neuropsych

Question 1

what is the nervous system made up of and what do they do

Answer 1

it is made up of neurons that use electrical impulses to pass information around the body

Question 2

describe a sensory neuron and its function

Answer 2

• carry information from sensory receptors to the CNS
• the brain translates the impulses into sensations e.g. heat/pain
• one end receives info from sense organs and the other sends messages on
• each stem ends with small branches called dendrites

Question 3

describe a relay neuron and its function

Answer 3

• allow sensory and motor neurons to communicate with each other
• located in the CNS and surrounded by dendrites
• where the analysis of sensory information happens

Question 4

describe a motor neuron and its function

Answer 4

• it stimulates the muscles for movement
• send messages from the CNS to muscles
• begin in the spinal cord with a long axon which leads to the muscle
• divides into dendrites called the motor end plate, which connects with the muscles

Question 5

explain the difference between a sensory neuron and a relay neuron

Answer 5

a sensory neuron carries information from sensory receptors to the CNS while relay neurons allow sensory and motor neurons to communicate. Relay neurons analyse the sensory information whereas sensory neurons only receive and send messages on.

Question 6

explain the process of synaptic transmission

Answer 6

• electrical signal travels to end of presynaptic neuron and reaches terminal button
• vesicles release chemicals called neurotransmitters which crosses the synaptic cleft
• receptor sites on the postsynaptic neuron take up neurotransmitter
• chemical message is turned back into electrical impulse and travels along postsynaptic neuron
• neurotransmitter left behind in synaptic cleft broken down and reabsorbed

Question 7

describe and explain the effects of an excitatory neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic neuron

Answer 7

• an example of an excitatory neurotransmitter is adrenaline
• it increases the postsynaptic neurons positive charge
• which makes it more likely to fire

Question 8

describe and explain the effect of an inhibitory neurotransmitter

Answer 8

• an inhibitory neurotransmitter would be serotonin
• it increases the negative charge of the postsynaptic neuron
• makes it less likely to fire

Question 9

define summation

Answer 9

a single neuron receives signals from many other neurons in a network, so summation means the neuron fires when there are enough excitatory signal compared to inhibitory ones

Question 10

what is the difference between excitation and inhibition

Answer 10

excitation increases the postsynaptic neurons positive charge and makes it more likely to fire, for example adrenaline, whereas inhibition increases the negative charge of the postsynaptic neuron, making it less likely to fire, like serotonin

Question 11

explain how excitation and inhibition work together

Answer 11

neurotransmitters like adrenaline increase the positive charge of the next neuron, making it more likely to fire. other neurotransmitters like serotonin increase the negative charge of the next neuron, making it less likely to fire. when there are enough excitatory signals compared to inhibitory ones, the neuron fires, causing summation

Question 12

according to Hebb, what happens to neurons in the brain when we learn

Answer 12

new connections are formed between neurons and become stronger the more they are used

Question 13

what did Hebb mean when he described the brain as plastic

Answer 13

it is constantly changing and developing

Question 14

when in life does the brain show plasticity

Answer 14

all the time and at any age when we learn something new

Question 15

what is an engram

Answer 15

a trace left in the brain from learning

Question 16

how is an engram like a sparkler

Answer 16

it leaves a trace when lit, the brain leaves a trace when it learns something new

Question 17

how is an engram unlike a sparkler

Answer 17

the trace in the brain can be made permanent if the learning is practiced and rehearsed, while the spark quickly fades after it dies out

Question 18

what are cell assemblies and how do they work

Answer 18

they are groups of neurons that fire together during learning. the more this happens the stronger the synaptic connections between them occur and the more efficient the group of neurons become

Question 19

evaluate hebbs theory

Answer 19

+ it is scientific, Hebb explained learning in terms of brain function which provided an objective basis for understanding behaviour, so shows that learning can be studied through brain processes

+ it can be applied to education, rats raised in stimulating settings were better able to find their way through mazes as adults, could be applied to learning by creating more stimulating environments to encourage learning

• it reduces learning to a neuronal level as it ignores other levels of understanding e.g. piaget’s idea that accommodation moves learning forwards, a more complete account of learning would discuss non-biological factors as well

Question 20

define localisation

Answer 20

particular areas of the brain have particular functions and do particular jobs, so if a certain brain area is damaged then the function is controls may be affected or lost altogether

Question 21

describe the function of the frontal lobe

Answer 21

it controls thought, memory and planning and also includes the motor area, the motor area in one hemisphere controls movement on the opposite side of the body

Question 22

describe the function of the parietal lobe

Answer 22

it is responsible for integrating information from other areas to form basis of complex behaviours, including the senses, also includes the somatosensory area

Question 23

describe the function of the temporal lobe

Answer 23

helps us understand and process what we hear and is responsible for comprehension and production of spoken language as well as emotions and emotional memory

Question 24

describe the function of the occipital lobe and what happens if its damaged

Answer 24

where all the visual information is processed such as colour, shape and distance, injury to the primary visual cortex can cause vision impairments such a blindness or blind spots

Question 25

describe the location and function of the motor area

Answer 25

it is in the frontal lobe, the motor area in one hemisphere controls movement in the opposite side of the body, so damage to the left motor area causes movement problems on the right

Question 26

describe the location and function of the somatosensory area and what happens if its damaged

Answer 26

it is in the parietal lobe and is the area where sensations are processed, the most sensitive sensitive body parts take up the most ‘space’ in this area, damage means the person is less likely to feel things like pain and changes in temperature

Question 27

describe the location and function of Broca’s area and what happens if it was damaged

Answer 27

a small area at the base of the left frontal lobe which controls speech production, damage leads to Broca’s aphasia, which is a difficulty in remembering and forming words

Question 28

describe the location and function of Wernicke’s area and what happens if its damaged

Answer 28

located in the left temporal lobe and concerned with understanding speech, if damaged it leads to Wernicke’s aphasia which is a difficulty in understanding what people are saying

Question 29

describe the function of the brain stem

Answer 29

controls basic autonomic functions e.g. breathing and heart rate

Question 30

describe the function and location of the cerebellum

Answer 30

it is found at the back of the brain, activities are carried out automatically and are not under conscious control, receives information from the spinal cord and other parts of the brain to help with coordination, balance and fine movements

Question 31

outline the difference in function between the motor and somatosensory areas of the brain

Answer 31

the motor area is in the frontal lobe, and controls movement on the opposite side of the body. the somatosensory area is in the parietal lobe, and processes sensations. both areas control and process different parts of the body

Question 32

what are groups of neurons firing together during learning called

Answer 32

cell assemblies

Question 33

hebb’s theory is

Answer 33

reductionist, as it explains learning in terms of neurons

Question 34

which neurons have long dendrites and short axons

Answer 34

sensory neurons

Question 35

explain the function of the cerebellum

Answer 35

the cerebellum receives information from the spinal cord and other parts of the brain and helps with balance and coordination. it controls actions like walking and running and makes them smoother and more automatic