Unit 3 AOS 1

Question 1

Spinal reflex process

Answer 1

1. Dangerous stimuli is detected by sensory receptors, Information sent to interneurons
2. Interneuron relays information from sensory neuron to motor neurons
3. Motor neurons initiate unconscious response
   4.Person registers pain as sensory message reaches brain

Question 2

Long term potentiation (LTP)

Answer 2

Relatively permanent strengthening of synaptic connections as a result of repeated activation

Question 3

Long term depression

Answer 3

Relatively permanent weakening of synaptic connections as a result of repeated low level activation

Question 4

Rerouting and pruning definition

Answer 4

Rerouting- the ability of a neuron that is connected to a damaged neuron to create an alternative synaptic connection with
an undamaged neuron
Pruning- removal of synaptic connections that aren’t adequately activated

Question 5

Synapse

Answer 5

includes axon terminals of presynaptic neuron, synaptic gap and dendrites on postsynaptic neuron

Question 6

Synaptic plasticity

Answer 6

change that occurs to a synapse between two neurons which could lead to an increase or decrease in activity

Question 7

dendritic spine

Answer 7

dendritic fibres that grow from dendrites

Question 8

Conscious response

Answer 8

deliberate and voluntary action initiated by the brain

Question 9

Unconscious response

Answer 9

automatic and involuntary action performed by the body independently of the brain

Question 10

Gut-brain axis

Answer 10

bi-directional relationship between the gut and the brain

Question 11

Lazarus and Folkmans Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

Answer 11

Stress resulting from psychological appraisal of a stressor

Question 12

Primary appraisal

Answer 12

• deciding if stimulus will cause stress (benign-positive, irrelevant, stressful)
• Stressor is appraised (Harm/loss, threat, challenege)

Question 13

Secondary appraisal

Answer 13

Deciding if there’s coping strategies and what those are
Categorised into emotion based strategies or problem based strategies

Question 14

GAS

Answer 14

physiological reaction that a person experiences in response to a stressor

Question 15

GAS strengths and limtations

Answer 15

Strengths
- Predictable pattern
- establishes relationship between chronic illness and stress

Limitations
- Only focuses on biological aspect of stress
- Different people respond to stress differently
- Research based on rats, not generalisable

Question 16

Transactional Model of Stress strengths and limitations

Answer 16

Strengths
- Subjective
- Psychological aspect of stress response
- Explains why stress response is different in everyone
Limitations
- Primary and secondary appraisal can happen at same time
- Some people may not know why they feel stress
- Doesn’t include biological aspect

Question 17

Dopamine function

Answer 17

• Voluntary movement
• Reward based learning
• Motivation
  Can have both excitatory and inhibitory effects

Question 18

Serotonin function

Answer 18

Involved in pain, sleep, appetite and mood regulation
Both excitatory and inhibitory

Question 19

GABA function

Answer 19

Reducing anxiety, regulates postsynaptic activation

Question 20

Glutamate function

Answer 20

• Learning and memory
• Strengthens synaptic connections that are repeatedly activated during learning

Question 21

Approach strategies

Answer 21

Coping strategies that confront the stressor, e.g. finding solutions

Question 22

Avoidance strategies

Answer 22

Coping strategies that evade the stressor to protect us from stress

Question 23

Context-specific effectiveness

Answer 23

coping strategy used is a good fit to the stressor

Question 24

Coping flexibility

Answer 24

ability to modify one’s coping strategies according to the demands of a stressor

Question 25

Sprouting

Answer 25

Growth of axon or dendritic fibres

Question 26

Synaptogenesis

Answer 26

formation of new synapses as a result of sprouting

Question 27

Acute stress

Answer 27

occurs due to a sudden threat and lasts for a short time

Question 28

Chronic stress

Answer 28

Stress over a prolonged period due to ongoing demands or worries

Question 29

Role of cortisol in chronic stress (what the person experiences)

Answer 29

• Increasing energy supplies e.g. blood sugar and metabolism
• Suppresses functions that aren’t useful e.g. digestion

Question 30

Effects of prolonged exposure to cortisol in chronic stress

Answer 30

• Immune suppression, increasing susceptibility to contract diseases
• High blood sugar and high blood pressure
• Weight gain

Question 31

Shock (GAS) symptoms

Answer 31

Bodily arousal and ability to deal with stressor is reduced to below normal

Question 32

Counter shock (GAS) symptoms

Answer 32

Sympathetic nervous system is activated
- Heart rate increases
- stress hormones are released
- Resistance to stressor increases above normal

Question 33

Resistance (GAS) symptoms

Answer 33

• increased hormone levels
• Increased bodily arousal
• bodily resources are used at an increased rate