The biological approach pt 3: lesson 19

Question 1

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 1

• network of glands that release hormones to regulate functions
• through bloodstream
• works slowly ( minutes- hours)
• longer lasting effect

Question 2

What are neurons?

Answer 2

• receive information from neurotransmitters
• sensory: carry information from sensory receptor to brain
• motor: transmit information from brain to muscles

Question 3

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 3

• chemical messengers that transmit signals from nerve cell to another nerve cell, muscle cells, glad cell
• used by brain to regulate breathing, digestion, heart rate
• can effect concentration and sleep

Question 4

What are the types of hormones?

Answer 4

• adrenaline
• dopamine
• testosterone
• oestrogen

Question 5

Key facts on adrenaline

Answer 5

• released from adrenal glands
• located on top of each kidney
• prepares body for fight or flight

Question 6

Key facts on dopamine

Answer 6

• one of the brains neurotransmitters
• regulates movement, attention, learning and emotional responses
• contributes to feelings of pleasure

Question 7

Key facts on testosterone

Answer 7

• made in testes & ovaries
• contributes to muscle size, strength, sex drive and bone growth

Question 8

Key facts on oestrogen?

Answer 8

• made in ovaries
• contributes to mood, memory and stress

Question 9

What’s the difference between male and female brains?

Answer 9

Male
- better at special awareness tasks
Female
- better at language tasks due to larger brocas and wernicks

Question 10

Name the brain lobes and their functions

Answer 10

• frontal lobe: thinking, planning, organising, problem solving and behaviour control
• motor cortex: movement
• sensory cortex: sensations
• parletal lobe: making sense of words, spelling and arithmetic
• occipital lobe: vision
• temporal lobe : memory, understanding and logic

Question 11

What is localisation of function?

Answer 11

Idea that different parts of the brain are responsible for different functions

Question 12

How was Phineas Gage affected by his brain injury?

Answer 12

• metal rod pierced his skull damaging frontal lobe
• became impulsive, aggressive and struggled controlling emotions

Question 13

What does Phineas Gages case suggest?

Answer 13

That the frontal lobe is responsible for personality decisions

Question 14

Evaluate the biological approach

Answer 14

Strengths
- Validity: high internal validity as it’s in a lab
- Applicable: helps understand mental disorders
- Reliability: scientific method
Weakness
- Generalisability: people have different genetics
- Ethics: animal testing