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WJEC A Levels > Biology Brain and behaviour > Flashcards

Biology Brain and behaviour Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 3 meninges (membranes) surrounding the brain

A

The dura mater is attached to the skull, underneath that membrane is the arachnoid mater, and the pia mater is under that, covering the surface of the brain.

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2
Q

Where is cerebrospinal fluid found

A

Fills the 4 spaces within the brain (the ventricles) which support the brain and protect it by cushioning it. Cerebrospinal fluid is produced by cells lining the ventricles. It supplies the neurons of the brain with nutrients such as glucose, and oxygen.

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3
Q

What are the 3 regions of the brain

A

The forebrain, the midbrain, and the hindbrain

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4
Q

The hindbrain is made up of the:

A

Cerebellum and the medulla oblongata

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5
Q

Function of the medulla oblongata

A

Controls basic functions like ventilation, blood pressure and heartbeat. It contains many important centres of the autonomic nervous system.

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6
Q

Function of the cerebellum

A

It controls voluntary tasks requiring fine muscle control, like writing and riding a bike. It also controls the muscles that maintain posture.

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7
Q

Function of the midbrain

A

The midbrain has neurons that link the hind and forebrain and relay information for vision and hearing.

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8
Q

What are the four main regions of the forebrain

A

The hypothalamus
The thalamus
The hippocampus
The cerebrum

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9
Q

Function of the cerebrum

A

The cerebrum controls voluntary behaviour, learning, reasoning, personality and memory.

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10
Q

Function of the hippocampus

A

The hippocampus interacts with the cerebral cortex and is responsible for learning, reasoning, personality and storage and consolidation of memory.

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11
Q

Function of the thalamus

A

The thalamus is the relay centre between the midbrain and cerebral cortex, sending and receiving information to and from the cerebral cortex.

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12
Q

Function of the hypothalamus

A

The hypothalamus controls body temperature, blood solute concentration, hunger, thirst and sleep. It contains many receptors to monitor the concentrations of solutes, water and temperature and controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland

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13
Q

What parts of the forebrain make up the limbic system associated with emotion, learning and memory

A

The hypothalamus
The thalamus
The hippocampus

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14
Q

What connects the two hemispheres which make up the cerebrum

A

A bundle of nerves known as the corpus callosum and is where the nerves from the two sides of the body cross over. This means that sensory information from the left side of the body is processed in the right hemisphere and vice versa.

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15
Q

What are the 4 regions of each hemisphere of the cerebrum

A

The frontal lobe
The temporal lobe
The parietal lobe
The occipital lobe

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16
Q

Functions of the frontal lobe

A

Reasoning, planning, part of speech
and movement (the motor cortex) emotions and
problem solving

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17
Q

Functions of the temporal lobe

A

Language, learning and memory

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18
Q

Functions of the parietal lobe

A

Somatosensory functions and taste

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19
Q

Functions of the occipital lobe

A

Vision

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20
Q

What are the association areas that make up most of the cerebral cortex

A

These receive impulses from the sensory areas, initiate responses in the motor area, associate new information with memory, interpret and process auditory and visual information.

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21
Q

What does a sensory homunculus show

A

The sensitivity of different parts of the body.

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22
Q

What does a motor homunculus show

A

The motor control of different parts of the body.

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23
Q

What areas of the brain control speech

A

Areas of the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex:
- Auditory and visual areas receive sensory information from the ears (sound)/ eyes (sight)
- Wernicke’s area
- Broca’s area

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24
Q

Function of Wernicke’s area

A

Responsible for interpreting both written and spoken language (association area)

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25
Function of Broca’s area
Innervates the muscles of the mouth, larynx and intercostal muscles and diaphragm in order to produce vocal sounds (motor area)
26
What links the Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas
The arcuate fasciculus
27
What are the 2 systems of the autonomic nervous system
The sympathetic nervous system The parasympathetic nervous system
28
Function of the sympathetic nervous system
Prepares the body for “fight or flight” and uses the neurotransmitter noradrenaline. It increases blood pressure, heart and ventilation rates, dilates the pupils and bronchi and inhibits peristalsis, production of saliva and digestion.
29
Function of the parasympathetic nervous system
Prepares the body to “rest and digest”. It does the opposite of the sympathetic system, e.g. decreasing heart and ventilation rate, and uses the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
30
Where are hormones secreted
From endocrine glands directly into the blood which then transports the hormone to the target organs / tissues.
31
How does the parasympathetic nervous system lower heart rate
The parasympathetic input into the heart is via the vagus nerve which forms synapses with cells in the SAN and AVN. When stimulated, acetylcholine acts to decrease the pacemaker potential, leading to a decrease in heart rate.
32
How does the sympathetic nervous system increase heart rate
The sympathetic input into the heart is via nerve fibres from the spinal cord via the sympathetic trunk which innervate the SAN and AVN. The fibres release noradrenaline, which increases the pacemaker potential, thereby increasing the heart rate.
33
What are 3 advantages of an EEG to scan the brain
It’s non-invasive It’s cheaper than other scanning methods. It doesn’t use intense magnetic fields and is therefore suitable for patients with pacemakers.
34
What are 3 disadvantages of an EEG to scan the brain
It can only detect activity in the cortex. It cannot identify the synapses where drugs may act. It doesn’t show an image of the brain.
35
What are 3 advantages of an CT to scan the brain
It is relatively quick to carry out (around 5 minutes). The area can be viewed from different angles. The image is high contrast.
36
What are 2 disadvantages of an CT to scan the brain
The patient must stay completely still It uses X-ray radiation which may damage DNA and lead to cancer
37
What can a CT scan detect
Uses X-rays to produce high resolution, cross-sectional images of internal organs. It is useful for detecting tumours, skull fractures, blood clots and stroke.
38
What is an EEG used for
Electrodes on the scalp record changes in the electrical activity of regions of the brain, can help diagnoses of neurological diseases, such as epilepsy
39
What are MRIs used for
Uses a powerful magnetic field and radio frequency pulses to produce detailed 3D images of the anatomy of the brain at a particular moment in time.
40
What are 2 advantages of a MRI to scan the brain
No ionising radiation is used. MRI gives a clearer image than CT.
41
What are 3 disadvantages of a MRI to scan the brain
Very loud The strong magnetic fields used means that they can’t be used for people with metal in their bodies, e.g. pacemakers or cochlea implants. The scan is time consuming.
42
What are PET scans
Involves the injection of a small amount of a tracer molecule (a radioactive isotope) which will collect in areas of higher chemical activity, e.g diseased areas
43
What is 1 advantage of PET scans
Biochemical changes in the brain can be detected, which might happen before anatomical changes seen in other scan types.
44
What are 2 disadvantages of PET scans
The scan must take place within a short time of the tracer being injected, before the isotope decays. The patient is exposed to gamma radiation which is a more ionising radiation than a CT scan.
45
Define neuroplasticity
The ability of the brain to change and adapt by forming new connections. It does this in response to development, injury, sensory information or stimulation.
46
What is synaptic pruning
As processing of sensory information takes place, some connections are strengthened and some are weakened. Unused synapses are eventually eliminated to create a more efficient neural network.
47
What are critical periods
Specific windows in development when the brain is particularly receptive to acquiring certain skills, such as language or vision. This period will not occur again at a later stage
48
What is released when the body is put through a stressful experience and where is it released from
Cortisol hormone from the adrenal glands on the kidneys, release is controlled by the hippocampus in the brain
49
Describe the cortisol negative feedback loop
STRESS -> hippocampus sends impulses to hypothalamus -> releases corticotrophin-releasing hormone and arginine vasopressin -> stimulate pituitary gland -> adrenocorticotrophin hormone released into the blood -> cells of the adrenal glands take up this hormone -> release cortisol -> cortisol binds to glucocorticoid receptors on the hippocampus -> sends nerve impulses to the hypothalamus, inhibiting it.
50
Define innate behaviour
A behaviour that an organism is born with that enhance the survival of the organism and free up neural networks for learning.
51
What are the 3 types of innate behaviour
Reflexes Taxes Kinesis
52
Define reflexes
Fast, automatic responses to a stimulus with a protective function.
53
Define taxes
Directional responses to a stimulus involving the whole organism moving towards or away from a stimulus.
54
Define kinesis
These movements involve the whole organism but are not directional e.g In moist environments woodlice move more slowly and make more turns, keeping them in the area where they will survive.
55
What are the 4 types of learning
Habituation Imprinting Classical conditioning Operant conditioning
56
What is habituation
Habituation is a learned adaption to the repeated presentation of a stimulus. Organisms learn to ignore stimuli which do not give a reward of punishment.
57
What is imprinting
Happens very early in life during the critical periods of brain development in birds and some mammals, the young attach to the first larger moving object they sense, this association is reinforced as they receive warmth and food
58
What is classical conditioning
When an innate response to a potent stimulus comes to be elicited in response to a previously neutral stimulus; this is achieved by repeated pairings of the neutral stimulus with the potent stimulus e.g Pavlov’s dogs
59
What is operant conditioning
This is learning where a particular behaviour is associated with a reward or punishment. The rewards or punishments are called reinforcers – either positive or negative.
60
Give 3 types of complex learning
Latent Insight Imitation
61
What is latent learning
Animals exploring their surroundings and learning information which could help them at a later stage for survival.
62
What is insight learning
Behaviour based on information previously learned, problem solving
63
What is imitation learning
Where an individual observes another’s behaviour and copies it. This is social learning and leads to the development of traditions - rituals which are passed down through generations.
64
Give 3 advantages of animals living in a social group
Mates are more readily available There is safety in numbers Food sharing can take place.
65
Give 3 disadvantages of animals living in a social group
Diseases can spread more rapidly A large group of individuals are more visible to predators There may be increased competition for mates or foods leading to aggression.
66
What is a fixed action pattern
An innate behaviour which is a complex sequence of events that runs to completion once it has been initiated by a sign stimulus
67
The response to a sign stimulus depends on the _________ state of the respondent.
Motivational
68
What are caste systems
Colonies where there is a division of labour, making the group more efficient.
69
3 types of communication within a colony
Touch, pheromones (chemical signalling) or visual displays
70
What does a round dance let other worker bees know
That there is food within 70m of the colony, but gives no directional information.
71
What does a waggle dance let other worker bees know
Used to convey distance and direction if the food source is more than 70m away.
72
Advantages of dominance hierarchy in vertebrates
Decreases aggression between individuals of the group for feeding, mate-selection and breeding site selection. Resources are shared out so that the fittest survive.
73
Define territory
The area that an animal consistently defends against other members of the same species.
74
Advantage of a territory
The animal can exploit the area for food, nesting areas and breeding areas as it will be familiar with the area. This will enhance the animal’s breeding success.
75
Advantage of courtship displays
Individuals of the same species and opposite genders can be recognised, as well as indicating whether they are sexually mature and receptive to mating.
76
Courtship behaviours are ______ behaviours following a ______ _______ _______
Innate Fixed action pattern
77
What is sexual selection
Involves one gender (usually males) having characteristics that the female finds more attractive and enhancing the males’ ability to attract a mate and achieve reproductive success.
78
How do sexual and natural selection oppose each other
Sexual selection is driving a more conspicuous characteristic, but natural selection would favour less conspicuous characteristics.
79
What is intrasexual selection
Males fight for mates. The larger and more aggressive the male is the more likely they are to mate.
80
What is inter-sexual selection
The male performs a courtship ritual and the female rejects or accepts him. There are two models for this: the physical attractiveness model and the male handicap model.
81
What is the physical attractiveness model
That the more attractive the male the more likely to be chosen – physical attractiveness often involves sign stimuli
82
What is the male handicap model
Where a sign signal may disadvantage the male (e.g bright peacock feathers), so an inferior male could not afford such a wastefully extravagant signal so the female knows that the signal indicates quality

WJEC A Levels (10 decks)

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