Test 1

Question 1

Define biopsychology

Answer 1

The study of the biological basis of behaviour.

Question 2

What are the major shifts that determined there was a reciprocal relationship between the brain and behaviour? (5)

Answer 2

1. The brain influences behaviours.
2. Behaviours have a material/physical basis.
3. Manipulations including environment can alter brain structure and function
4. Can we/should we modify brain activity? ethical shift
5. If we decipher exactly how neural circuits work, could we/should we build a brain? ethical shift

Question 3

How might neural activity be altered? (7)

Answer 3

1. Drugs
2. Electrical stimulation
3. Disease
4. Tissue damage/removal
5. Development
6. Learning
7. Cell proliferation/introduction

Question 4

What experimental approaches could one take to link structure, function and behaviour? (3)

Answer 4

1. Correlational
2. Somatic intervention
3. Behavioural intervention

Question 5

Define hunger

Answer 5

The subjective feeling of wanting food.

Question 6

Define eating

Answer 6

The objective behaviour of consuming food.

Question 7

Define absorbed

Answer 7

Taken into the bloodstream

Question 8

What is the set point theory?

Answer 8

That hunger and eating are driven by glucostatic and lipostatic homeostasis.

Question 9

What is the main job of the hypothalamus?

Answer 9

It is the key in many basic motivated behaviours.

Question 10

What signals does the brain rely on to generate a hunger feeling? (4)

Answer 10

1. Low glucose
2. Low fatty acids
3. Empty stomach
4. High ghrelin

Question 11

What 3 phases is Insulin released in?

Answer 11

1. Cephalic (brain in anticipation)
2. Digestive (food in GI tract)
3. Absorptive (glucose in blood)

Question 12

What signals does the brain rely on to generate a satiety feeling? (4)

Answer 12

1. High glucose/insulin
2. High leptin
3. Distended GI tract
4. High PYY

Question 13

What is obesity?

Answer 13

Elevated or excessive body fat that present serious health risks.

Question 14

Why are we getting obese? (3)

Answer 14

1. Sedentary lifestyle
2. Plentiful food
3. Eating calorie rich, nutrient poor food

Question 15

Mechanism/mode/issues of Orlistat?

Answer 15

Mechanism- is a lipase inhibitor
Mode of action- reduces fat absorption in the small intestine (inhibits lipase enzymes so fat can’t be broken down into fatty acids=can’t be absorbed)
Issues- GI tract discomfort, unexpected bowel movements, modest weight loss

Question 16

What are the 3 main types of bariatric surgery?

Answer 16

1. Malabsorptive procedures
2. Restrictive procedures
3. Maladaptive and restrictive procedures

Question 17

What does bariatric surgery do?

Answer 17

1. Forces you to eat small meals (conditioned aversion)
2. Reduces absorption of nutrients
3. Hormonal changes (decrease in ghrelin)

Question 18

What do caloric reduction and activity increases have in common?

Answer 18

They must be progressive, long term and permanent changes.

Question 19

Define sleep

Answer 19

The objective behaviour characterised by inactivity, hypo-responsiveness and unique physiological patterns.

Question 20

Define drowsiness

Answer 20

The subjective feeling of wanting to sleep. The purpose of drowsiness is to prompt sleep.

Question 21

How are dreams in SWS and REM sleep different?

Answer 21

SWS- are ambiguous, a feeling, a strong urge to act or feeling of emotions
REM- a narrative/story

Question 22

What is the Recuperation theory?

Answer 22

Sleep restores homeostasis of the body. Studies have not found this. It is thought may be the brains homeostasis as sleep deprivation does reduce cognitive measures. Huge cognitive expenditures make us tires and cause more SWS. Areas of the brain used most during the day show the most inactivity during SWS.

Question 23

What is the Adaptation theory?

Answer 23

Sleep is to conserve energy because you’ve achieved enough during the day, there’s limited stimuli at night and inactivity reduces risk of predation and accident. Inaccurate because sleep leaves us vulnerable.

Question 24

What are the effects of SWS deprivation? (3)

Answer 24

1. Drowsiness
2. Negative affect
3. Reduced vigilance

Question 25

What are the major confounds to sleep deprivation? (3)

Answer 25

1. Stress 2. Participants natural sleep cycle 3. Participants efficiency in their sleep cycle

Question 26

What are the effects of REM sleep deprivation? (2)

Answer 26

1. REM rebound | 2. Increase in REM initiations

Question 27

What is Adenosine?

Answer 27

A nucleoside neuromodulator that exerts an inhibitory effect on neurons. As glycogen decreases from astrocytes in wakefulness, Adenosine release increases and builds up. During SWS astrocytes glycogen stores are replenished and Adenosine is broken down.

Question 28

What manipulates Adenosine?

Answer 28

Caffeine is an Adenosine receptor antagonist.

Question 29

Ach system (3)

Answer 29

1. Found in Basal forebrain and brainstem. 2. High in awake, low in SWS and med in REM 3. Activation leads to widespread cortical release

Question 30

NE system (3)

Answer 30

1. Found in LC 2. High in awake, low in SWS and zero in REM 3. Activation leads to vigilance and attention

Question 31

5-HT system (3)

Answer 31

1. Found in Raphe Nuclei 2. High in awake, low in SWS and zero in REM (but fast burst post REM) 3. Activation leads to cortical arousal

Question 32

Histamine system (3)

Answer 32

1. Found in TMN 2. High in awake, low in SWS and low in REM 3. Activation leads to cortical Histamine release (1) and increased Ach release (2) for novel detection

Question 33

Orexin system (3)

Answer 33

1. Found in LH and PH 2. High in awake, low in SWS and low in REM 3. Widespread projections to all areas of the brain, including excitatory effects on LC, Raphe, TMN, pontine nuclei and nucleus basilis.