C1 - Biological Approach - AO1 Key Terms

Question 1

Evolutionary influences

Answer 1

One of the assumptions of the biological approach. This explains how the human mind and behaviour have changed over millions of year and adapted to the environment we live in.

Question 2

Natural selection

Answer 2

certain traits have been passed on to ensure survival of the next generation

Question 3

The environment of evolutionary adaptiveness

Answer 3

individuals are adapted to the pressures/dangers that existed at that time

Question 4

Localisation of brain function

Answer 4

One of the assumptions of the biological approach. This refers to the principle that certain areas are responsible for certain functions

Question 5

The cerebral cortex

Answer 5

Covers the brain and is divided into four lobes (regions) that are responsible for higher cognitive functions

Question 6

The frontal lobes

Answer 6

Involved in thinking and creativity

Question 7

The parietal lobes

Answer 7

Receive sensory information such as temperature, touch and pain.

Question 8

The temporal lobes

Answer 8

Responsible for much of our memory processing as well as processing of auditory information.

Question 9

The occiptal lobes

Answer 9

Concerned with visual processing and receives information directly from the eyes.

Question 10

Broca’s area

Answer 10

Associated with speech production and located in the posterior portion of the frontal lobe

Question 11

Wernicke’s area

Answer 11

Involved in understanding language and is located in the posterior portion of the left temporal lobe.

Question 12

Neurotransmitters

Answer 12

One of the assumptions of the biological approach. These relay chemical messages from one neuron to another

Question 13

Neuron

Answer 13

Electrically excitable cells that form the basis of the nervous system.

Question 14

Prefrontal lobotomy

Answer 14

A surgical procedure that selectively destroys nerve fibres that are involved with impulse control and mood regulation

Question 15

Prefrontal leucotomy

Answer 15

A surgical procedure developed by Moniz which involved drilling a hole on each side of the skull and inserting an instrument that resembled an ice-pick to destroy the nerve fibres underneath

Question 16

Deep brain stimulation

Answer 16

A possible alternative to psychosurgery where surgeons thread wires through the skull which produce an adjustable high-frequency current that interrupts the brain circuitry involved in certain conditions.

Question 17

Stereotactic psychosurgery

Answer 17

A far more precise way of surgically treating mental disorders by using MRI scans to locate exact points within the brain and precisely sever the connections.

Question 18

Bilateral Cingulotomy

Answer 18

This procedure was designed to surgically interrupt the circuit between the orbital frontal lobe and the deeper structures of the brain.

Question 19

Capsulotomy

Answer 19

In this procedure surgeons insert probes through the top of the skull and down into a region of the brain near the hypothalamus that is part of the circuit.