Psychology - brain and neuropsychology

Which one of these statements about the human nervous system is correct?

A) The autonomic nervous system is responsible for thinking.

B) The central nervous system is part of the peripheral nervous system.

C) The peripheral nervous system consists only of relay neurons.

D) The somatic nervous system consists of sensory and motor neurons.

D) The somatic nervous system consists of sensory and motor neurons.

What is the function of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

The PNS transmits messages to the whole body from the brain, and vice versa.

Name 2 branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

Sympathetic and parasympathetic.

Briefly describe the James-Lange theory of emotion. [4]

The theory suggests that emotional experience is the result, not the cause, of perceived bodily changes [1]. For example, we might think that if we meet a bear we become frightened and we run [1]. James-Lange theory, however, would suggest that we are frightened because we run [1]. In a similar way, we feel sad because we cry or afraid because we tremble [1].

Which of these statements about neurons is correct?

A) Motor neurons carry information to the spinal cord.

B) Relay neurons carry information from the motor cortex.

C) Sensory neurons carry information to the brain.

D) Sensory neurons always have longer axons than motor neurons.

C) Sensory neurons carry information to the brain.

Briefly explain the function of a motor neuron. [2]

It carries an electrical signal to a muscle [1] which will either contract or relax [1].

What is meant by Hebbian learning? [3]

What is meant by Hebbian learning? [3]

Name one neurotransmitter.

Serotonin or dopamine.

Describe the lock and key system. [2]

During synaptic transmission [1], the right key (neurotransmitter) has to fit into the right lock (receptor) to open up the specific ion channel [1].

Briefly describe the function of the motor cortex centre of the brain. [2]

The primary motor cortex is responsible for movement [1] by sending messages to the muscles via the brain stem and spinal cord [1].

What does the somatosensory cortex perceive?

Touch.

What is anomia?

When someone struggles to find the word they need.

What is a neural stimulation?

The technique of using microelectrodes to stimulate parts of the brain.

What kinds of people might cognitive neuroscientists study? [2]

People with cognitive deficits [1] due to brain damage or stroke [1].

Describe how modern scanning techniques have increased our understanding of the relationship between brain and behaviour. [4]

Techniques such as fMRI rely on matching behavioural actions with psychological activity [1]. Because the person being scanned is usually conscious [1], they can be directed to produce a particular action [1] such as performing a memory task while being scanned [1].

a) What did Tulving inject into his participants?

b) In Tulving’s study, which part of the brain was activated when participants were asked to recall an episodic memory?

a) Radioactive gold

b) Frontal lobes

During a stroke, what causes the blood vessels to become blocked?

Lack of oxygen.

Following a stroke, different abilities can be affected. What determines the ability affected?

The area in which the damage occurred.

a) Name the 2 components that make up the central nervous system.

b) Explain the functions of the components you named in a).

a) Brain and spinal cord.

b) The brain is involved in psychological processes and maintaining of life. The spinal cord is involved in the transfer of messages to and from to the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Describe the peripheral nervous system. [1]

The PNS transmits messages to the whole body from the brain, and vice versa [1]. The PNS has 2 divisions: the somantic system and the autonomic system [1].

What is meant by the fight or flight response? [4]

The fight or flight response is designed to help when we feel under threat [1]. It helps a person react quicker than normal [1]. It is triggered from the autonomic nervous system, specifically from the sympathetic branch, and gets the body ready to fight or run away from the threat [1]. It leads to a number of bodily changes, e.g. inc. heart rate, faster breathing, pupil dilation, etc. [1].

What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?

Helps to transmit and receive information from the organs.

How does the James-Lange theory differ from other explanations of human emotions? [3]

It proposes we experience an emotional event is triggered by our bodily response [1] rather than the other way round [1]. For example, we get anxious because our heart is beating very fast [1].

Describe the purpose of sensory neurons.

They tell the rest of the brain about the external and internal environment by processing information taken from on for the 5 senses.

What did Hebb mean by the phrase “what fires together, wires together”? [2]

With every new experience, the brain rewires its physical structure [1]; the more often the activity occurs the stronger the connection becomes [1].

What is the result of long-term potentiation, or LTP?

Stronger connections between the nerve cells and longer lasting changes between synaptic connections.

Describe the process of synaptic transmission. [6]

The electrical nerve impulse travels down the neuron [1], prompting the release of neurotransmitters at the pre-synaptic terminal [1]. The neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic fluid in the synapse [1]. The adjacent neurons must then take up the neurotransmitters from the fluid [1] and convert them into an electrical impulse to travel down the neuron to the next synaptic terminal [1]. The procedure is then repeated [1].

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemicals within the brain that transmit signals.

Explain the difference between excitation and inhibition?

Excitatory potentials make it more likely for the neuron to fire, inhibitory potentials make it less likely to fire.

Using the example of memory, explain what is meant by localisation of function? [4]

Refers to the view that particular parts of the brain are responsible for specific functions [1], such as vision and language [1]. In the case of memory, a person could suffer memory impairment through infection or trauma and retain long-term memories but be unable to create new memories [1] due to damage to the part of the brain responsible for short-term memory [1].

Describe the function of the somatosensory centre of the brain. [3]

Concerned with the sensation of the body [1]; the somatosensory cortex perceives touch [1]; the amount of somatosensory cortex required dictates the amount of somatosensory cortex needed for that area of the body [1].

Describe the function of the visual centre of the brain. [3]

The visual centre of the brain is concerned with visual perception [1]. More specifically, an area of the visual cortex known as Area V1 is thought to be specifically necessary for visual perception [1]; people with damage to this area report no vision of any kind (including in dreams) [1].

a) How can neurosurgeons study the brain without having to remove parts of the cortex?

b) What did Penfield discover?

a) Neural stimulation; microelectrodes are used to stimulate parts of the brain to test their functions.

b) The amount of cortical tissue required differs for different functions; the more sensitive the area, the more cortical tissue is required.

What do cognitive neuroscientists study?

How the function of neurons affects thought and behaviour.

Describe the main difference between MRI and fMRI.

Traditional MRI scans produce static images; fMRIs can produce moving images captured in real time.

How does a CAT scan produce an image of the brain?

Uses an X-ray beam to produce a picture of the physiology of the brain.

Describe the procedure of Tulving’s gold memory study. [3]

Participants were injected with a small amount of radioactive gold [1] and then asked to retrieve two types of memory; an episodic [1] and a semantic [1].

What would happen if a person suffered a stroke in their motor cortex?

They would lose at least some movement, such as reflex actions and the inability to walk or to lift their arms. This movement can return over time but is sometimes permanently lost.

Apart from a stroke what else might cause damage to their brain?

Accidents or certain types of infection.