism

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36
Q

What are the different areas of the endocrine system?

A

Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland
Parathyroid gland
Adrenal gland
Pancreas
Testes
Thyroid gland
Ovaries

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37
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A

Makes dopamine, control heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, controls pituatary gland, thirst and hunger

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38
Q

What is the pituatary gland?

A

Growth, sexual reproduction, metabolism, produces LH and FSH

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39
Q

What is the parathyroid gland?

A

Calcium levels

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40
Q

What is the adrenal gland?

A

Releases adrenaline, diverts blood to muscles/brain, blood pressure, metabolism and response to stress

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41
Q

What are the ovaries?

A

Produces eggs for fertilisation, menstrual cycle

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42
Q

What are the testes?

A

Makes sperm and testosterone

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43
Q

What is the pancreas?

A

Digests food with enzymes, makes insulin to control blood sugar levels

44
Q

What is the thyroid gland?

A

Controls thyroxine and metabolic rate. It produces the hormone thyroxide which affects heart rate. It affects cells throughout the body, increasing metabolic rate, affecting growth rate

45
Q

What are the hormones from the thyroid gland?

A

Hypothyroidism- too low, depression, slow movement, weight gain, tiredness
Hyperthyroidism- nervousness, anxiety, hyperactivity, weight loss, insomnia

46
Q

What is oxytocin?

A

‘Love’ hormone, cuddle, bonding, helps with contractions and shrinking of the uterus, released during breastfeeding, involved in mother-child bonding process

47
Q

How does the endocrine and ANS work together?

A

-A person enters a stressful/dangerous situaton
-The amygalda is activated, sending a distress signal to hypothalamus
-The hypothalamus activates SAM pathway to adrenal gland which changes resting state to sympathetic state
-SNS stimulates adrenal mendulla
-Adrenal mendulla secrets adrenaline and noradrenalline into the bloodstream
-Adrenaline causes physiological changes like increased oxygen rate, heart rate

48
Q

How does the body respond to prolonged stress?

A
49
Q

What is spatial resolution?

A

The smallest feature a scanner can detect. It allows pyschologists to distinguish different brain regions

50
Q

What is temporal resolution?

A

Accuracy of scanner in time, how quickly it detects brain activity

51
Q

What are functional scans?

A

Differences in brain function of different areas or overall

52
Q

What are structural scans?

A

Assessing areas of damage/atypical brain regions

53
Q

Describe a profile of fMRI’s.

A

-Detects change in blood oxygenation and flow due to neural activity, creating 3D activation brain maps
-Functional analysis/purpose
-High spatial resolution (1-2mm)
-Low temporal resolution (1-4 secs)

54
Q

Describe a profile of EEG’s.

A

-Measures electrical activity in brain via electrodes that are fixed into the scalp, generating brainwaves which diagnose arrhythmic patters of activity related to diagnosis of disorders
-Functional analysis- provides overall indication of brain waves present
-Low spatial resolution
-High temporal resolution (1-10ms)

55
Q

Describe a profile of ERP’s.

A

-Statistical averaging technique which measures a specific brain wave in relation to a specific activity/task/stimuli
-Functional analysis to produce info about brain waves
-Low spatial resolution
-High temporal resolution (1-10ms)

56
Q

Describe a profile of post-mortems.

A

-Analysis of a person’s brain after death to assess areas of structural abnormalities which may impact behavioural or cognitiive factors
-Structural processes to asses areas of damage
-High spatial resolution as able to dissect
-Low temporal resolution as only one measurement is taken

57
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of fMRI?

A

Strengths- Doesn’t rely on radiation which is more ethical
-High spatial resolution
-Helps plan safe surgeries and is used widely in research

Weaknesses- Expensive
-Impossible for causation on neural level
-Poor temporal resolution

58
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of EEG?

A

Strengths- Sleep studies/epilepsy studies
-Non-invasive
-Ethical as no radiation is involved
-Cheaper than fMRI

Weaknesses- Low spatial resolution detecting information from a generalised area of thousands of neurons
-Uncomfortable

59
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of ERP?

A

Strengths- High temporal resolution
Specific measurement of processing changes with stimulus
-Non-invasive
-Cheaper than fMRI

Weaknesses- Not possible to eliminate extraneous variables
-Low spatial resolution
-Uncomfortable

60
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of post mortems?

A

Strengths- Vital in understanding the brain with Wernicke
-High spatial resolution as deeper regions can be examined

Weaknesses- Invasive
-Lack of causation as changes may occur after death
-Ethical issues with consent and specific permission

61
Q

What is diffusion tractography?

A

A type of MRI application that visualizes the anisotropic diffusion of water molecules along fiber bundles in the brain

62
Q

What is localisation?

A

Different functions are localised in specific areas of the brain

63
Q

What is lateralisation?

A

Certain activities and behaviours are controlled by one hemisphere rather than another

64
Q

What and where is the frontal lobe?

A

Front of the brain
Responsible for thought, movement, memory and social skills

65
Q

What and where is the temporal lobe?

A

Behind the ears
Auditory area- analyses speech based information

66
Q

What and where is the occipital lobe?

A

Back of the brain
Visually processing area- distance, depth, perception, colour

66
Q

What and where is the parietal lobe?

A

In between the somatosensory lobe and occipital lobe (right upper back)
Sensory perception and integration like hearing, taste, sight, touch and smell

67
Q

Where and what is the somatosensory cortex?

A

Parietal lobe
Sensory information from the skin like heat or pressure is presented

68
Q

Where and what is the auditory cortex?

A

Temporal lobe
Ability to perceive sound

69
Q

Where and what is the motor cortex?

A

Frontal lobe
Planning, controlling and executing voluntary movement

70
Q

Where and what is the visual cortex?

A

Occipital lobe
Receives, integrates and processes visual information from retinas

71
Q

What is Broca’s area and what is damage to it?

A

Small area in left frontal lobe responsible for speech production
Broca’s aphasia- Slow speech, lack of fluency

72
Q

What is Wernicke’s area and what is damage to it?

A

Left temporal lobe responsible for language comprehension
Wernicke’s aphasia- Neologism

73
Q

What evidence supports localisation and why?

A

Buckner and Petersen (1996)- episodic and semantic memories are in different hemispheres of the brain/prefrontal cortex
Phineas Gage- Personality changed after direct link to frontal lobe
Broca’s study of Tan- Visual damage to Broca’s area related to speech production

74
Q

What evidence denies localisation and why?

A

Dougherty et al. (2002)- Neurosurgey for OCD (cingulotomy) was 30% successful for participants after 32 weeks

75
Q

What is contralateral?

A

In relation to the opposite side of the body where the structure/condition occurs

76
Q

What is ipsilateral?

A

Belonging/occuring on the same side of the body

77
Q

What functions are not lateralised?

A

Movement, senses and vision- Motor/somatosensory areas

78
Q

Describe sensorimotory processing.

A

Motor actions are controlateral which means the activity of right side of the body is controlled by the left hemisphere and the activity of left side of the body is controlled by the right hemisphere.

79
Q

Describe visual processing.

A

Visual actions is both controlateral and ipsilateral as each eye gets light from the left field of vision but it goes to the right cortex. This allows for vision to understand depth and perception through the optical chiasm.

80
Q

What is split brain research?

A

Severing the corpus callosum between the hemispheres as a surgical procedure used for epileptic inidvdiuals to reduce fits. The brain may experience excessive electrical activity between hemispheres and the split brain shows how the hemispheres can function without communication.

81
Q

What was the aim of Sperry’s experiment?

A

To study how the seperated hemispheres deal with speech and vision

82
Q

What was the sample and method of Sperry’s experiment?

A

11 people were shown an image projected to a participants right field of vision and the same/different image was projected on the left field of vision

83
Q

What conclusions were made from Sperrys’s experiment?

A

The RH processes information where the language centre isn’t which means speech was not used to describe the image, although they could draw with their left hand the picture seen. The LH processes information where the language centre is which means speech could be used to describe the image. Vision is both contralateral and ipsilateral.

84
Q

What was the Kim Peek case study?

A

He had damage to his cerebellum and corpus callosum was missing. He had an incredible memory and could read two pages of a book at once.

85
Q

Name studies which approved of laterlisation and why?

A

Rogers et al- Chicks not lateralised couldn’t attend to two visual tasks simultaneously whereas laterlised chicks could
Gazzaniga- Presented stimuli to each hemisphere seperately and at the same time. He worked with Sperry- the right/left hemispheres were found to be independent

86
Q

What are the strengths of split brain research?

A

-Enabled discoveries of lateralisation of function- we may not be as aware of how each hemisphere works without it
-Scientific experiments in lab conditions which increases replicability

86
Q

What are the weaknesses of split brain research?

A

-Lack of control groups
-Rare, unique case studies
-Participant variables- how long had their brain been split for?
-Artificial as they would be able to see irl with both eyes
-Oversimplifies lateralisation

86
Q

What is neural plasticity?

A

The ability for the brain to change and adapt its structure as a result of experience or new learning

86
Q

What is functional recovery?

A

The way certain abilities of the brain may be moved or redistrbuted rather than lost during brain damage or trauma

87
Q

What is synaptic pruning?

A

Rarely-used connections are deleted whereas frequently-used connections are strengthened as we age

87
Q

What is spontaneous recovery?

A

Process of functional recovery is very quick then slows down over time

88
Q

What are the strutural changes of functional recovery?

A

Axonal sprouting, reformation of blood vessels, denervation supersensitivity, recruitment of homologous areas

89
Q

What is axonal sprouting?

A

The growth of new nerve endings which connect with other undamaged nerve cells to form new neuronal pathways

90
Q

What is the reformation of blood vessels?

A

Facilities the growth of new neural pathways

91
Q

What is denervation supersensitivity?

A

Similar areas become aroused of higher levels to compensate for ones that are lost. This can lead to oversensitivity like messages of pain

92
Q

What is synaptic pruning?

A

Process where rarely-used connections are deleted whereas frequently-used connections are strengthened

93
Q

Summarise Maguire’s study on neural plasticity

A

Taxi driver study:
-Used a matched control group to compare
-Hippocampus associated with spatial and navigation skills
-Taxi drivers have more volume grey matter in hippocampus
-The longer the taxi drivers have had the job, the more pronounced the structural difference (positive correlation)

94
Q

Summarise Draganski’s research

A

Medical students before/after revision:
-Learning-induced changes in the posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex
-Intensive study causes structural changes

94
Q

Summarise Kuhn’s et al research

A

Video games study:
-Super Marios 30 minutes daily for 2 months which led to an increase of grey matter in hippocampus
-Memory/co-ordination skills increased

95
Q

Summarise Davidson’s et al research

A

Tibetan monks study:
-Higher gamma wave activity (neural co-ordination) for meditators than non-meditators
-Meditation can leave lasting changes on brain function

96
Q

What are examples of functional recovery?

A

Epileptical Jody- had right hemisphere removed and she walked normally after
Echolocation Daniel- used echolocation (sounds to aid sight) - Thater et al (2011)- echolocation activates blind peoples visual parts of their brain

97
Q

Outline Tajiri et als study (2013)

A

Stem cells were provided to rats after brain trauma which led to neuron-like cell development suggesting brain damage can be prepared

98
Q

Outline Elbert et als study (2014)

A

Neural reorganisation capacity is greater in children than adults as adults have reduced generative abilities

99
Q

Outline Banjerjee et al.’s study (2014)

A

Treated stroke patients with stem cells (100% recovery rate compared to typical 4% rate). However, it is limited by its small sample size and lack of control group

100
Q
A

Pyschology (4 decks)

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