BNP (2022) complete with studies Flashcards
function of the autonomic nervous system
Governs automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate, digestion and our response to stress
define homeostasis
The maintenance of a constant internal environment
such as controlling oxygen levels in the blood through regular breathing
outline the autonomic nervous system
Homeostasis
It is an automatic system (does not have to be consciously directed)
Sympathetic division
Parasympathetic division
what is the role of the sympathetic division
Represents a state of physiological arousal, increasing breathing rate and heart rate
This is the FIGHT OR FLIGHT response
what is the role of the parasympathetic division
Counteracts the actions of the sympathetic division, returning the body to a normal state
This is the REST AND DIGEST response
outline the fight or flight response
Brain detects a threat
Adrenaline is released
Fight or flight response occurs
Once the threat has passed rest and digest
what does the James-Lange theory of emotion say
Physiological arousal comes first and emotion after
outline the James Lange theory of emotion
There is physiological arousal first - the hypothalamus arouses the ANS, adrenaline is released and there is arousal
Emotion afterwards - the brain interprets the physiological activity causing an emotion
For example - meeting a bear in the forest acts as a stressor, muscle tense and heart rate increases, physiological change is interpreted as fear, person runs away
No physical change means no emotion
give 3 evaluation points of James Lange theory
STRENGTH - it has real life examples
WEAKNESS - challenged by Cannon Bard theory
WEAKNESS - challenged by 2 factor theory
elaborate strength of James Lange theory (has real life examples)
Has real life examples
In phobias, emotional states follow arousal e:g falling down stairs = embarrassment
Shows emotional states are a result of arousal
elaborate weaknesses of James Lange theory (Cannon Bard)
Challenged by the Cannon Bard theory
Which states we experience emotional states at the same time as arousal
This can explain some situations that Lange could not
elaborate weakness of James Lange theory (2 factor theory)
Challenged by the 2 factor theory
Agrees with Lange but states we also need social cues to help us label the emotion
Therefore the Lange theory doesn’t explain how a person decides what emotion they are feeling
outline the fight or flight response
Hypothalamus detects a stressor, triggering the sympathetic division of the ANS
Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream and the ANS shifts from the parasympathetic to the sympathetic state
Engages fight or flight response (physiological arousal)
Once the threat has passed the parasympathetic division is engaged
what are the 3 types of neurones?
Sensory
Motor
Relay
describe sensory neuron and its function
Carries messages from the PNS to the CNS
Long dendrites and short axons
describe motor neuron and its function
Carries messages from the CNS to effectors
Short dendrites and long axons
describe the relay neuron and its function
Connect sensory and motor neurons
Short dendrites and short axons
what are the 7 parts of a neuron?
Dendrite Soma/Cell body Nucleus Myelin sheath Node of Ranvier Axons Terminal button
role of axon
Carries signals from the cell body down the neuron, covered in myelin sheath
role of myelin sheath
Fatty layer of insulation and gaps (nodes of Ranvier) speed up signal
role of dendrites
Carry electrical signals from the neighbouring neurons to the cell body
role of terminal buttons
End of axons forming part of the synapse
Have vesicles that release neurotransmitters
outline stages of synaptic transmission
Release of neurotransmitters
Reuptake of neurotransmitter
Excitation and Inhibition
Summation
detail reuptake of neurotransmitters
Once the neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft they attach to the postsynaptic receptor sites of the next neuron
Chemical message turned back into electrical impulse and travels down the neuron
The transmitters in the cleft are broken down by enzymes and reabsorbed.
what do excitatory transmitters do?
Excitatory increases positive charge so more likely to fire
what do inhibitory transmitters do?
Inhibitory increases negative charge so less likely to fire
what is summation?
When there are more excitatory transmitters than inhibitory transmitters causing the neuron to fire (creating electrical impulses)
detail release of neurotransmitters
When signals arrive at the terminal button vesicles release neurotransmitters
These travel across the synaptic cleft to the next neuron (postsynaptic)
what is the cerebrum?
Top layer of the brain, split into 2 hemispheres and 4 lobes
what is the frontal lobe?
Controls thinking and planning
Contains the motor area which controls movement
what is the parietal lobe?
Behind the frontal lobe
Contains the somatosensory area - where sensations are processed
what is the occipital lobe?
At the back of the brain
Contains visual area
what is the temporal lobe?
Behind the frontal lobe and below the parietal lobe
Contains language and auditory areas - controls speech and learning
what is the cerebellum?
Receives info from the spinal cord and the brain
Co-ordinates sensorimotor as well as attention and language
Order of the parts of the brain
Frontal Parietal Occipital Cerebellum Temporal
FPOCT
what if the motor area is damaged (frontal)?
If one hemisphere is damaged the opposite side of the body is damaged
what if the somatosensory area is damaged (parietal)?
The most sensitive areas of the body take up the most space
If damaged, then pain sensitivity is lowered
what if the visual area is damaged (occipital)?
Damage to one eye is because of the opposite hemisphere being damaged
what if the auditory area is damaged (temporal)?
Damage leads to deafness
what if the language areas are damaged (temporal)?
Usually in left hemisphere
Broca’s area: damage leads to difficulty remembering and forming WORDS
Wernicke’s area: damage leads to difficulty understanding and producing meaningful SPEECH
what was the aim of Penfield’s study of the interpretive cortex?
To investigate the function of the temporal lobe using the Montreal procedure
what is the method of Penfield’s study of the interpretive cortex?
Operated on severe epileptics who were conscious
Stimulated areas using Montreal procedure and recorded responses
More than 1000 cases
what were the results of Penfield’s study of the interpretive cortex?
With stimulation patients recalled experiences of related feelings, including deja vu
Same memory every time same area stimulated
The area stimulated controlled whether or not the experience was relived or feelings felt
what was the conclusion of Penfield’s study of the interpretive cortex?
Episodic memories are stored in the temporal lobe
An area stores the semantic memories of events - interpretive cortex
give 3 evaluation points of Penfield’s study of the interpretive cortex
STRENGTH - precise method
WEAKNESS - an unusual sample
WEAKNESS - his later research
elaborate strength of Penfield’s study of interpretive cortex? (precise method)
A precise method was used
Montreal procedure meant that the same area could be stimulated twice
This enabled him to produce a map of brain function
elaborate weakness of Penfield’s study of the interpretive cortex?
An unusual sample was used
All participants were severe epileptics meaning the results could be unusual and not reflective of brain function in non epileptic people
This means it is hard to generalise
elaborate weakness of Penfield’s study of interpretive cortex (his later research)
His later research
40 of 520 participants reported vivid memories when their temporal lobe was stimulated
This suggests the interpretive cortex does not always respond in the same way
define CT scans
Doughnut shaped scanner that rotates and takes many X-rays, combined to make one picture
evaluate CT scans
STRENGTH - higher quality than single X ray as more detailed and many more pictures
WEAKNESS - exposes participants to significant radiation and produced still images
define PET scans
Patient injected with radioactive tracer. Brain activity shown on computer screen
evaluate PET scans
STRENGTH - shows the brain in action and localisation of function
WEAKNESS - expensive and may be unethical due to radiation exposure
define fMRI scan
Measures changes in blood oxygen levels. Displayed as a 3D image
evaluate fMRI scans
STRENGTH - superior to other methods as produces clear images without radiation
WEAKNESS - patients has to remain very still during scan so difficult to conduct
what was the aim of Tulving’s ‘gold memory’ study
To investigate if episodic memories produce different blood flow patterns to semantic ones
what was the method of Tulving’s ‘gold memory’ study
6 participants injected with radioactive gold
Repeated measures design used for each type of memory (3 episodic, 3 semantic)
Blood flow monitored using PET scan
what were the results of Tulving’s ‘gold memory’ study
Different blood flow in half of the participants
Episodic memories stored in frontal and temporal lobes
Semantic memories stored in parietal and occipital lobes
what are the conclusions of Tulving’s ‘gold memory’ study
Episodic and semantic memories are localised. Memory is biological
give 3 evaluation points of Tulving’s ‘gold memory’ study
STRENGTH - it produced objective,scientific evidence
WEAKNESS - the sample
WEAKNESS - episodic and semantic memories are similar
elaborate strength of Tulving’s ‘gold memory’ study (objective, scientific evidence)
Produced objective, scientific evidence
Evidence from brain scans is difficult to fake unlike other psychological evidence which is easier to alter
This means he produced unbiased evidence
elaborate weakness of Tulving’s ‘gold memory’ study (the sample)
The sample
Only 6 participants including Tulving’s were used and only half had different blood flow for each type of memory
This makes the results inconclusive
elaborate weakness of Tulving’s ‘gold memory’ study (episodic and semantic memories are similar)
Episodic and semantic memories are similar
Memories about events often include facts and knowledge about the world so it is difficult to work out which type of memory is being studied
This explains the inconclusive evidence found
