Unit 1 Topic 2 - The Role of the Brain

Question 1

Summarise mind-verus-body problem referring to Galen and Descartes (1.2.1.1)

Answer 1

Galen - investigated effect of behavior of head injuries on gladiators - brain does effect behavior - pressure to brain effects behavior (monism)
Descartes - mind is the body/consciousness - thoughts/feelings can be observed (dualist)

Question 2

Describe Phrenology and Brain Experiments (1.2.1.2)
Franz Gall, 1997 + Flourens, Sperry & Penfield, 1997

Answer 2

Gall - phrenology - different parts of the brain do different things - shapes, sizes of parts of the brain, lost creditability
Flourens - ablation - burning, cutting & removing parts of the brain - cerebellum controls movement, brain stem controls breathing - unethical
Sperry - split brain - cutting nerves between hemispheres - showed localisation of function
Penfield - electrical stimulation - maps the cerebral cortex, specific areas involved with specific actions

Question 3

Explain neuroimaging techniques including -
PET, MRI, fMRI, EEG (1.2.1.3)

Answer 3

PET - uses radioactive material and tracks blood flow, disease progression, brain function for certain areas
MRI - magnetic fields + radio waves, high quality 3D image, identify disease
fMRI - magnetic fields + radio waves, real time brain activity through blood flow, highest resolution
EEG - no picture, shows brain activity, measures impulses from the head

Question 4

Outline the basic structure of the human nervous system (1.2.1.4)

Answer 4

CNS - brain, spinal cord
PNS - autonomic NS –> sympathetic and parasympathetic NS
Somatic and consists of nerves and ganglia

Question 5

Construct a diagram of a neuron labelling: (1.2.1.5)
- Axon
- Dendrites
- Cell Body
- Synapse

Answer 5

https://www.educaplay.com/learning-resources/10413083-neuron_diagram.html

Question 6

Distinguish between sensory, motor and interneurons (1.2.1.6)

Answer 6

Sensory - receive and carry all information
Motor - effects the movement
Inter-Relay - links the neurons together

Question 7

List the discrete areas of the brain and basic purposes (1.2.1.7)

Answer 7

Hindbrain - supports vital bodily functions
Midbrain - sleep regulation, motor movement, arousal
Forebrain - personality

Question 8

Describe the role of: (1.2.1.8)
- Broca’s Area
- Wernicke’s Area
- Geschwind’s Territory

Answer 8

Broca’s Area - ability to speak
Wernicke’s Area - interpreting sounds and speech
Geschwind’s Territory - connects the areas

Question 9

What is the name of the brain structure that regulates the circadian rhythm?

Answer 9

Suprachiasmatic nuclei

Question 10

What is trephination?

Answer 10

Drilling into the skull to alleviate pressure on the brain following an injury to the head, or to release evil spirits from the heads of mentally ill people

Question 11

Identify the five stages of neuron development

Answer 11

Cell proliferation - birth, made
Cell migration - moving
Circuit formation - components connect together to perform a function
Synaptic pruning - eliminates extra synapses
Myelination - maturation process where axonal bundles are wrapped by myelin sheaths,

Question 12

Explain parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions of the PNS

Answer 12

Sympathetic: Fight or flight
Parasympathetic: Rest and digest