AOS 2

Question 1

brain vs heart debate

Answer 1

• historical debate, whether heart or brain was responsible for responsible for central functions including thought, emotion + behaviour.
• ancient egypt (heart hypothesis) vs ancient greece (brain)

Question 2

Occipital lobe

Answer 2

The rearmost lobe of the cerebra; cortex behind the parietal lobe that has a key function in processing visual stimuli

Question 3

Types of experimental designs and their strengths and limitations e.g.
case studies.

Answer 3

Case studies, controlled experiment, correlational study

Question 4

Identifying and reporting variables

Answer 4

Independent variable (IV) - what is manipulated in an experiment

Dependent variable (DV) - what is measured in an experiment

Controlled variable - variables other than the IV that are held constant

Question 5

Constructing hypothesis and aims

Answer 5

Aim - a statement outlining the purpose of the investigation

Hypothesis - a testable prediction about the outcome of an investigation

Question 6

Ethical Principles

Answer 6

Non-maleficence – Avoid harm
Beneficence – Maximize benefits
Integrity – Honest reporting
Justice – Weigh competing claims
Respect – Recognise value

Question 7

different approaches over time in understanding the role of the brain in
behaviour and mental processes

Answer 7

• brain vs heart debate
• mind-body problem
• Monism V Dualism
• First Brain Experiments
• Neuroimaging techniques

Question 8

the brain vs heart debate

Question 9

mind-body problem

Question 10

Monism V Dualism

Question 11

First Brain Experiments

Question 12

Neuroimaging techniques

Question 13

lobes of the brain

Answer 13

• Frontal lobe
• Parietal lobe
• Occipital lobe
• Temporal lobe

Question 14

Frontal lobe

Answer 14

Largest lobe of the cerebral cortex and is its front-most area

Responsible for:
- logic and reasoning
- expression of emotions
- personality
- voluntary movement (primary motor cortex)
- production of speech (broca’s area)

Question 15

Parietal lobe

Answer 15

The area behind the frontal lobe with the main function of receiving and processing sensory stimuli

Responsible for:
- spatial awareness
- direction
- processing sensory information of touch, temperature and pain (primary somatosensory cortex)

Question 16

Sperry and Gazzaniga

Answer 16

found that the left and right hemispheres (symmetrical halves of the cerebrum) have different functions/”specialisations”

Question 17

roles of the hindbrain

Answer 17

• located in the bottom and back of the brain + some of the brain stem
• responsible for fundamental functions (eg. breathing + movement)
  consists of:
• cerebellum
• medulla
• pons

Question 18

• cerebellum

Answer 18

• ball-like structure at the back behind brain stem
• skeletal muscle movement + coordination
• maintaining balance + posture

Question 19

• medulla

Answer 19

• mass of neurons located at bottom of brain stem
• regulating autonomic functions (eg. heart rate, blood pressure)

Question 20

• pons

Answer 20

• small structure located above medulla
• involved in relaying information between different areas
• regulating respiratory system + sleep/wake cycle

Question 21

roles of midbrain

Answer 21

• middle of the brain (between hind+fore brain)
• processing sensory information eg. auditory, visual
• regulating sleep + psychological arousal
• motor movement
• contains reticular formation

Question 22

reticular formation

Answer 22

network of neurons located largely in midbrain
- filters inputs of info into brain
- adjusting muscle tension
- regulating sleep/wake cycle
- regulating psychological arousal/alertness

Question 23

roles of forebrain

Question 24

roles of cerebral cortex

Question 25

adaptive plasticity

Question 26

developmental plasticity

Question 27

factors influencing neuroplasticity

Question 28

ways to maintain and/or maximise brain functioning

Answer 28

- synaptogenisis - synaptic pruning - myelination - sprouting - rerouting

Question 29

synaptogenisis

Question 30

synaptic pruning

Question 31

myelination

Question 32

sprouting

Question 33

rerouting

Question 34

acquired brain injury (ABI)

Answer 34

all types of brain injuries that occur after birth can be TRAUMATIC: damage caused by external force eg. sports injuries, car crash or NON-TRAUMATIC: caused by internal factors ie lack of oxygen eg. stroke, tumour

Question 35

ABI's effect on biological functioning

Answer 35

changes in: behaviour, organ function, cellular/neural function impact on: seizures, movement impairment, smell impairment

Question 36

ABI's effect psychological functioning

Answer 36

changes in: cognition, behaviour, emotions impact on: memory loss, personality changes, increased susceptibility to mental health disorders

Question 37

ABI's effect on social functioning

Answer 37

changes in: relationships, interactions w/ environment, interpersonal skills (e. leadership) impact on: job productivity, social support, antisocial behaviour

Question 38

Symptoms of Stroke

Answer 38

- Sudden confusion - trouble speaking - Sudden numbness or weakness - Sudden severe headache

Question 39

Symptoms of Concussion

Question 40

Focus of treatments for each of the categories (Biological, Psychological, Social).

Question 41

chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as an example of emerging research into progressive and fatal brain disease

Question 42

What is CTE?

Answer 42

- a progressive and fatal brain disease associated with repeated head injuries + concussions - effects do not occur immediately as it is neurodegenerative - progressive loss if neurons in the brain

Question 43

What changes in the brain are recognisable for CTE?

Answer 43

- can only be seen through post-mortem examination - CTE associated with widespread buildup of p-tau in brain regions (particularly frontal + temporal) - p-tau forms neurofibrillary tangles (tangles within neurons) - inhibit transportation of essential substances, eventually kills neuron

Question 44

Symptoms of CTE

Answer 44

- memory loss - depression - anxiety/paranoia - mood impairments usually appear 8-10 years after repetitive concussions

Question 45

What are the areas of focus in CTE research?

Answer 45

- a way to diagnose CTE pre mortem (none found yet) - education + behavioural therapies have been effective in preventing/treating post-concussion symptom

Question 46

What has recently been found? What are they working towards now?

Answer 46

- research has informed sporting regulations (helmets/tactics/protocols) - working towards finding a way to diagnose CTE before death, and a cure

Question 47

biopsychosocial model

Answer 47

A holistic (inclusive), interdisciplinary (collaborative) framework for understanding human experience through biological, psychological, and social influences. An individual’s psychological state, including thinking, information processing, and emotion regulation—shaped by biological, psychological, and social interactions.

Question 48

Correlational study strengths and limitations

Answer 48

Strengths - helps determine if variables are related, is ethical and practical Limitations - other factors may influence the relationship, correlation may be coincidental or misleading.

Question 49

Case studies

Answer 49

A case study is a detailed examination of a real-life situation to analyse key concepts and draw conclusions.

Question 50

Controlled experiment strengths and limitations

Answer 50

Strengths - can be repeated for reliability, controls variables which reduces bias Limitations - may not apply to real-world settings, can be expensive and time consuming

Question 51

Case studies strengths and limitations

Answer 51

Strengths - detailed data, studies rare conditions/cases Limitations - can't generalise findings to the wider population, researcher bias

Question 52

Correlational study

Answer 52

A non-experimental study that observes relationships between variables without manipulation.

Question 53

Controlled experiment

Answer 53

Examines the causal impact of independent variables on a dependent variable while controlling others.