Biopsychology Glossary - AQA Psychology A-level Topic 6

Vocabulary flashcards covering key Biopsychology terms from the notes.

Adrenaline

A hormone involved in the flight-or-fight response.

Autonomic nervous system

The nervous system responsible for automatic responses, such as sympathetic or parasympathetic responses.

Broca’s area

An area in the left hemisphere dedicated to speech production (the motor component).

Central nervous system

The nervous system made up of the brain and spinal cord.

Circadian rhythms

Biological processes that cycle in about 24 hours (e.g., the sleep-wake cycle).

EEG

Electroencephalogram; an imaging technique to record electrical activity in the brain.

Endogenous pacemakers

Internal clocks that regulate biological rhythms (e.g., the suprachiasmatic nucleus).

ERP

Event-related potential; an imaging technique that records brain response to a stimulus by filtering baseline activity.

Excitation

A signal sent to the next neuron making it more likely to fire.

Exogenous zeitgebers

External cues that influence biological rhythms (e.g., daylight affecting the sleep-wake cycle).

Fight-or-flight response

Sympathetic responses that prepare the body for fight or escape (e.g., increased blood flow to muscles).

fMRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging; a technique that monitors blood flow to infer brain activity.

Glands

An organ that synthesises and releases substances (e.g., hormones) for specific purposes.

Hormones

Chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to regulate processes in the body.

Infradian rhythms

Biological rhythms that occur less often than once a day (cycle longer than 24 hours; e.g., the menstrual cycle).

Inhibition

A signal that makes the next neuron less likely to fire.

Lateralisation (hemispheric) of function

The idea that different brain hemispheres have different functions (e.g., language often in the left hemisphere).

Localisation of function

Functions in the brain are specific to particular areas (e.g., Broca’s area for language production).

Motor neurones

Neurons that activate an effector organ (muscles, glands, organs).

Peripheral nervous system

The nervous system outside the central nervous system (arms, legs, etc.).

Plasticity

Brain plasticity; the brain’s ability to adapt, change its structure, and regain function.

Relay neurons

Neurons in the CNS that connect sensory and motor neurons.

Sensory neurons

Neurons that transmit sensory information from the environment to an interneuron after converting it to electrical activity.

Somatic nervous system

Nervous system controlling conscious, voluntary movements of the periphery.

Suprachiasmatic nucleus

Two small, paired nuclei that regulate many circadian rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle.

Ultradian rhythms

Biological rhythms shorter than 24 hours (e.g., the ~90-minute sleep cycle).

Wernicke’s area

An area in the left hemisphere dedicated to speech comprehension.