BIOPSYCH

• 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 does adrenaline do in the fight or flight response?

  Increases activity in the sympathetic branch
• 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 glands
  4. Physiological changes occur (e.g., increased heart rate)
  5. Hypothalamus triggers rest and digest response after threat
• What is synaptic transmission?

  A method of neurons communicating with each other
• What are the steps of synaptic transmission?

  1. Action potential arrives at presynaptic membrane
  2. Calcium ion channels open, causing depolarization
  3. Vesicles release neurotransmitter into synaptic cleft
  4. Neurotransmitter binds to receptors on postsynaptic membrane
  5. Action potential transmitted along the next neuron
• What effect do inhibitory neurotransmitters have?

  They reduce the likelihood of an action potential
• What effect do excitatory neurotransmitters have?

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

  Certain brain areas are responsible for specific functions
• What is the role of the motor area in the brain?

  Regulates and coordinates movements
• 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 is Broca's area responsible for?

  Speech production
• How does damage to Broca's area affect speech?

  Causes difficulty forming complete sentences
• What does the left hemisphere of the brain specialize in?

  Language production and comprehension
• What evidence supports localisation of brain function?

  • Tulving et al: Semantic vs episodic memory recall
  • Petersen et al: Wernicke's area for listening tasks
  • Broca's area for reading tasks
• What did Phineas Gage's case demonstrate?

  Specific brain areas are responsible for functions
• What is the holistic view of brain function?

  Functions require several brain areas to activate
• What is plasticity in the brain?

  Brain's ability to adapt and change
• Who demonstrated neuroplasticity in taxi drivers?

  Maguire et al.
• What is functional recovery in the brain?

  Transfer of functions to healthy brain areas
• What did Hubel and Wiesel study in kittens?

  Neuroplasticity in the visual cortex
• What happens to the visual cortex when one eye is sutured?

  Activity in the opposite visual cortex increases
• What is neuroplasticity?

  Brain's ability to reorganize itself
• What did Hubel and Wiesel (1970) study in kittens?

  Effects of eye closure on brain activity
• What happens to the left visual cortex when the right eye is sutured?

  It still shows activity despite eye closure
• What is cognitive reserve?

  Level of education and duration of education
• How does cognitive reserve affect recovery after trauma?

  Increases likelihood of disability-free recovery
• What percentage of patients with 12-15 years of education achieved DFR?

  50.7%