Biopsychology Key Terms

Question 1

Localisation of Function

Answer 1

The theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, processes or activities

Question 2

Motor Area

Answer 2

A region of the frontal lobe involved in regulating movement

Question 3

Somatosensory Area

Answer 3

An area of the parietal lobe that processes sensory information such as touch

Question 4

Visual Area

Answer 4

A part of the occipital lobe that receives and processes visual information

Question 5

Auditory Area

Answer 5

Located in the temporal lobe and concerned with the analysis of speech based information

Question 6

Broca’s Area

Answer 6

An area of the frontal lobe of the brain in the left hemisphere responsible for speech production

Question 7

Wernicke’s Area

Answer 7

An area of the temporal love in the left hemisphere responsible for language comprehension

Question 8

Plasticity

Answer 8

AKA Neuroplasticity or Cortical Remapping. This describes the brain’s tendency to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning

Question 9

Functional Recovery

Answer 9

A form of plasticity. Following damage through trauma, the brain’s ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by a damaged area to other, undamaged areas

Question 10

Hemispheric Lateralisation

Answer 10

The idea that the hemispheres of the brain are functionally different and that certain mental processes and behaviours are mainly controlled by one hemisphere rather than the other

Question 11

Spilt-Brain Research

Answer 11

A series of studies which began in the 1960’s involving epileptic patients who had experienced a surgical separation of the hemispheres of the brain. This allowed researchers to investigate the extent to which brain function is lateralised

Question 12

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Answer 12

A method used to measure brain activity while a person is performing a task that uses MRI technology. This enables researchers to detect which regions of the brain are rich in oxygen and are active

Question 13

Electroencephalogram

Answer 13

A record of the tiny electrical impulses produced by the brains activity. By measuring characteristics wave patterns, the EEG can help diagnose certain conditions of the brain

Question 14

Event-Related Potentials

Answer 14

The brain’s electrophysiological response to a specific sensory, cognitive or motor event can be isolated through statistical analysis of EEG data

Question 15

Post-Mortem Examinations

Answer 15

The brain is analysed after death to determine whether certain observed behaviours during a patients life can be linked to abnormalities in the brain

Question 16

Biological Rhythms

Answer 16

Distinct patterns of changes in body activity that conform to cyclical time periods. Biological rhythms are influenced by internal-body clocks as well as external changes to the environment

Question 17

Circadian Rhythm

Answer 17

A type of biological rhythm, subject to a 24 hour cycle, which regulates a number of body processes such as the sleep/wake cycle and changes in core body temperature

Question 18

Infradian Rhythm

Answer 18

A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of less than one cycle in 24 hours such as menstruation

Question 19

Ultradian Rhythm

Answer 19

A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of more than one cycle in 24 hours such as the stages of sleep

Question 20

Endogenous Pacemakers

Answer 20

Internal body clocks that regulate many of our biological rhythms

Question 21

Exogenous Zeitgebers

Answer 21

External cues that may affect or entrain our biological rhythms, such as the influence of light on our sleep/wake cycle

Question 22

Sleep/Wake Cycle

Answer 22

A daily cycle of biological activity based on a 24 hour period that is influenced by regular variations in the environment, such as the alternation of night and day

Question 23

Nervous System

Answer 23

Consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

Question 24

Central Nervous System

Answer 24

Consists of the brain and spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and decisions

Question 25

Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 25

Sends information to the CNS from the outside world, and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body

Question 26

Somantic Nervous System

Answer 26

Transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS. It also receives information from the CNS that directs muscles to act

Question 27

Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 27

Transmits information to and from internal bodily organs. it is “autonomic” as the system operates involuntarily. It has two main divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Question 28

Endocrine System

Answer 28

One of the body’s major information systems that instructs glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones are carried towards target organisms in the body

Question 29

Gland

Answer 29

An organ in the body that synthesizes substances such as hormones

Question 30

Hormones

Answer 30

Chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs. They are produced in large quantities but disappear quickly. Their effects are powerful

Question 31

Fight or Flight Response

Answer 31

The way an animal responses when stressed. The body becomes pathologically aroused in readiness to fight an aggressor or flee

Question 32

Adrenaline

Answer 32

A hormone produced by the adrenal glands which is part of the human body’s immediate stress response system. Adrenaline has a strong effect on the cells of the cardiovascular system-simulating the heart rate,contracting blood vessels and deflating air passages

Question 33

Neuron

Answer 33

The basic building blocks of the nervous system, neurons are nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals

Question 34

Sensory Neurons

Answer 34

These carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons

Question 35

Relay Neurons

Answer 35

These connect the sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons. They have short dendrites and axons

Question 36

Motor Neurons

Answer 36

These connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands. They have short dendrites and long axons

Question 37

Synaptic Transmission

Answer 37

The process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical signals across the synaptic gap that separates them

Question 38

Neurotransmitter

Answer 38

Brain chemicals released from synaptic vesicles that relay signals across the synapse from one neuron to another.

Question 39

Excitation

Answer 39

When a neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron. This increase the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse

Question 40

Inhibition

Answer 40

When a neurotransmitter makes the charge of the postsynaptic neuron more negative. This decreases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse