Biopsychology

Question 1

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 1

Controls vital functions in body e.g. heart rate and digestion

Question 2

Somatic nervous system

Answer 2

Controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors

Question 3

What is the major endocrine gland?

Answer 3

Pituitary gland

Question 4

What is the difference between the endocrine system and the nervous system?

Answer 4

Acts slower than the nervous system and has a more widespread effect

Question 5

What is the process of the fight or flight response?

Answer 5

1. When a stressor is experienced, the hypothalamus reacts.
2. The ANS shifts from parasympathetic to sympathetic.
3. Adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla.
4. Physiological changes occur e.g. increased heart rate.
5. Fight or flight occurs.

Question 6

Neuron

Answer 6

A specialised cell which carries neural information around the body.

Question 7

Function of a dendrite

Answer 7

Receives the oncoming impulse

Question 8

Function of an axon

Answer 8

Conducts impulse away from the cell body

Question 9

Function of myelin sheath

Answer 9

Insulates the axon and contains the impulse

Question 10

Axon and dendrite structure for each neuron

Answer 10

Motor - long axon, short dendrite
Relay - short axon, short dendrite
Sensory - short axon, long dendrite

Question 11

Localisation of function

Answer 11

Refers to the idea that certain areas of the brain impact certain physiological or psychological functions

Question 12

Dronkers et al (evaluation)

Answer 12

Weakness of localisation of function
Dronkers et al looked at Broca’s patients’ brains. Found other lesions in different areas that could cause speech disruption

Question 13

Lateralisation of function

Answer 13

Refers to the idea that some mental processes in the brain are mainly specified to one hemisphere of the brain

Question 14

Sperry aim

Answer 14

To investigate the effects of hemispheric disconnection and to show that each hemisphere has different functions

Question 15

Tactile task of Sperry’s experiment

Answer 15

presenting a stimulus to one of the hands of the split-brain patient so they could not see it and asking them to name it

Question 16

Plasticity

Answer 16

Refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and change both physically and functionally in response to experience and new learning

Question 17

Functional recovery

Answer 17

Refers to the brain’s ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by a damaged area to other undamaged areas following damage through trauma.

Question 18

Doidge (2007)

Answer 18

Highlights that the brain is able to rewire itself by forming new synaptic connections near the damage site.

Question 19

Application of functional recovery (evaluation)

Answer 19

+ of plasticity and functional recovery

Practical application through neurorehabilitation which aids functional recovery

Question 20

Hubel and Weisel (evaluation)

Answer 20

+ of plasticity and functional recovery
Support from animal studies (Hubel and Wiesel sewed the eye of a kitten shut and found the visual cortex of the shut eye was processing information from the open eye)

Question 21

Suprachiasmatic nucleus

Answer 21

A bundle of nerve cells in the hypothalamus.

Nerve fibres connected to the eye cross in optic chiasm. The SCN lies above. Receives direct information about light.

Question 22

Pineal gland

Answer 22

SCN passes info to the pineal gland which produces melatonin.