Week 1 (machines, definition & neglect)

Question 1

Definition of psychobiology

Answer 1

The application of principles of biology to the study of physiology, genetic and developmental mechanisms of behaviour.

Question 2

What is an EEG machine?

Answer 2

Measures neuron activity from electric nodes on the scalp, measuring post synaptic potentials (not action potentials). Measures brain responses following an event, neurons fire and we can see patterns in different ways depending on the event.

Question 3

MEG:

Answer 3

Similar to an EEG machine, but uses magnetic fields not populations of neurons. Better spatial resolution than an EEG.

Question 4

MRI:

Answer 4

Use detailed magnets and radiofrequency currents to create detailed 3D images of the brain. STRUCTURAL.

Question 5

FMRI

Answer 5

Functional magnetic resonance imaging. Doesn’t measure brain activity, but measures blood oxygen flow in the brain to show what areas of the brain are attracting blood, so therefore being used. All inference.

Question 6

TMS:

Answer 6

TMS machines change magnetic fields which turns off areas of the human cortex, and we see wht effects this has on human behaviour and cognition.

Question 7

ASD

Answer 7

Autism spectrum disorder. Diagnose through social-communicated difficulties and repetative behaviours. Autisim traits are normally distributed throughout general population. finding that kids who have autism have parents who display autistic tendancies.

Question 8

ASD and attention

Answer 8

Those with ASD have localised rather than global attention.

Question 9

Neglect syndrome

Answer 9

disorder of the right partieal cortex, can’t respond or orient to objects in left visual field. Not blind, just don’t ‘attend’ to information.

Question 10

Pseudoneglect

Answer 10

We slightly favour our left visual field