Biopsychology Flashcards
(136 cards)
1
Q
DIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
What makes up the human nervous system?
A
Peripheral nervous system and CNS
2
Q
DIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
What makes up the peripheral nervous sytem?
A
Autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system
3
Q
DIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
What makes up the autonomic nervous system?
A
Symphetic and parasympthetic nervous system
4
Q
DIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
What makes up the CNS?
A
The brain and spinal cord
5
Q
DIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
What does the autonomic nervous system do?
A
Involuntary movements
6
Q
DIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
What does the somatic nervous system do?
A
Voluntary movements
7
Q
DIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
What does the sympathetic nervous system and parasymphetic nervous system do together and individually?
A
Fight or flight responses together, sympathetic adrenaline, parasympathetic calms you down
8
Q
DIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
What is the somatic nervous system made up of?
A
Cranial nerves and spinal nerves
9
Q
DIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
What does the somatic nervous system do?
A
Transmit sensory information from the body to the brain then to the muscles to produce voluntary movement
10
Q
DIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
Give some responses from the sympathetic nervous system
A
Dilated pupils, accelerated heartbeat, inhibited bladder contraction
11
Q
DIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
Give some responses of the parasympathetic nervous system
A
Slowed heartbeat, stimulates release of bile, contracts bladder
12
Q
STRESSORS
What is a stressor?
A
Any stimulus that produces a stress response in a person.
13
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STRESSORS
Are stressors objective?
A
Yes produce different responses in everyone
14
Q
STRESSORS
What does the sympathetic nervous system cause?
A
The way to be physiologically aroused and ready to fight or flight
15
Q
STRESSORS
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?
A
Returns our body back to normal
16
Q
STRESSORS
Describe response to a sudden stimuli
A
A stressor/threat is perceived
SNS is triggered
Fight or flight responses occur
This involves message to the adrenal medulla, which responds by secreting the hormone adrenaline into bloodstream
This causes a number of physical changes
Once threat is gone, parasympathetic branch takes control and brings body back to equillibrium
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Q
STRESSORS
Describe responses to ongoing stressors
A
If brain continues to perceive something as threatening, the second system kicks in. This is the bodies response to something like a stressful job.
18
Q
STRESSORS
What is activated by ongoing stressors?
A
A stress response system, known as the HPS axis
19
Q
STRESSORS
Describe the HPS
A
Hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland
Pituitary gland secretes the hormone ACTH
ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex and releases various hormones including cortisol
20
Q
STRESSORS
What does cortisol do?
A
Enables the body to maintain steady supplies of blood sugar
21
Q
STRESSORS
What does adequate levels of blood sugar help a person to deal with?
A
Prolonged stressor activity and helps the body return to normal
22
Q
STRESSORS
What helps monitor blood sugar levels?
A
The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
23
Q
THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What is the endocrine system?
A
A network of glands that make and secrete hormones
24
Q
THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What is this system in charge of?
A
Body processes that happen slowly, such as cell growth
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What does this system often work with?
The nervous system
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What do endocrine glands do?
Release adrenaline directly into the bloodstream, which prepares the body for fight or flight by constricting blood vessels in the stomach.
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What does secretion of adrenalin mean?
Inhibited digestion, sick feeling and an increasing heart rate
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What does the pituitary gland do?
Controls the release of hormones from all endocrine glands
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Describe role of the ovaries
Facilitate the release of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Describe roll of the testes
Facilitate the release of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What is produced from the thyroid?
Thyroxine (regulates metabolism)
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What is produced in the adrenal cortex?
Cortisol (stimulates fight or flight in the body)
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What is the pituitary gland often referred to as?
The master gland, because it controls several of the other hormome glands
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What does the pituitary gland consist of?
Two parts: the posterior pituitary and the anterior pituitary
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What is the purpose of the hormones the pituitary gland produces?
To influence the release of hormones from other glands
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What controls the pituitary gland?
The hypothalamus which is able to maintain homeostasis by monitoring information about the basic functions of the body.
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What causes the adrenal gland to release cortisol?
The adrenocorticotropic hormone
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Where are the adrenal glands and what do they do?
The top of each kidney, produce vital hormones
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What does the adrenal cortex do?
Secrete hormones that have an effect on the body's metabolism, eg cortisol
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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What does the adrenal medulla do?
Help a person cope with physical and emotional stress; also secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline
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NEURONS
What is a neuron?
A nerve cell
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NEURONS
Role of the axon terminal
Leads messages to synapse
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NEURONS
Role of myelin sheath
Insulates the axon to increase rate of reaction
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NEURONS
Role of axon
Electrical messages travel down
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NEURONS
Role of cell body
Contains the nucleus
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NEURONS
Role of nucleus
Electrical message starte here
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NEURONS
Role of dendrites
Receives message from the dendrite
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TYPES OF NEURONS
Define sensory neuron
Receptors to CNS
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TYPES OF NEURONS
Describe relay neuron
CNS to CNS
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TYPES OF NEURONS
Describe motor neuron?
CNS to effectors
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SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION
Where are neurotransmitters?
In vesticles in the pre synaptic neuron and then release into the synapse
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SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION
What do neurotransmitters bind to?
Receptors on the post synaptic neuron, causing the electrical impulse to be triggered in the next neuron
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SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION
What is an inhibitory neurotransmitter?
One which calms down the brain and nervous system, make the post synaptic cell less likely to fire
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SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION
What is an exhibitory neurotransmitter?
One which stimulates activity in areas of the brain, for example the neurotransmitter noradrenaline. They make a person feel more alert and the post synaptic cell more likely to fire
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SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION
Define summation
The number of exicatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters are added and whichever is greater will dictate the overall outcome
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
What is localisation of function?
The principle specific functions of have specific locations in the brain
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Where is the broca area found?
Frontal lobe
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
What is the role of the broca area?
Production of spoken language, one of two language centres. Can still understand lang if broken
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Where is the motor cortex found?
The motor strip in frontal lobe
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
What does the motor cortex do?
Generates all of bodies voluntary movements, runs across both hemispheres
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Where is the somato sensory cortex?
Sensory strip, parietal lobe
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
What does the somato sensory cortex do?
Detects sensory events, produces sensations of touch, pressure, pain and temp
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Where is the wernicke area?
Temporal lobes
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
What does the wernicke area do?
Understanding lang, can still speak
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Occipital lobe: where is the primary visual centre located?
The visual cortex
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Where is the auditory centre located?
Temporal lobe
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Describe how the auditory centre processes sound
1. Cochlea: sound waves converted to nerve impulses
2. Impulses go via brainstem where basic decoding takes place
3. Auditory cortex interprets sound and gives it meaning
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Where does visual processing begin?
The retina, which transmits info to the optic nerve
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Where does the visual cortex span?
Both hemispheres
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Where does each visual cortex send info to?
The opposite side of body
Right to Left
Left to Right
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Give one positive
Aphasia studies, brocha/wernickes aphasia, lang speech and understanding from diff regions
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Where are the brocha and wernicke located?
Left hemisphere
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LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION
Give two negatives
Communication vs location: Dejerine found loss of reading ability resulted from connection damage between visual cortex and Wernickes area REDUCTIONIST
Equipotentiality: Lashley thinks more complex mental processes non localised. Inact cortex areas could take over.
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HEMISPHERIC LATERALISATION & SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH
What does hemispheric lateralisation mean?
Means one hemisphere of brain dominant for particular functions
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HEMISPHERIC LATERALISATION & SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH
What does the left hemisphere do?
Controls right side of body, language, and logical thinking
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HEMISPHERIC LATERALISATION & SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH
What does the right hemisphere do?
Left side of body, creative thoughts, spatial awareness
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HEMISPHERIC LATERALISATION & SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH
How are the two hemispheres connected?
The corpus callosum: allows them to share information
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HEMISPHERIC LATERALISATION & SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH
Who is split brain research done on?
Someone who has a corpus collosum not intact, used to be a treatment for epilepsy
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HEMISPHERIC LATERALISATION & SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH
Give Sperry and Gazzaniga's supporting study
Project one image/word to right visual field, project another image/word to left visual field. Ask the patient what they thought they saw
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HEMISPHERIC LATERALISATION & SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH
Give extra details abt the SG study
- Hand holes to cover hands
- 11 split brain patients
- 1/10th of a second
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HEMISPHERIC LATERALISATION & SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH
Give the findings of the SG study
- Because the left hemisphere is dominant for verbal processing the patients answer could match the word
- The right hemisphere cannot share information w the left, so patient unable to say what they saw, but can draw it
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HEMISPHERIC LATERALISATION & SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH
Give three negatives
- Age: lateralisation becomes reduced. Individual differences
- JW: able to speak using right hemisphere, so left not only that does language
- Case studies: small sample size, generalisability
83
PLASTICITY AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN RECOVERY
Define plasticity
The brain adapting and changing through experiences
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PLASTICITY AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN RECOVERY
Define functional recovery
Brains ability to move functions from a damaged to an undamaged area
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PLASTICITY AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN RECOVERY
Plasticity: life experiences
Plasticity connections strengthened w use, over time will die if unused. Helps brain adapt
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PLASTICITY AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN RECOVERY
Give life experiences research support
Boyke et al found 60 yr old pps taught to juggle have increased grey matter in visual cortex. Reversed when stopped practicing
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PLASTICITY AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN RECOVERY
Plasticity: video games
Playing video games may encourage the brain to make new neural connections, bc of different and complex cognitive motor demands when playing
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PLASTICITY AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN RECOVERY
Give video game research support
Kuhn et al, 2 groups either play supermario or dont, increased grey matter in cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum in supermario group
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PLASTICITY AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN RECOVERY
Functional recovery: neural unmasking
Some synaptic cognitions are dormant though they are physically intact. Normally input rate too low to activate. However, if input rate changes this connection would be unmasked. New area of activation
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PLASTICITY AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN RECOVERY
Functional recovery: stem cells
Implanted stem cells could be used to replace dead/dying cells
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PLASTICITY AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN RECOVERY
Give the other two ways stem cells can be used
Transplanted stem cells could be used to secrete growth factors rescuing injured cells
Could form neural network that links uninjured brain site w damaged brain regions
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PLASTICITY AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN RECOVERY
Give two positives
- Support from animal studies: rats w fun cages vs bad cages. More neural pathways in fun rats
- Maguire et al: taxi driver vs non taxi driver. Posterior hippocampus larger than control, whereas anterior hippocampi larger in control.
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PLASTICITY AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN RECOVERY
Give two negatives
- Functional recovery reduces w age: Elbert et al neural reorganisation greater in children than adults
- Educational attainment: Schneider et al, pp w equivalent of college education 7x more likely to be disability free one year after a moderate-severe brain injury
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
FMRI: what is an fmri?
A technique for measuring changes in brain activity whilst a person performs a task
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
FMRI: how does the fmri study the brain?
By measuring electrical activity of neurons by measuring brain blood flow in certain areas. If more active, need more oxygen, so more blood.
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
FMRI: what can researchers go on to produce?
Maps showing which areas of the brain are involved for a particular mental process
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
FMRI: give two strengths
+ Non invasive
+ Spatial resolution 1-2mm
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
EEG: How does an eeg work?
Small sensors are attached to the scalp to pick up electrical signals produced when brain cells send messages to each other
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
EEG: How long are signals recorded for and what does this do?
Signals are recorded for 20 - 30 minutes, produces an EEG reading. EEG data can be used to detect various types of brain disorder like epilepsy
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
EEG: give two strengths
+ Non invasive
+ Temporal resolution 1-10ms
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
ERPS: What does an ERP do?
Small measured brain responses which are direct results of specific motor, sensory, or cognitive events.
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
ERPS: How is a specific response to target stimuli established?
Multiple presentation of the stimuli, and then responses are averaged
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
ERPS: What are the two categories of ERP?
Sensory: initial responses
Cognitive: the manner a subject evaluates a stimulus
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
ERPS: give two strengths
+ Non invasive
+ Enable determination of how processing is affected by specific experimental manipulation
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
ERPS: give one negative
Superficial: general regions only
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
Post mortems: what is a post mortem?
Evaluating a corpse through dissection to evaluate any diseases or injuries present and look at structures involved in memory
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
ERPS: what did a post mortem of HM confirm?
Inability to form new memories linked to lesions in hippocampus.
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
ERPS: what are post mortems also used for?
Establishing a link between psychiatric disorders, like sz and depression, and underlying brain abnormalities
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
ERPS: give one strength
+ Post mortem studies have found evidence of reduced numbers of glial cells in frontal cortex of depression patients
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WAYS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN
ERPS: give a negative
A deficit person displays during lifetime may not be linked to deficits found in brain
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
What are the three types?
Circidian, ultradian, infradian
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
What is a circidian rhythm?
24-hour cycles
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
Give an example of a circadian rhythm
Sleep-wake cycle, consistent sleep patterns which suggest we have an internal mechanism: the biological clock, known as our endogenous pacemaker
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
What provides the primary input to the sleep wake system?
Light, acting as an external cue for sleeping and waking known as exgenous zeitgeberg
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
Where does light send a message after it is detected in the eye?
The suprachiasmatic nucleus, which ensures internal bodily processes in synch with outside world
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
What are other examples of circadian rhythms?
- Hormone production in the pineal gland, produces melatonin which peaks during darkness
- Core body temperature, rises when awake, lowers when asleep
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
EZ/EP: research support
- Stephan & Zucker, lab rats housed given 12 hours of light 12 hours of darkness
- When the rats SCN damaged, normal circadian patterns of behaviour stopped
- Shows that SCN is a key pacemaker which controls circadian rhythms
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
EZ/EP: blind people research support
- Skene and Arendt
- Majority of blind people who still have light perception have normal circadian rhythms, whereas those without light perception show abnormal ones
- Demonstrates the importance of exogenous zeitgebers as a biological mechanism and their impact on biological circadian rhythms
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
Give a negative of EZ/EP
Biological reductionism: behaviourist approach would suggest bodily rhythms are influenced by other people and social norms. Therefore, only considers a singular biological mechanism and fails to take a holistic view and consider other widely divergent viewpoints.
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
What are the two key endogenous pacemakers?
Suprachiasmatic nucleus, pineal gland
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
How do endogenous pacemakers work?
1: light activates SCN
2: melatonin receptors in eye respond to presence of light by transmitting signals to SCN
3: activation of SCN prevents pineal gland from producing melatonin
4: SCN is then able to co-ordinate the other "biological clocks" in the body that need resetting because they do not regulate well wout input from SCN
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
Give examples of exogenous zeitgebes
Light (melanopsin), social cues ie work, commitments, travel
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
Circadian rhythms: give a real world application
Research can improve medical treatments, affect digestion, heart rate, hormone secretion etc. Leading to the field of chronotherapeutics, ie asparin taken at night for heart attacks
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
Circadian rhythms: give research support
Michel Siffre, spent two months living in cage w no sunlight or clock, free running biological rhythm settled down to just over 24 hours
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BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
Circadian rhythms: negative
Individual differences: duffy et al, "morning people" prefer to rise and go to bed early, "evening people" prefer to rise late and go to bed late. Therefore, individual differences in circadian rhythms which should be considered in research
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ULTRADIAN & INFRADIAN RHYTHMS
What is an ultradian rhythm?
A rhythm which lasts for less than 24 hours
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ULTRADIAN & INFRADIAN RHYTHMS
Give an example of an ultradian rhythm
Stages of sleep: 5 stages of sleep which are roughly 90 minutes long, diff levels of brain activity
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ULTRADIAN & INFRADIAN RHYTHMS
What are the different sleep stages?
Light sleep
Deep sleep
Extreme deep sleep
Rapid eye movement: dreaming occurs
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ULTRADIAN & INFRADIAN RHYTHMS
Give two negatives of ultradian rhythms
- Individual diffs: Tucker stages 3 & 4 can vary dramatically in people, bio rhythms don't operate the same for everyone
- Research methods: must be attached to monitors, invasive, ordinary sleep so ecological validity
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ULTRADIAN & INFRADIAN RHYTHMS
What does Kleichman say?
We also have a basic rest activity cycle (BRAC) throughout the day. 90 minutes, progressively move from a state of alertness to physiological fatigue every 90 minutes
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ULTRADIAN & INFRADIAN RHYTHMS
Give the research support to Kleichman's proposal
Elite performers/athletes break practice into 90 min cycles
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ULTRADIAN & INFRADIAN RHYTHMS
What is an infradian rhythm?
One which is more than 24 hours
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ULTRADIAN & INFRADIAN RHYTHMS
Give the main example of infradian rhythms
Female menstrual cycle, roughly a month long. Can be influenced by environmental events.
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ULTRADIAN & INFRADIAN RHYTHMS
Why do menstrual cycles often sync?
Unconscious detection of pheromones secreted at certain times during the cycle.
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ULTRADIAN & INFRADIAN RHYTHMS
Give the two supporting points of infradian rhythms
- Research support: Russell sweat rubbed onto lips. Supports external factors
- Animal rhythms: ie hibernation is yearly cycle
136
Information can only travel in one direction at a synapse. Explain why neurons can only
transmit information in one direction at a synapse.
Award 1 mark for each of the following points (up to 3 marks):
the synaptic vesicles containing the neurotransmitter are only present on/released from the
presynaptic membrane
the receptors for the neurotransmitters are only present on the postsynaptic membrane
it is the binding of the neurotransmitter to the receptor which enables the signal/information to be
passed/transmitted on (to the next neuron).
Diffusion of the neurotransmitters mean they can only go from high to low concentration, so can only
travel from the presynaptic to the postsynaptic membrane.
