EMERGENCY BIOPSYCH

Question 1

Outline the process of synaptic transmission

Answer 1

Action potential reaches axon terminal where it stimulates vesicles to release neurotransmitters. these diffuse across the synapse - activate receptor sites on the dendrite of the next neuron, unused neurotransmitters return to vesicle in a reuptake.

Question 2

Body’s response to fight or flight

Answer 2

Stressor detected
Assessed for threat by Amygdala = responsible for emotional responses
If it’s a threat sends distress signal to Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus will activate sympathetic branch of nervous system
SNS sends signal to Adrenal Medulla which releases adrenaline

Question 3

Broca’s area

Answer 3

-‘Tan; could understand language but unable to speak or write
- Broca studied 8 other patients with same deficit and found lesions in their left frontal hemisphere. Those with lesions in right frontal hemisphere did not have the same problems

Therefore there’s a language centre in the left hemisphere that is critical for speech production

Question 4

Wernicke’s Area

Answer 4

found patients with a lesion in the Wernicke’s Area could speak but were unable to understand language

The snesory regions located in Wernicke’s area is close to the auditory complex

Question 5

Language Centres AO3

Answer 5

✓ Support from Aphasia Studies
-research into patients with Broca’s Aphasia and Wernicke’s aphasia links to varying levels or damage in corresponding areas each time
Therefore supports the idea that those specific brain areas are responsible

✘ Dronkers re-examined the preserved brain of Tan and found areas around Broca’s area were also damaged
Therefore founding research may have been too vague and flawed

✘Opposed by Equipotentiality Theory
-Lashley argued that other areas could take over higher functions of the brain such as language and memory should the original become damaged
-Support comes from JW; his Broca’s was badly damahed but within a year he regained the ability to speaj as he developed a new Broca’s in the right hemisphere
Therefore many functions may not be localised at all

Question 6

Plasticity

Answer 6

the brain’s ability to modify its own structure and functioning through experience

Question 7

Boyke - juggling

Answer 7

-taught 60yr olds how to juggle and saw development of brain plasticity
-Grey matter in visual cortex increased though this change reversed when practise stopped