Biological Case Study Revision 1

Fill-in-the-blank style flashcards covering core concepts from Biological Case Study notes (brain structure, neurochemistry, epigenetics, and key research studies).

Twin/adoption studies test whether many traits and disorders are .

heritable

The brain is highly interconnected—functions often involve , not just single areas.

networks

Neurotransmitter imbalances may be a of disorders.

result

Imbalances in neurotransmitters influence .

mental states

One example of drug treatment is .

antidepressants

A limitation is that it oversimplifies behaviour by ignoring environmental influences, i.e., .

nature vs nurture

Phrenology introduced the idea of of function.

localisation of function

The Frontal lobe is involved in , planning, and voluntary movement.

decision making

The Parietal lobe processes .

touch

The Occipital lobe processes .

vision

The Temporal lobe processes .

hearing

The connects hemispheres and allows communication.

Corpus Callosum

Damage to Broca’s area causes aphasia.

Broca’s

Damage to Wernicke’s area causes aphasia.

Wernicke’s

The Motor Cortex controls movements.

voluntary

The Somatosensory Cortex processes .

touch, pressure, and pain

Hemispheric Specialisation refers to .

left and right hemispheres dominate certain functions

Contralateral Processing means each hemisphere controls the side of the body.

opposite

The Left Hemisphere is associated with , language, and maths.

logic

The Right Hemisphere is associated with .

creativity

Definition → brain’s ability to neural pathways based on experience or injury.

reorganise

Sprouting → new grow.

dendrites

Rerouting → neurons find new when usual ones are damaged.

pathways

London taxi drivers → enlarged (navigation).

hippocampus

Jodie showed that after right hemisphere removal, the left hemisphere to take over lost functions.

adapted

Dendrites are responsible for messages.

receiving

Soma (Cell body) info.

processes

Axon impulses.

transmits

Myelin sheath conduction.

speeds conduction

Axon terminals release .

neurotransmitters

Sensory neurons carry information from the senses to the .

CNS

Motor neurons carry commands from the CNS to the .

muscles

Interneurons connect neurons.

sensory and motor

Dopamine (excitatory → reward, pleasure) is associated with .

reward

Serotonin (inhibitory → mood, sleep) is primarily linked to .

mood

GABA (inhibitory → calming, reduces anxiety) reduces .

anxiety

Glutamate (excitatory → learning, memory) is involved in .

learning and memory

Epigenetics is the study of how environmental factors affect gene without changing DNA sequence.

expression

Stress, diet, and trauma can switch on/off genes and may risk of disorders.

increase

In Sperry’s split-brain studies, information is presented to only one field.

visual

In split-brain studies, the left hemisphere is specialized for .

language

Key terms include contralateral processing and .

corpus callosum

Twin & Adoption Studies aim to separate the effects of vs environment.

genes