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A Level: Psychology > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

(90 cards)

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1
Q

What is the cell body

A

Includes a nucleus which contains genetic material

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2
Q

What are dendrites

A

Branch like structures that come out of the nerve cell to connect with other neurons, they carry nerve impulses from other neurons towards the cell body

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3
Q

What is the axon

A

Carries nerve impulses away from the cell body, the length of axons varies from a few millimetres to over a meter in the spinal chord

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4
Q

What is the myelin sheath

What type of cells make up this

A

Insulated and protects the axon and helps speed up the electrical transmission along the axon

Schwann cells make the myelin

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5
Q

What is the node of ranvier

A

Are the gaps in the myelin sheath that forces the impulses to jump accords the gaps along the axon

Increases speed of the electrical impulse

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6
Q

What is the terminal button

A

At the end of the axon are the terminal buttons that send impulses to the next neurons across the synapse

Contain tiny sacs containing chemicals called neurotransmitters

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7
Q

What is the structure and function of a sensory neuron

A

They have long dendrites and short axons

Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS

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8
Q

Describe the structure and function of relay neurons

A

They have short dendrites and short axons

Connect the sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons

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9
Q

Describe the structure and function of motor neurons

A

They have short dendrites and long axons

Relay information from the cns to effectors such as muscles and glands

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10
Q

Name two types of effectors

A

Muscles

Glands

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11
Q

Define synaptic transmission

A

The process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the synapse

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12
Q

Describe what happens when the impulse travels down the axon and arrives at the ore synaptic terminal

A

1) Vesicles are release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft
2) receptors recieve the neurotransmitters in the post synaptic receptor site
3) the enzymes break down neurotransmitters if they don’t get to the receptors
4) the left over neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by vesicles in the pre synaptic membrane
5) neurotransmitters replenish
6) summation: the overall influence is summed, either: excitatory, inhibitory

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13
Q

What happens if the result of summation is excitatory

A

The neuron is more likely to fire and pass on the impulse

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14
Q

What happens if the overall influence is inhibitory

A

The neuron is less likely to fire

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15
Q

What does the central nervous system consist of

What is it’s function

A

The brain and spinal cord

It receives info from the senses and controls the body’s response

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16
Q

What is the function of the peripheral nervous system

A

To send information to the CNS from the outside world and transmit messages from the CNS to muscles and glands

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17
Q

What is the role of the somatic nervous system

A

Controls muscle movement and recieves information from sensory receptors to the CNS

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18
Q

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system

A

Controls vital functions in the body - transmits info to and from bodily organs

INVOLUNTARY

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19
Q

Name the two divisions of the ANS

A

Sympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system

Both work in opposition to one another

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20
Q

What is the job of the glands

A

An organ in the body that produced substances such as hormones

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21
Q

Name 3 glands

A

The thyroid gland - thyroxine
Pituitary gland-master gland
Adrenal gland-adrenaline

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22
Q

Explain what happens during sudden stress

A

The ANS changes from parasympathetic state to a sympathetic state which prepares the body for fight or flight - sends a signal to the adrenal medulla/ releases adrenaline

Adrenaline causes increased heart pumping breathing more rapid releases blood sugar

Parasympathetic branch dampens down stress response returning to to normal

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23
Q

What does adrenaline cause

A

Rapid breathing
Inhibited digestion
Increase blood sugar- more energy
Heart beats faster- o2 to muscles

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24
Q

What does HPA axis stand for

What is it

A

Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system

Sequence of bodily activity in response to stress

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25
Explain what’s happens in response to prolonged stress
Hypothalamus releases CRH CRH causes pituitary gland to release ACTH ACTH stimulates the adrenal vortex to release cortisol Cortisol fights inflammation and releases energy
26
Define localisation of function
The idea that specific parts of the brain have a specific function
27
Before the 19th century and Brocas and Wernickes work- what theory was accepted in relation to localisation do function
Holistic theory
28
What’s another word for localisation if function
Cortical specialisation
29
What is hemispheric lateralisation
One hemisphere has a different function to the other hemisphere
30
What is the function of the: motor area Somatosensory area Visual area Auditory area
1) movement 2) detects sensory events(pressure/touch/pain/temp) 3) processes light in retina 4) controls hearing (sound waves converted to nerve impulses)
31
What’s another word for a language abnormality
Aphasia
32
What is the function of wernickes Brocas
Wernickes/ speech comprehension Brocas/ speech production
33
Explain Brocas work
Studied a patient- tan- with issues producing language-post morten... He also studied 8 other patients with language deficits and lesions in the left hemisphere SUPPORTS LOCALISATION
34
Explain Wernickes work
Discovered an area of the brain involved in understanding language in the left fontal hemisphere
35
Explain tulving work- what does this support
Tulving= radioactive gold/semantic & episodic memory/ monitored blood flow to DIFFERENT AREAS Localisation of function
36
Explain Phineas Gage case study What does this support
Phineas Gage= left frontal lobe removed/ Experienced mood problems/ left frontal lobe regulates mood/limited= non generalisable Localisation of function
37
Explain Lashley work (animals) What does this criticise
Removed part of cortex in rats that were learning a maze, found no area of the cortex was more or less important than any other part of the cortex when learning a maze Criticises Localisation of function (Pro holism) Based on ANIMALS> not relatable
38
Explain Brain plasticity What does this reject
When the brain becomes damaged- the brain can reorganise itself in an attempt to recover lost function Shows that if one area was damaged the whole function SHOULD be inhibited= not the case Rejects localisation of function- supports holism
39
Define brain plasticity
The brains ability to change and adapt because of experience- research has demonstrated that the brain continues to create neural pathways
40
What is the corpus callosum
Connects the two hemispheres together by a bundle of nerve fibres- allows communication within the hemispheres
41
Describe sperry’s research
Used split brain patients Flashed a word into the right field of view- answer matches word Flashed word into Left field of view, cannot say what they saw but can draw it
42
Describe sperry’s research
Used split brain patients Flashed a word into the right field of view- answer matches word Flashed word into Left field of view, cannot say what they saw but can draw it
43
Explain gazzanigas work
One patients developed the ability to speak out of the right hemisphere of the brain Suggests language is too complex to be localised Supporting holism
44
What is a advantage of sperrys work
Laboratory experiment - high control - replicatable
45
Name a disadvantage of sperrys work
Population validity - not generalisable - unique sample
46
Define brain plasticity
Refers to the brains ability to change and adapt due to experience
47
Define functional recovery
Refers to the transfer of functions from a damaged area of the brain after trauma to an undamaged area
48
What happens in the brain during recovery
The brain is able to reorganise itself by forming new synaptic connections
49
Name the four examples of brain plasticity And summarise each one
Synaptic pruning- the process by which extra synaptic connections are eliminated Axon sprouting- undamaged axons grow new nerve ending to reconnect neurons Neuronal unmasking- dormant synapses open connections Recruitment of homologous- similar areas
50
Explain Maguires work What does this support
Used structural MRIs to investigate Hippocampal volume of taxi drivers Found taxi drivers have a larger posterior hippocampal volume Supports brain plasticity as it shows brains ability to change and adapt over time spent as a taxi driver
51
Explain Kuhn work What does this support
Compared control group with one that spent time playing mario for two months at 30 mins a day More grey matter in various brain areas New synaptic connections Supports brain plasticity shows how brain has adapted in response to the study
52
Explain kemperman work What does this support
Investigated whether an enriched environment could alter the number of neurons in the brain -more new neuron in brain of enriched caged rats Supports brain plasticity - brain adapted ANIMALS not generalisable to human
53
Explain Bezzola work | What did this support
Golfer- training for 40 hours, reduced motor cortex activity in novice golfers after 40 hours of practice Brain plasticity- forms new connections
54
Define post mortems
Researchers study the physical brain of a person who displayed a particular behaviour while they were alive
55
Name and explain someone who used post mortems
Brocas- Tan Examine his language ability when alive, then found he had a lesion in the area of the brain responsible for speech production in the post mortems
56
What’s a strength and a disadvantage of post mortems
✅allow for a more detailed examination of anatomical and neurosurgical aspects of the brain 🚨issue of causation- the death may not be linked to deficits in the brain
57
What is FMRI scans
Measures blood flow in the brain when a person performs a task
58
How does fmri scans study the brain
Uses neurons in the brain that are most active and use most energy- this requires glucose and oxygen, the neurons use the oxygen forming deoxygenated haemoglobin Deoxygenated haemoglovin has a doffering magnetic quality to oxygenated haemoglobin FMRI can detect the different magnetic qualities to create a dynamic 3D image of the brain
59
What is temporal resolution
How quickly the scanner can detect changes in brain activity.
60
Define spatial resolution
The smallest feature that the scanner can detect- allowing scientists to discriminate between different brain regions
61
Name an advantage and disadvantage of FMRI scans
Poor temporal resolution | Good spatial resolution
62
Describe sperry’s research
Used split brain patients Flashed a word into the right field of view- answer matches word Flashed word into Left field of view, cannot say what they saw but can draw it
63
Describe EEG scanners
Measure electrical activity through electrodes attached to the scalp Small charges are detected by the electrodes in and are graphed over a period of time indicating the level of activity
64
Name the four types of EEG patterns
Alpha beta theta and Delta
65
Give an advantage and disadvantage of EEG scans
Good temporal resolution Poor special recognition Cannot provide information on what’s happening in the deepest parts of the brain Can observe the brain in real time rather than the passive
66
What does ERP stand for
Event related potentials
67
Which of the method of scanning is similar to the ERP scans
EEGs
68
How are ERPs triggered
By specific events or stimuli
69
How are ERPs used
Electrodes on scalp to detect these very small voltage changes
70
Advantage and disadvantage of ERPs
Good temporal resolution Poor special recognition Cannot provide information on what’s happening in the deepest parts of the brain Can observe the brain in real time rather than the passive
71
Define biological rhythms
Distinct patterns of changes in body activity that conform to a cyclical time period
72
Name three types of biological rhythm
Ultradian Rhythm Circadian rhythm Infradian rhythm
73
Define endogenous pacemakers
Internal body clock is that regulate many of our biological rhythms
74
What is the most important pacemaker in human beings Where is it
``` Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) In the hypothalamus ```
75
What does the SCN do
Controls sleep/wake cycle by detecting light through the optic nerve Also regulated the production and secretion of melatonin which induces sleep
76
Define exogenous zeitgebers
External ques that affect our biological rhythms
77
What is the process used to reset our biological clock called
Entraining
78
Name three exogenous zeitgebers
Light Food Temp
79
DeFind circadian rhythm
A type of biological rhythm subject to a 24 hour cycle which regulates a number of body processes E.G.sleep wake cycle
80
Explain deCoursey work What does this support
Destroyed the SCN connections in the brains of 30 chipmunks and returned them to their natural habitat the sleep wake cycle disappeared Supports the role of endogenous pacemaker in the sleep wake cycle because the rhythm disappeared LIMITED=animals
81
Explain Siffres work What dies this support
Spent several periods of time underground to study the effect on his biological rhythms Deprived of natural light and sound He continued to fall asleep and wake on a regular schedule Supports the role of endogenous pacemakers- body continued a cycle One person/ NON GENERALISABLE
82
Explain the work of Czeisler What does this challenge
Most studies were not isolated from artificial light Czeisler altered participants circadian rhythm down to 22 hours and up to 28 hours by using dim artificial lighting Challenges previosu understanding of sleep wake cycle> failed to take into account artificial light
83
Explain the work of Vetter What did this support
Participants were exposed to blue enriched light during their office hours and this synchronised their rhythms to their office hours showing that light is the dominant EZ for the SCN
84
Define infradian rhythm
A type of biological rhythm that takes more than 24 hours to complete Eg menstrual cycle
85
Explain the work of Stern and McClintock
Conducted a study showing how menstrual cycles might synchronised based of the influence of female pheromones They did this by rubbing pheromones on the upper lip of a participant- 68% of women experienced changes in their cycle > bringing them closer to the cycle of the woman whose pheromones had been used Supports role of endogenous pacemakers on infradian rhythms and also EZs which can impact the EPs too
86
What is a limitation of stern and McClintocks work
Small samples | Limited replication
87
Define ultradian rhythm
A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of more than one cycle in 24 hours Eg REM
88
Name an experiment highlighting the importance of REM
Jouvet Cats brains= woke them up during REM denying them of this stage of sleep Cats got stressed n died
89
Explain the work of Dement and Kleitman
They monitored the brainwave activity through EEG and woke them up at different stages of sleep cycle Those women up during REM could recall more dreams than those in NREM suggests we go through different stages of sleep which supports ultradian rhythms
90
Suggest a limitation with Dement and Kleitmans work
Artificial Small samples Lack ecological validity

A Level: Psychology (11 decks)

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