the brain and behaviour

Question 1

(F)MRI scans

Answer 1

• (functional) magnetic resonance imaging
• produce 3-D images of the brain
• use magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy, track the flow of oxygenated blood within the brain
• more active = more blood
• 3-D, more detailed, localization is more precise, critical for smaller areas of the brain
• not possible for people with pacemakers, metal plates or screws
• claustrophobic
• children hard to tolerate staying still, small movements ruin

Question 2

PET scans

Answer 2

• positron emission tomography
• radioactive substance injected into patient in form of sugar
• as sugar is metabolized produces gamma rays that PET can detect and turn into images

Question 3

theory of localization

Answer 3

• mechanisms for thought, behaviour and emotions are located in different areas of the brain
• lots of evidence and case studies to support this theory
• disagree, brain is more complex with interactions and influences, different parts have more than one function
• more holistic viewpoint should be taken

Question 4

neuroplasticity

Answer 4

• process of neural networks changing and being modified
• significant in young children

Question 5

neurogensis

Answer 5

• learn a new skill, neural networks growing and becoming denser in certain parts of the brain

Question 6

neural pruning

Answer 6

• stop doing skill, lose neural connections

Question 7

neurotransmission

Answer 7

• neurons carrying information as electrical impulses and chemicals called neurotransmitters
• chemicals released across the synaptic gap between neurons, neurotransmitter picked up by the receptors of another neuron passing the message on

Question 8

neurotransmission
dendrites

Answer 8

• receive messages from other cells

Question 9

neurotransmission
action potential

Answer 9

• electrical signal travelling down the axon

Question 10

PSP

Answer 10

• postsynaptic potential
• when a neurotransmitter combines with a molecule at the end of a receptor site and causing a voltage change at the receptor site
• excitatory and inhibitory
• will fire based on how many excitatory/inhibitory PSPs it’s receiving

Question 11

excitatory synapses

Answer 11

• increases the probability of producing an action potential in the post synaptic neuron

Question 12

inhibitory synapses

Answer 12

• decreases the probability of producing an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron

Question 13

agonists

Answer 13

• all neurotransmitters
• bind to the synaptic receptor neurons, generate either excitatory or inhibitory PSP
• increase the effect of the neurotransmitter

Question 14

antagonists

Answer 14

• chemical substances
• bind to the synaptic receptors, decrease the effect of the neurotransmitter