WBA Q&A Flashcards
What is the neurotransmitter acetylcholine primarily involved in?
- The control of movement.
- It is linked to muscle contraction.
If a patient struggles to initiate movements and is making smaller and weaker versions of everyday movements, as well as making smaller steps when they walk and are speaking quieter, which structure of the brain has been affected?
The basal ganglia.
What part of the brain is responsible for coordination of balance?
The cerebellum
What are proprioceptors, and where in the body would you find them?
A group of highly sensitive stretch receptors in muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Describe the function of muscle spindle fibres.
They are stretch detectors which detect changes in muscle length.
What is a neuromuscular junction?
A synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle fibre.
What part of the eye starts the process of bending light to help with vision?
The cornea
What would damage to the optic chiasm most likely result in?
Partial loss of vision in both eyes.
Why is only a certain range of electromagnetic wavelengths visible to the human eye?
The structure of the human eye, particularly photoreceptor cells, is only sensitive to wavelengths between around 400 and 700 nm, which we perceive as the visible spectrum.
Why is the primary visual cortex often referred to as the “striate cortex”?
Due to its layered or striped appearance resulting from a band of myelinated axons in layer IV.
If an individual has a lesion in the right primary visual cortex, which visual field will be predominately affected?
The left visual field of both eyes.
Why does the ‘blind spot’ in our visual field occur?
This is where the optic nerve exits the eye. There are no photoreceptors.
What is area MT (middle temporal area) involved in?
The detection of movement.
A patient has difficulty seeing in low-light conditions but has normal colour vision.
which part of the visual system is most likely affected?
The rods
What does the hindbrain control?
Basic function like respiration and heart rate.
Which system of the human body is responsible for the response and processing of environmental information?
The nervous system
Electrical impulses along an axon transmitting at a slower rate could be due to a defect in…?
Myelin sheath
What does the term anterior refer to?
Structures towards the front of the body.
What does the term contralateral refer to?
Structures on the opposite side of the body.
Which structure plays a critical role in memory and is located in the temporal lobe below the cerebral cortex?
The hippocampus.
Impaired communication and information processing within the nervous system is most likely caused by what cells?
Neurons
What can be inferred about the medial temporal lobes based on HM’s ability to recall childhood events vividly?
They are not the ultimate storage site for long-term memory of all previous acquired knowledge.
What does the term “engram” signify in the context of memory?
A representation or trace of memory in the brain.
What role do medial temporal lobes play in memory according to the learnings from HM?
They are necessary for consolidation.
What could HM retain after his surgery?
- Short-term information.
- He could engage in normal conversations for brief periods.
Describe the role of a schema in information processing.
They organise our knowledge and alter how information is processed, including memory encoding, consolidation and retrieval.
When damaged, what structure can lead to anterograde amnesia (the inability to form new memories)?
Medial temporal lobe (including the hippocampus).
‘Phantom sounds’ or tinnitus is caused by what?
Damage to the hair cells in the cochlea.
which component of the vestibular system is primarily responsible for balance?
The semicircular canals.
Describe a logarithmic base 10 scale.
Each unit increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in what is being measured.
What is the primary function of the ossicles found in the middle ear?
Amplifying and transferring air to the fluid-filled cochlea.
Auditory transduction, where sound waves are converted in electrical signals, happens at…?
The inner hair cells.
Why might the activation of the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area be advantageous in evolution?
They motivate behaviours that have previously helped achieve goals.
According to the drive-reduction theory of motivation, a “drive” is best described as…
A state of internal tension that motivates an organism to fulfil a physiological need.
What is the primary relationship between the ventral tegmental area and the nucleus accumbens in the context of motivation and reward?
The VTA sends dopaminergic projections to the nucleus accumbens, signalling reward.
What is the biological basis for the motivation of hunger, from a homeostatic point of view?
To ensure that the body has adequate reserves for survival and reproductive fitness.
What is the main evolutionary argument for the existence of emotions such as fear and happiness?
They motivate behaviour that enhances survival and reproductive success.
What did Steven Pinker mean when he referred to music as “auditory cheesecake”?
Music is a by-product of evolutionary adaptations for language and emotional expression without intrinsic survival value.
Which of the following neurotransmitters is primarily involved in the brain’s reward system and is often linked to feelings of pleasure, motivation, and reinforcement?
Dopamine
Why might evolutionary psychology argue that humans are motivated to prefer high-calorie foods?
In ancestral environments, high-calorie foods would have offered survival advantages.
Which hormone is secreted by the pineal gland and produced in the retina?
Melatonin.
which hormone is regulated and responded to by the SCN, and is secreted at night?
Melatonin.
Which brain structure involved in sleep regulation helps to encourage sleep by inhibiting the arousal normally produced by the reticular formation?
The Raphe Nuclei
Which chemical messenger is released by the retinohypothalamic tract onto neurons in the SCN in response to light?
Glutamate
What does SCN stand for?
Suprachiasmatic nucleus
Why is the location of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) crucial for its function?
It is located above the optic chiasm, allowing interaction with visual information.
Which structure is considered the master internl clock?
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
Which substance has been used to identify periods of suprachiasmatic nucleus activity in rats and monkeys?
2-deoxyglucose (2-DG)
Which brain area is largely responsible for slow wave sleep (SWS)?
The Basal Forebrain
Which scanning technique can be used to identify active parts of the brain using 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG)?
PET
Seasonal migration, mating seasons, and the human menstrual cycle are examples of behaviours that are influenced by…?
Internal biological clocks.
Which phase of the sleep cycle is characterised by an increase in hear rate, blood pressure, and irregular breathing?
REM sleep
What is Broca’s aphasia characterised by?
Non-fluent speech with intact comprehension due to damage in the posterior frontal lobe of the left hemisphere.
What is Wernicke’s aphasia characterised by?
Fluent but often nonsensical speech due to damage in the left temporal lobe.
What is dyslexia?
A neurodevelopment disorder affecting the ability to recognise and decode words.
What is agraphia?
Loss of the ability to write due to brain damage.
How does CBT work?
It deals constructively with problems that cause distress.
How do Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) reduce symptoms of severe depression?
They allow serotonin to remain active in the synapse longer.
Which cerebral artery is most likely occluded?:
sudden-onset difficulties in speech and language but no visual impairment or sensory loss.
Middle Cerebral Artery.
Why might dopamine influence the wide range of symptoms seen in schizophrenia?
Dopamine signalling is found in several pathways that have a wide-reaching influence throughout the brain.
Why might a clinician prefer recommending light therapy over medication for the initial treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
Light therapy generally has fewer side effects and contraindications compared to pharmacological treatments.
How do the underlying mechanisms differ between cerebral palsy and stroke?
- Cerebral palsy is often due to prenatal factors.
- Stroke occurs later in life.
What symptom is less likely in cerebral palsy than stroke?
Aphasia.
How does the endocrine system regulate behaviour?
It integrates and controls metabolic activities through the secretion of hormones by various glands.
What is the difference between hormones and pheromones?
- Hormones communicate within the body.
- Pheromones are chemical signals that influence the behaviour of other individuals.
How do hormones in the endocrine system communicate messages within the body?
By being secreted directly into the bloodstream.
What is the role of the hypothalamus in the functioning of the endocrine system?
It produces releasing factors that stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete hormones.
What method of drug administration avoids the digestive tract?
Parenteral.
Which route of drug administration primarily uses the small intestine and stomach for absorption?
Oral.
How do consumed drugs typically influence behaviour?
By modifying the levels and activities of neurotransmitters and hormones in the body.
When are hormones used as drugs?
They are used as replacement therapy if the glands that produce the hormone are removed or malfunction.
They can treat the effects of ageing and increase physical strength and endurance.
In which route of drug admission does absorption occur through the inner lining of the mouth?
Sublingual.
In which route of drug admission involves injecting the drug directly into a muscle?
Intramuscular.
In which route of drug admission does absorption occur through the mucous membranes in the nasal cavity?
Nasal.
