Neuroscience

Question 1

What is biological psychology?

Answer 1

This is a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behaviour.

Question 2

S.I.M

What are the 3 types of neurons?

Answer 2

• Sensory neurons (input)- From sensory organs to the brain & spinal cord
• Interneurons- carry information between other neurons (only found in brain & spinal cord)
• Motor neurons (output)- From the brain & spinal cord to the mucles & glands

Question 3

A.P, S, N

How do neurons communicate?

Answer 3

• By an electrical signal called action potential which is the movement of ions within a cell. This potential sends a molecular message to neighboring neurons
• Synapse- junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite of the receiving neuron. axon terminals have storage sacs called synaptic vesicles.
• Neurotransmitters- chemical messengers that traverse (travel through) the synaptic gaps between neurons. They bind to receptor sites on the recieving neurons which influences the generation of neural impulses.

Question 4

Strucutre of a neuron

Answer 4

Onenote

Question 5

Neurotransmitters & Behaviour

Answer 5

Onenote

Question 6

What are some drugs shaped like neurotransmitters and work on receptors

Answer 6

• Agonists- fit receptor well and act like the neurotransmitters eg. nicotine
• Antagonists- fit the receptor but poorly block the NT eg. beta blockers

Question 7

What is the nervous system made up of?

Answer 7

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)- Sensory & motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body.
1. Somatic Nervous system- controls the body’s skeletal muscles (voluntary & involuntary reflex movements)

2. Automatic Nervous system- controls the glands & muscles of the internal organs eg. heart

• Sympathetic- arousal in stressful situations (fight)
• Parasympathetic- calming (flight)

Central Nervous System (CNS)- Brain & Spinal cord

Question 8

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 8

The endocrine system is a network of glands and organs that use hormones to control and coordinate many functions in the body. Eg. metabolism, energy etc

Question 9

What are hormones?

Answer 9

Chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream by your organs. These signals tell your body what to do and when to do it. Eg. Growth hormone: Produced by the pituitary gland, this hormone influences height and helps build bones and muscles

Question 10

What are adrenal glands?

Answer 10

In moments of danger the autonomic nervous system have adrenal glands release adrenaline. These hormones increase heart rate & blood pressure thus providing energy

Question 11

What is the pituitary gland?

Answer 11

Influences growth & the release of hormones by other endocrine glands. t is found at the base of your brain, in line with the top of your nose.

Question 12

What are some techniques used to study the brain?

Answer 12

• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• PET Scan
• MRI Scan

Question 13

What is the brainstem?

Answer 13

It is the cross over point where each side of the brain connects with the body’s opposite side. Responsible for automatic survival instincts (breathing, digestion etc).

Question 14

What is the limbic system?

Answer 14

Primarily responsible for our emotions (fear, anger) and drives for basic motives (food, sex)

Question 15

What is the cerebral cortex?

This is the largest component of the cerebrum

Answer 15

Most highly developed area of the brain. The cerebral cortex carries out essential functions of your brain, like memory, thinking, learning, reasoning, problem-solving, emotions, consciousness, and sensory functions.

Question 16

T.O.P.F

What are the 4 parts of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 16

• Frontal lobe- contains primary motor cortex
• Parietal lobe- inputs from multiple senses
• Occipital lobe- input from optic nerve & contains primary visual cortex
• Temporal lobe- inputs are auditory, visual patterns and involved in speech, face & word recognition as well as memory formation

Question 17

What is brain reorganization?

Answer 17

Brain reorganization, also known as neuroplasticity, is the brain’s ability to change and adapt.

Question 18

What is brain lateralization?

Answer 18

Brain lateralization is the process of different regions of the brain taking over the functioning of specific cognitive skills and behaviors.

Critical thinking on the left hemisphere and showing emotions on the right hemisphere.

Visual crossover- Right and left visual information cross to opposite sides of the brain.

Lateralization is never 100%

Question 19

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 19

The corpus callosum is a bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain.

When the corpus callosum is severed, the brain’s hemispheres can’t communicate properly. This can lead to a condition called split-brain syndrome. In this condition, each hemisphere of the brain functions independently. Split brain studies examine how the brain functions when the corpus callosum is severed or missing.

Cutting the corpus callosum is a surgery for epilepsy

Question 20

Afferent vs efferent nerves

Answer 20

Afferent nerves carry information to the central nervous system (CNS), while efferent nerves carry information away from the CNS.

Question 21

Genotype vs Phenotype

Answer 21

In psychology, genotype refers to an individual’s genetic makeup. Phenotype refers to an individual’s inherited physical characteristics, which are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.