Biopsychology Key Terms Flashcards
Localisation of Function
The theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, processes or activities
Motor Area
A region of the frontal lobe involved in regulating movement
Somatosensory Area
An area of the parietal lobe that processes sensory information such as touch
Visual Area
A part of the occipital lobe that receives and processes visual information
Auditory Area
Located in the temporal lobe and concerned with the analysis of speech based information
Broca’s Area
An area of the frontal lobe of the brain in the left hemisphere responsible for speech production
Wernicke’s Area
An area of the temporal love in the left hemisphere responsible for language comprehension
Plasticity
AKA Neuroplasticity or Cortical Remapping. This describes the brain’s tendency to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning
Functional Recovery
A form of plasticity. Following damage through trauma, the brain’s ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by a damaged area to other, undamaged areas
Hemispheric Lateralisation
The idea that the hemispheres of the brain are functionally different and that certain mental processes and behaviours are mainly controlled by one hemisphere rather than the other
Spilt-Brain Research
A series of studies which began in the 1960’s involving epileptic patients who had experienced a surgical separation of the hemispheres of the brain. This allowed researchers to investigate the extent to which brain function is lateralised
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
A method used to measure brain activity while a person is performing a task that uses MRI technology. This enables researchers to detect which regions of the brain are rich in oxygen and are active
Electroencephalogram
A record of the tiny electrical impulses produced by the brains activity. By measuring characteristics wave patterns, the EEG can help diagnose certain conditions of the brain
Event-Related Potentials
The brain’s electrophysiological response to a specific sensory, cognitive or motor event can be isolated through statistical analysis of EEG data
Post-Mortem Examinations
The brain is analysed after death to determine whether certain observed behaviours during a patients life can be linked to abnormalities in the brain
Biological Rhythms
Distinct patterns of changes in body activity that conform to cyclical time periods. Biological rhythms are influenced by internal-body clocks as well as external changes to the environment
Circadian Rhythm
A type of biological rhythm, subject to a 24 hour cycle, which regulates a number of body processes such as the sleep/wake cycle and changes in core body temperature
Infradian Rhythm
A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of less than one cycle in 24 hours such as menstruation
Ultradian Rhythm
A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of more than one cycle in 24 hours such as the stages of sleep
Endogenous Pacemakers
Internal body clocks that regulate many of our biological rhythms
Exogenous Zeitgebers
External cues that may affect or entrain our biological rhythms, such as the influence of light on our sleep/wake cycle
Sleep/Wake Cycle
A daily cycle of biological activity based on a 24 hour period that is influenced by regular variations in the environment, such as the alternation of night and day
Nervous System
Consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
Central Nervous System
Consists of the brain and spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and decisions
