Biopsychology

• What are the two main components of the nervous system?

  The brain and the spinal cord
• What is the role of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

  It relays messages between the environment and CNS
• What are the two subdivisions of the PNS?

  Autonomic and somatic nervous systems
• What does the autonomic nervous system control?

  Involuntary, vital functions of the body
• What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?

  Sympathetic and parasympathetic branches
• How do the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches work together?

  They function as an antagonistic pair
• What physiological changes does the sympathetic nervous system induce?

  Increases heart rate and breathing rate
• What physiological changes does the parasympathetic nervous system induce?

  Decreases heart rate and breathing rates
• What is the role of the endocrine system?

  It acts as the main chemical messenger system
• What is the 'master' gland of the endocrine system?

  The pituitary gland
• What hormone does the thyroid release and what is its effect?

  Thyroxine increases heart rate and growth
• What role does adrenaline play in the fight or flight response?

  It creates physiological arousal
• What are the steps of the fight or flight response?

  1. Body senses a stressor
  2. Information sent to hypothalamus
  3. Adrenaline released from adrenal medulla
  4. Physiological changes occur (e.g., increased heart rate)
  5. Hypothalamus triggers parasympathetic response after stressor is gone
• What is synaptic transmission?

  Communication method between neurons
• What initiates synaptic transmission?

  An action potential arriving at the presynaptic membrane
• What happens when calcium ions enter the presynaptic membrane?

  Vesicles fuse and release neurotransmitters
• What is the effect of neurotransmitters on the postsynaptic membrane?

  They can have inhibitory or excitatory effects
• What is the role of inhibitory neurotransmitters?

  They reduce the likelihood of an action potential
• What is the role of excitatory neurotransmitters?

  They increase the likelihood of an action potential
• What does localisation theory suggest?

  • Certain brain areas are responsible for specific processes
  • Different areas control different behaviors and activities
• Where is the motor area located?

  In the frontal lobe
• What happens if the motor area is damaged?

  Inability to control voluntary fine motor movements
• Where is the auditory area located?

  In the temporal lobe
• What is the consequence of damage to the auditory area?

  Causes hearing loss
• What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?

  Speech comprehension
• What happens if Wernicke’s area is damaged?

  Results in Wernicke’s aphasia
• What is the effect of damage to Broca’s area?

  Difficulty forming complete sentences
• Where is Broca’s area located?

  In the frontal lobe
• What is the relationship between the left hemisphere and language?

  It is associated with language production and comprehension
• What evidence supports localisation of brain function?

  • Tulving et al: Semantic memories in left prefrontal cortex
  • Petersen et al: Wernicke’s area for listening, Broca’s area for reading
• What happened to Phineas Gage?

  He had damage to his prefrontal cortex
• What does the holistic view of brain function suggest?

  Functions require several brain areas to activate
• What did the study on rats and maze learning suggest?

  No specific brain area is linked to learning
• What evidence supports the link between brain areas and OCD symptoms?

  • Dougherty et al: 44 OCD patients underwent cingulotomy
  • 32% met treatment response criteria after surgery
• What does plasticity refer to in the brain?

  Brain's ability to adapt and change
• What did Maguire et al. demonstrate about neuroplasticity?

  It occurs in response to trauma and learning
• What is synaptic pruning?

  Elimination of extra neurons and synapses
• What did Maguire et al. find in London taxi drivers?

  Larger grey matter volume in posterior hippocampi
• What is functional recovery in the brain?

  Transfer of functions to healthy brain areas
• What is the law of equipotentiality?

  Secondary neural circuits become activated