core biological - brain and behaviour

Question 1

what do MRI’s (magnetic resonance imaging) do?

Answer 1

employ powerful magnets which employ a strong magnetic field that forces protons in the body to align with that field.
they cause protons to spin out of equilibrium
creates a static image of the brain through multiple snapshots

Question 2

what study goes with the brain techniques question?

Answer 2

maguire (2000)

Question 3

what is localization of function?

Answer 3

the theory that different parts of the brain have different roles within behaviour

Question 4

what is the other theory within localization of function?

Answer 4

the equipotential theory - suggest that all parts of the brain are responsible for all behaviours

Question 5

what study goes with the localization question?

Answer 5

maguire (2000)

Question 6

what is neuroplasticity?

Answer 6

the brains ability to rearrange the connections between its neurons (the changes that occur in the brain due to learning experiences)

Question 7

what is dendritic branching?

Answer 7

gaining a new trace in the brain every time we learn something new (neurons connecting)

Question 8

what is neural pruning?

Answer 8

neural traces declining due to stress or them not being used

Question 9

what study goes with the neuroplasticity question?

Answer 9

maguire (2000)

Question 10

what question goes with the neural pruning question?

Answer 10

draganski (2004)

Question 11

what is neurotransmission?

Answer 11

the process by which signalling molecules called neurotransmitters are released by the axon terminal and bind to and react with the receptors on the dendrites of another neuron a short distance away

Question 12

what do exitatory neurotransmitters do?

Answer 12

they increase the likelihood of a neuron firing by depolarising the neuron (e.g. acetylcholine)

Question 13

what do inhibitory neurotransmitters do?

Answer 13

decrease the likelihood of a neuron firing by hyperpolarising the neuron (e.g. GABA)

Question 14

what study goes with neurotransmission?

Answer 14

rogers and kesner (2003)

Question 15

what is an agonist?

Answer 15

any chemical that binds to the receptor site on a post-synaptic neuron - causing the neuron to fire

Question 16

what type of agonist is alcohol?

Answer 16

exogenous

Question 17

how does alcohol act as an agonist?

Answer 17

it binds to the dopamine receptor sites - causing dopamine neurons to fire
results in the activation of the brains reward system (nucleus accumbens)

Question 18

what study goes with the agonist question?

Answer 18

leyton (2013)

Question 19

what is an antagonist?

Answer 19

any substance that fits into a receptor site on the post-synaptic neuron which inhibits the neuron
the neuron won’t be able to fire and no behaviour will happen

Question 20

what is an example of an antagonist?

Answer 20

scopolamine

Question 21

what study goes with the antagonist question?

Answer 21

rogers and kesner (2003)