Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology > The Biological Approach > Flashcards

The Biological Approach Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
0
Q

What were the 4 major consequences Darwin had on psychology?

A

Psychologists started trying to understand human behaviour from a biological point of view.

The realisation that studying other species may shine light on human behaviour.

Beginning to study the influence of heredity genes. Nature/nurture debate.

Generic variation aids in the adaption of the species, ensuring survival of evolution.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

What did Charles Darwin introduce?

A

That not only humans have complex forms of thinking, but animals as well. Stating that we once came from apes ourselves.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What kind if study has been used that favours the nature debate?

A

The twin studies. There are 2 types of twins: monozygotic/identical and dizygotic/fraternal twins.

If genetic factors play a large contribution to attributes such as intelligence and aggression, then identical twins should be more similar to one another than fraternal.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How is the nervous system divided?

A

The Central Nervous System and the Peripheral Nervous System.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the Central Nervous System?

A

Consists of the brain and spinal cord.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is in the Peripheral Nervous System?

A

All the other nerves not associated with the brain or the spine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How is the Peripheral Nervous System further divided?

A

The Somatic Nervous System which is concerned with mainly voluntary movement and skeletal muscles. (Walking, running)

The Autonomic Nervous System which is mainly concerned with involuntary movement of non-skeletal muscles (heart beat)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

There are a further 2 systems, that can be divided into from the Autonomic Nervous System. State them.

A

The Sympathetic Nervous System: fight or flight (increased heart rate)

The Parasympathetic Nervous System: Rest & digest (constrict bronchioles) it saves energy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The brain can be divided into 3 parts. Name them.

A

Forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The forebrain is the largest and most important part of the brain. It’s divided into 4 parts. Mention them.

A

Cerebral cortex, limbic system, thalamus and hypothalamus.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the cerebrum’s function?

A

It’s the centre of thinking, memory, reasoning, learning & voluntary actions.

Contains 70% of the neurons in the CNS, it is highly folded for efficiency

Divided into 2 cerebral hemispheres.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the limbic system?

A

Involved in emotional responses, learning and memory.

Consists of any glass, hippocampus and the septal areas.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the thalamus?

A

Conveys information to other areas of the brain.
Involved in wakefulness & sleep.
Channels sensory information from all parts of the body to the limbic system and cerebral cortex.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A

Controls the autonomic functions such as body temperature, hunger and thirst.

Controls the release of 8 major hormones by the pituitary gland.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the midbrain concerned with?

A

It’s concerned with processing vision, hearing and control of movement.

Also concerted with the reticular activating system: which regulates sleep, arousal and wakefulness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the hindbrain?

A

It’s one of the first evolved parts of the brain, in fact it’s similar to structures found in other species.

16
Q

What are the 3 parts of the hindbrain called?

A

Medulla oblongata, pons and cerebellum.

17
Q

What does the cerebellum do?

A

Controls balance and coordination.

Skills are stored here.

18
Q

What does the Pons do?

A

Controls consciousness and relays information to other parts of the brain.

19
Q

What is the medulla oblongata?

A

Controls breathing, digestion and swallowing.

Damaging this may cause death.

20
Q

How is the cerebral cortex divided? (The outer layer of the cerebrum)

A

Right and left hemisphere.

It has an important role in perception, thought, memory and language.

21
Q

What is hemispheric specialisation?

A

One hemisphere is normally responsible for certain processing more than the other. (Eg: the right is mainly responsible for creativity)

22
Q

Mention some of the left hemispheres features?

A

Analytic thought, logic, language, science & math.

23
Q

Mention some of the right hemispheres features.

A

Holistic thought, intuition, creativity, music & art.

24
Q

Each hemisphere can be divided into 4 lobes, which are all specialised in function. Mention them.

A

The frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the temporal lobe and the occipital lobe.

25
Q

What is the frontal lobe responsible for?

A

Involved with complex thinking such as abstract reasoning, monitoring and processing behaviour, planning & controlling movement.

26
Q

What does the parietal lobe do?

A

Contains the primary somatosensory cortex.

Receives Info from various senses about pain, temperature & pressure.

27
Q

What does the temporal lobe do?

A

It deals with processing audio, including speech perception.

Stores the meanings of words and concepts.

28
Q

What is the occipital lobe involved with?

A

The visual processing.

29
Q

What is cerebral dominance?

A

The cerebral cortex is more dominant that the other parts of the brain.

70% of the neurons in the CNS are found here, and is used for important functions such as memory, reasoning and imagination.

30
Q

There are 2 techniques to study brain activity. State them below.

A

Spatial resolution and temporal resolution.

31
Q

What is spatial resolution?

A

Techniques which identity where things in the brain happen.

32
Q

What is temporal resolution?

A

Techniques which identify when it happens.

33
Q

What is a functional magnetic resonance imaging? (fMRI)

A

Scanner with large magnet, that measures the regions where a lot of oxygenated blood is present.

This suggest brain activity.
They have good spatial resolutions (1mm) but slow temporal resolutions (2-3 secs) as bold signals take time.

34
Q

What are Event-Related Potentials? (ERPs)

A

Stimulus is presented several times, and electrodes are used to get reading of brain activity.
Reading are averaged, done to identify the actual brain activities.

Good temporal resolution but low spatial resolution.

Psychology (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions