C1 - Biological Approach - AO1 Key Terms Flashcards
Evolutionary influences
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.
Natural selection
certain traits have been passed on to ensure survival of the next generation
The environment of evolutionary adaptiveness
individuals are adapted to the pressures/dangers that existed at that time
Localisation of brain function
One of the assumptions of the biological approach. This refers to the principle that certain areas are responsible for certain functions
The cerebral cortex
Covers the brain and is divided into four lobes (regions) that are responsible for higher cognitive functions
The frontal lobes
Involved in thinking and creativity
The parietal lobes
Receive sensory information such as temperature, touch and pain.
The temporal lobes
Responsible for much of our memory processing as well as processing of auditory information.
The occiptal lobes
Concerned with visual processing and receives information directly from the eyes.
Broca’s area
Associated with speech production and located in the posterior portion of the frontal lobe
Wernicke’s area
Involved in understanding language and is located in the posterior portion of the left temporal lobe.
Neurotransmitters
One of the assumptions of the biological approach. These relay chemical messages from one neuron to another
Neuron
Electrically excitable cells that form the basis of the nervous system.
Prefrontal lobotomy
A surgical procedure that selectively destroys nerve fibres that are involved with impulse control and mood regulation
Prefrontal leucotomy
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
Deep brain stimulation
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.
Stereotactic psychosurgery
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.
Bilateral Cingulotomy
This procedure was designed to surgically interrupt the circuit between the orbital frontal lobe and the deeper structures of the brain.
Capsulotomy
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.
