Biopsychology Flashcards
(50 cards)
The Biological Approach to Understanding Behaviour AO1+2
AO1:
• The biological approach explains behavior in terms of genetics, neurochemistry, and brain structure.
• It assumes behavior is influenced by biological processes such as evolution, genes, and neurotransmitters.
AO2:
• For example, schizophrenia is linked to an imbalance of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that affects brain function.
The Biological Approach to Understanding Behaviour AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Scientific methods (e.g., brain scans, twin studies) provide objective, empirical evidence.
✔ Strength: Led to practical applications, such as drug therapies for mental disorders.
✘ Weakness: Reductionist—ignores environmental and cognitive factors in behavior.
✘ Weakness: Deterministic—implies little free will in behavior.
Synoptic Link: Links to abnormal psychology, where biological explanations are used to understand disorders.
Mnemonic: BIO = Behavior Inherited & Observed
The Nervous System and the Endocrine System AO1+2
AO1:
• The nervous system transmits messages through neurons, while the endocrine system releases hormones to regulate body functions.
• The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).
AO2:
• The fight or flight response involves the endocrine system releasing adrenaline to prepare the body for action.
The Nervous System and the Endocrine System AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Both systems work together to maintain homeostasis.
✔ Strength: Research on the endocrine system has led to hormone treatments (e.g., insulin for diabetes).
✘ Weakness: The interaction between the two systems is complex and difficult to isolate in studies.
✘ Weakness: Animal studies may not always generalize to humans.
Synoptic Link: Links to stress psychology, showing how biological systems contribute to the stress response.
Mnemonic: Nervous = Fast, Endocrine = Enduring
The Structure and Function of Neurons AO1+2
AO1:
• Neurons transmit electrical and chemical signals. The three types are sensory, motor, and relay neurons.
• Neurons consist of dendrites, axons, and synapses.
AO2:
• The action potential travels down the axon to release neurotransmitters at the synapse.
The Structure and Function of Neurons AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Understanding neurons has led to treatments for neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease).
✔ Strength: Brain scans allow us to study neuron function in detail.
✘ Weakness: Research on neurons is complex and difficult to study in humans.
✘ Weakness: Some findings rely on animal studies, which may lack human generalizability.
Synoptic Link: Links to biological psychology, exploring how neuron function affects behavior.
Mnemonic: DAX = Dendrite, Axon, Synapse
Synaptic Transmission AO1+2
AO1:
• Synaptic transmission is the process of one neuron communicating with another via neurotransmitters.
• Excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine) increase neural activity; inhibitory neurotransmitters (e.g., GABA) reduce it.
AO2:
• Low levels of serotonin are linked to depression, influencing antidepressant medication development.
Synaptic Transmission AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Neurotransmitter research has led to successful drug treatments (e.g., SSRIs for depression).
✔ Strength: Scientific methods (e.g., fMRI scans) provide empirical evidence.
✘ Weakness: Reductionist—focuses only on neurotransmitters, ignoring environment and cognition.
✘ Weakness: Causation issues—correlation does not prove that neurotransmitters cause mental disorders.
Synoptic Link: Links to abnormal psychology (e.g., depression and schizophrenia).
Mnemonic: SYN = Signal Yielded Neuron
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) AO1+2
AO1:
• The ANS controls involuntary bodily functions (e.g., breathing, digestion).
• It has two branches: sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest).
AO2:
• When faced with danger, the sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate and dilates pupils.
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Explains physiological reactions to stress and survival instincts.
✔ Strength: Research has led to treatments for anxiety (e.g., beta-blockers to reduce heart rate).
✘ Weakness: Overemphasis on biological mechanisms—ignores psychological factors in stress response.
✘ Weakness: Not all stress responses fit the fight or flight model (e.g., some people freeze).
Synoptic Link: Links to stress and anxiety disorders, explaining physiological symptoms.
Mnemonic: ANS = Automatic Nervous System
The Central Nervous System (CNS) AO1+2
AO1:
• The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing information and controlling behavior.
• The brain is divided into four lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal.
AO2:
• Damage to the frontal lobe (e.g., Phineas Gage) leads to personality changes.
The Central Nervous System (CNS) AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Brain scanning techniques (e.g., fMRI, PET scans) provide objective data.
✔ Strength: Localized brain damage studies support CNS function.
✘ Weakness: Brain research is often correlational—causation is difficult to determine.
✘ Weakness: Ethical issues in brain damage studies limit research possibilities.
Synoptic Link: Links to neuropsychology and brain disorders.
The Brain and Its Structures AO1+2
AO1:
• The brain is divided into four lobes:
• Frontal lobe (decision-making, movement, speech).
• Parietal lobe (processing sensory info).
• Occipital lobe (vision).
• Temporal lobe (memory, emotion, and hearing).
• The limbic system includes the amygdala (emotion) and hippocampus (memory formation).
AO2:
• Damage to Broca’s area (left frontal lobe) leads to expressive aphasia, impairing speech production.
The Brain and Its Structures AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Brain scans provide scientific evidence for brain structures.
✔ Strength: Real-world applications—neurosurgery (e.g., for epilepsy) based on brain function research.
✘ Weakness: Research on brain damage is often based on case studies, limiting generalizability.
✘ Weakness: The brain is highly interconnected, making it difficult to study regions in isolation.
Synoptic Link: Links to cognitive neuroscience, integrating psychology and biology.
Mnemonic: F-POT = Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal
Plasticity and Functional Recovery AO1+2
AO1:
• Plasticity: The brain’s ability to adapt by forming new neural connections.
• Functional recovery: The brain rewires itself after injury by recruiting undamaged neurons.
AO2:
• Maguire et al. (2000) found that London taxi drivers had more developed hippocampi due to navigation training.
Plasticity and Functional Recovery AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Supported by brain imaging studies showing changes after learning.
✔ Strength: Used in neurorehabilitation (e.g., stroke recovery therapy).
✘ Weakness: Plasticity declines with age, limiting its effectiveness in adults.
✘ Weakness: Negative plasticity can occur, e.g., phantom limb syndrome after amputation.
Synoptic Link: Links to learning theories, showing how experience shapes the brain.
Mnemonic: Plastic Brain = Flexible Brain
The Role of Hormones in Behavior AO1+2
AO1:
• Hormones are chemical messengers released by the endocrine system, influencing behavior.
• Examples:
• Testosterone (aggression).
• Oxytocin (bonding & trust).
AO2:
• Dabbs et al. (1995) found high testosterone levels in violent criminals.
The Role of Hormones in Behavior AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Research has practical applications (e.g., hormone therapy).
✔ Strength: Scientific methods (e.g., blood tests) provide reliable hormone measurements.
✘ Weakness: Reductionist—ignores environmental and social influences on behavior.
✘ Weakness: Correlation does not prove causation (e.g., testosterone and aggression).
Synoptic Link: Links to aggression studies in social psychology.
Mnemonic: HORMone = HORMonal Messages
The Fight or Flight Response AO1+2
AO1:
• Triggered by acute stress, activating the sympathetic nervous system.
• Adrenaline increases heart rate, dilates pupils, and boosts oxygen to muscles.
AO2:
• Taylor et al. (2000) found that females often use a tend-and-befriend response instead.
The Fight or Flight Response AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Explains stress-related health conditions (e.g., high blood pressure).
✔ Strength: Evolutionary advantages—helped early humans survive threats.
✘ Weakness: Not universal—some people show a freeze response instead.
✘ Weakness: Chronic activation can lead to heart disease.
Synoptic Link: Links to stress psychology, explaining physiological symptoms of anxiety.
Mnemonic: FFF = Fight, Flight, or Freeze
Localisation of Function in the Brain AO1+2
AO1:
• Different brain areas control specific functions:
• Motor cortex (voluntary movements).
• Somatosensory cortex (touch & pain).
• Visual cortex (sight).
• Auditory cortex (hearing).
AO2:
• Damage to Wernicke’s area (left temporal lobe) causes Wernicke’s aphasia, affecting language comprehension.
Localisation of Function in the Brain AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Brain scans confirm function-specific activation.
✔ Strength: Neurosurgical evidence supports brain region specialisation.
✘ Weakness: The brain is highly interconnected, challenging strict localisation theories.
✘ Weakness: Plasticity suggests functions can shift after injury.
Synoptic Link: Links to neuroscience and neurorehabilitation.
Mnemonic: M-S-V-A = Motor, Sensory, Visual, Auditory
Biological Rhythms: Circadian Rhythms AO1+2
AO1:
• Circadian rhythms follow a 24-hour cycle, e.g., the sleep-wake cycle.
• Controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus.
AO2:
• Siffre’s cave study (1975) showed that without external cues, circadian rhythms lengthened to ~25 hours.
Biological Rhythms: Circadian Rhythms AO3
AO3:
✔ Strength: Practical applications (e.g., shift work research on health risks).
✔ Strength: Supported by strong experimental evidence.
✘ Weakness: Individual differences in circadian cycles.
✘ Weakness: Lab studies lack ecological validity.
Synoptic Link: Links to sleep psychology and melatonin research.
Mnemonic: CIRCADIAn = CIRCle Around the Day
