Get started

Psychology313Updated 6 Sept 202612 pages

AQA A-Level Biopsychology Study Flashcards

Report
user profile picture
Kayleigh Jones@kayleighjones_phvq
Add to Google sources
Your brain is basically mission control for everything you do - from breathing to solving maths problems. Understanding how different parts of your nervous system work together helps explain why certain injuries affect people in specific ways, and it's crucial knowledge for psychology exams.
Biopsyhology flashcards – page 1

Sign up to see the content.
It's free!

  • Access to all documents
  • Improve your grades
  • Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Central Nervous System

Think of the central nervous system (CNS) as your body's main computer - it's made up of your brain and spinal cord. The brain acts like the CEO, making all the big decisions about behaviour and keeping your body's systems running smoothly.

Your spinal cord is basically the body's superhighway, carrying messages back and forth between your brain and the rest of your body. It handles everything from voluntary movements like waving your hand to simple reflexes that don't even need your brain's input.

When the spinal cord gets damaged, it's like cutting a phone line - everything below the injury loses contact with the brain. This explains why spinal injuries can be so devastating.

Remember: The CNS is your control centre - brain gives orders, spinal cord delivers them!

Biopsyhology flashcards – page 2

Sign up to see the content.
It's free!

  • Access to all documents
  • Improve your grades
  • Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Peripheral Nervous System

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) includes all the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord. It's like having messenger services running throughout your entire body, constantly updating your brain about what's happening.

The somatic nervous system handles the stuff you're aware of - it uses sensory neurons to tell your brain what you're seeing, hearing, or feeling, then uses motor neurons to control your voluntary movements. It's also responsible for those lightning-fast reflexes that happen before you even think about them.

This system is made up of 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves. Each pair contains both sensory and motor neurons, creating a two-way communication system between your CNS and your body.

Key Point: Somatic = voluntary actions you control, like typing or walking!

Biopsyhology flashcards – page 3

Sign up to see the content.
It's free!

  • Access to all documents
  • Improve your grades
  • Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) runs all the background apps your body needs to survive - heartbeat, digestion, breathing. You don't have to think about these processes because they're completely involuntary.

This system has two divisions that work like opposing teams. The sympathetic division uses noradrenaline to amp everything up, whilst the parasympathetic division uses acetylcholine to calm things down. They regulate the same organs but have completely opposite effects.

The main differences between autonomic and somatic systems are pretty straightforward. Both respond to external stimuli, but the ANS is involuntary whilst somatic is under conscious control. The somatic system has both sensory and motor pathways, but the ANS only has motor pathways.

Think of it as: Sympathetic = stress mode, Parasympathetic = chill mode!

Biopsyhology flashcards – page 4

Sign up to see the content.
It's free!

  • Access to all documents
  • Improve your grades
  • Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic

The sympathetic nervous system is your body's emergency response team. When you're stressed or threatened, it kicks into gear - increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and redirecting energy away from less important processes like digestion. It's preparing your body for "fight or flight."

The parasympathetic nervous system is the complete opposite - it's your "rest and digest" system. Once danger passes, it slows your heart rate, reduces blood pressure, and gets your digestion working again. Think of it as your body's way of returning to normal.

These two systems work together like a perfectly balanced see-saw. When one is active, the other backs off, ensuring your body responds appropriately to different situations throughout the day.

Remember: Sympathetic = emergency mode, Parasympathetic = recovery mode!

Biopsyhology flashcards – page 5

Sign up to see the content.
It's free!

  • Access to all documents
  • Improve your grades
  • Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Brain Localisation and Lateralisation

Localisation means specific brain areas handle specific jobs - like having different departments in a company. Your brain isn't just one big blob doing everything; different regions specialise in particular functions.

Lateralisation refers to how your brain's two hemispheres divide the workload. The left hemisphere controls the right side of your body, whilst the right hemisphere controls the left side. It's like having two managers each responsible for their own side of operations.

Your brain is organised into different lobes (frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital) and specialised areas like the motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, and language areas such as Broca's and Wernicke's areas.

Key insight: Your brain is incredibly organised - everything has its place and purpose!

Biopsyhology flashcards – page 6

Sign up to see the content.
It's free!

  • Access to all documents
  • Improve your grades
  • Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Brain Cortices

The motor cortex in your frontal lobe is like your movement control centre - it sends signals to muscles when you want to move voluntarily. The somatosensory cortex in your parietal lobe does the opposite, receiving and processing all the sensory information coming into your body.

Your visual cortex in the occipital lobe handles everything you see. Interestingly, the right side of your visual field gets processed by the left hemisphere, and vice versa. The auditory cortex in your temporal lobe works similarly for hearing.

Each cortex specialises in processing specific types of information, then sends the processed data to other brain areas for decision-making. This division of labour makes your brain incredibly efficient.

Remember: Each cortex is a specialist - they're really good at their specific job!

Biopsyhology flashcards – page 7

Sign up to see the content.
It's free!

  • Access to all documents
  • Improve your grades
  • Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Language Areas and Brain Damage

Broca's area in the left frontal lobe controls speech production - it's what lets you actually form words and sentences. When damaged, people develop Broca's aphasia, making speech slow and laboured but leaving comprehension intact.

Wernicke's area in the left temporal lobe handles language comprehension and processing. Damage here causes Wernicke's aphasia - people can speak fluently but their sentences become meaningless jumbles of words.

The fact that both language areas are typically in the left hemisphere shows lateralisation in action. Most people's language abilities are concentrated on one side of the brain rather than being evenly distributed.

Clinical insight: Different types of language problems point to damage in specific brain areas!

Biopsyhology flashcards – page 8

Sign up to see the content.
It's free!

  • Access to all documents
  • Improve your grades
  • Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Case Study Evidence

Tan was a famous patient who could understand everything but could only say one word - "tan." After his death, Broca found damage to the left frontal lobe, leading to the discovery of Broca's area.

Phineas Gage survived a horrific accident where an iron rod shot through his skull. His dramatic personality change afterwards supported localisation theory, suggesting the frontal lobe controls personality traits.

However, case studies have limitations. These unique cases support localisation but can't be generalised to everyone. The conclusions drawn might also be subjective, making it difficult to draw firm scientific conclusions.

Critical thinking: Individual cases provide valuable insights but aren't enough on their own!

Biopsyhology flashcards – page 9

Sign up to see the content.
It's free!

  • Access to all documents
  • Improve your grades
  • Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Modern Research Support

Dougherty et al found that 30% of OCD patients improved after cingulotomy surgery, suggesting this brain area plays a role in OCD. This provides evidence for localisation of psychological disorders.

Brain scan studies by Peterson et al showed Wernicke's area becoming active during listening tasks and Broca's area during reading tasks, proving they have different functions. Tulving et al discovered that semantic and episodic memories are stored in different sides of the prefrontal cortex.

Modern neuroimaging technology allows researchers to observe brain activity in real-time, providing much stronger evidence for localisation than historical case studies could offer.

Tech advantage: Brain scans give us live footage of how different areas specialise!

Biopsyhology flashcards – page 10

Sign up to see the content.
It's free!

  • Access to all documents
  • Improve your grades
  • Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Challenges to Localisation

Lashley challenged localisation by removing 10-50% of rats' cortex during maze learning. He found no single area was more important than others, suggesting complex cognitive processes might be distributed throughout the brain rather than localised.

Modern researchers increasingly question whether language is truly localised to specific areas. It's so complex that it likely involves networks of brain regions working together rather than just Broca's and Wernicke's areas.

fMRI studies suggest language functions are more distributed than originally thought. This doesn't completely disprove localisation but shows it's more nuanced than early researchers believed.

Current thinking: The truth probably lies somewhere between strict localisation and complete distribution!

We thought you’d never ask...

Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.

You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.

Similar content

Psychology

Brain Function Localisation

Explore the localisation of brain functions, focusing on key areas such as Broca's and Wernicke's areas, and their roles in language production and comprehension. This summary discusses supporting research, including case studies and brain scans, while addressing the limitations of localisation theory. Ideal for students preparing for biopsychology assessments.

121552
Psychology

Biopsychology Key Concepts

Explore essential biopsychology concepts including circadian rhythms, brain structure, and neurobiology. This comprehensive summary covers the nervous system, hormonal coordination, and the impact of brain plasticity on behavior. Ideal for AQA A Level Psychology revision.

1213,017614
Psychology

Brain Lobes Overview

Explore the functions and locations of the brain's four lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal. This summary highlights their roles in consciousness, sensory processing, motor movements, auditory abilities, and memory acquisition.

121093
Sociology

Sociology of Childhood

Explore the evolving concept of childhood in sociology, examining perspectives from key theorists like Carol Smart, Neil Postman, and Hugh Cunningham. This summary delves into the social construction of childhood, the impact of modern society, and the implications of adultism. Understand the complexities of childhood today, including issues of protection, social status, and the influence of technology. Ideal for sociology students seeking to grasp the critical debates surrounding childhood as a distinct social stage.

121392
Psychology

Murdock's Serial Position Effect

Explore Murdock's serial position curve study, which investigates how word position affects memory recall. This evaluation covers the strengths and weaknesses of the research method, including its controlled conditions and the implications for long-term and short-term memory. Ideal for AQA GCSE Psychology students preparing for exam questions. Key concepts include the multi-store model and the serial position effect.

111933
Psychology

Psychopathology

Condensed notes from textbook

125769
See more

Most popular content: Lobes of the Brain

Psychology

Biopsychology Key Concepts

Explore essential biopsychology concepts including circadian rhythms, brain structure, and neurobiology. This comprehensive summary covers the nervous system, hormonal coordination, and the impact of brain plasticity on behavior. Ideal for AQA A Level Psychology revision.

1213,017614
Psychology

Brain Function Localisation

Explore the localisation of brain functions, focusing on key areas such as Broca's and Wernicke's areas, and their roles in language production and comprehension. This summary discusses supporting research, including case studies and brain scans, while addressing the limitations of localisation theory. Ideal for students preparing for biopsychology assessments.

121552

Most popular content: Psychology

Psychology

Social Influence Overview

Explore key concepts in social influence, including conformity, obedience, and minority influence. This comprehensive summary covers essential studies such as Milgram's experiment, Asch's conformity tests, and the Stanford prison experiment, providing insights into the psychological mechanisms behind social behavior. Ideal for A-Level revision.

127,572322
Psychology

A Level AQA Biopsychology Content Mindmap

Biopsychology Content Mind Maps, DOES NOT CONTAIN RESEARCH OR EVALUATION

122,20151
Psychology

Key Concepts in Social Influence

Explore essential theories and experiments in social influence, including conformity, obedience, and minority influence. This summary covers key studies like Milgram's experiment, Asch's conformity tests, and the Stanford prison experiment, providing a comprehensive overview for AQA A Level psychology students.

128,643309
Psychology

Biopsychology Key Concepts

Explore essential biopsychology concepts including circadian rhythms, brain structure, and neurobiology. This comprehensive summary covers the nervous system, hormonal coordination, and the impact of brain plasticity on behavior. Ideal for AQA A Level Psychology revision.

1213,017614
Psychology

AQA A Level Sociology Research Methods

Includes all research methods

122,22271
Psychology

Paper 2 - Approaches in Psychology ღ

ღ AQA A Level Psychology notes. ღ Covers AO1 + AO3 of: Origins of Psychology, Behaviourist Approach, Social Learning Theory, Cognitive Approach, Biological Approach, Humanistic Approach and Psychodynamic Approach ღ Any Qs, comment!! <3

122,49767
Psychology

Psychology Approaches Overview

Comprehensive notes on key psychological approaches including the Psychodynamic and Humanistic theories. This resource covers essential concepts, evaluations, and applications, making it ideal for exam preparation. Key topics include Freud's psychosexual stages, defense mechanisms, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

129,457437
Psychology

Key Psychological Debates

Explore essential concepts in AQA A Level Psychology, including cultural bias, gender bias, nature vs. nurture, and ethical issues. This summary covers critical evaluations of determinism, free will, and the idiographic vs. nomothetic approaches, providing a comprehensive overview for students preparing for exams.

125,663188

Most popular content

Sociology

Sociology of Families: Comprehensive Revision

Dive into an extensive overview of family dynamics, perspectives, and patterns in sociology. This resource covers key concepts such as family diversity, gender roles, marriage, and the impact of social policies on family structures. Perfect for A-Level Sociology students preparing for Paper 2.

1274,1652,307
Sociology

Sociology of Education Overview

Explore comprehensive A-Level Sociology notes on the education system, covering key theories, policies, and sociological perspectives. This resource includes insights on marketisation, gender roles, cultural deprivation, and educational inequalities, providing a thorough understanding of how education shapes social stratification and individual achievement. Ideal for exam preparation and in-depth study.

12103,3053,045
Biology

A-Level Biology Year 1 Overview

Comprehensive summary of AQA A-Level Biology Year 1, covering key topics such as cellular structure, protein synthesis, immune response, gas exchange, and more. Ideal for exam preparation and understanding biological concepts. Includes detailed insights into cellular processes, biological classification, and the circulatory system.

1215,249704
Biology

AQA Biology: Key Concepts

Explore essential AQA Biology topics including Photosynthesis, Respiration, Homeostasis, Genetics, and Ecology. This comprehensive knowledge organizer covers key concepts such as energy transfer, hormonal control, and genetic variation, providing a solid foundation for your studies. Ideal for exam preparation and understanding biological processes.

109,252316
Maths

Comprehensive Maths Concepts

Explore essential mathematical concepts including powers, geometry, statistics, and probability. This resource features 65 pages of detailed explanations, diagrams, and examples to enhance your understanding of topics such as right triangles, volume calculations, and data representation. Ideal for students seeking to strengthen their numeracy skills and grasp complex mathematical principles.

1180,3946,327
Sociology

Comprehensive Crime & Deviance Overview

Explore an extensive revision of crime and deviance topics, including theories, types of crime, and the impact of media. This resource covers key concepts such as Marxism, functionalism, gender and crime, and the influence of globalization on criminal behavior. Ideal for students seeking a thorough understanding of criminology and its various theories. Type: Full Topic Revision.

1251,9001,409
Criminology

Criminal Justice Overview

Explore key concepts in criminal justice, including the trial process, roles of court personnel, types of offenses, and evidence handling. This comprehensive summary covers essential topics such as jury strengths and weaknesses, the role of the CPS, and the impact of media on trials. Ideal for students preparing for assessments in criminology. Achieved a B grade.

133,46372
Biology

Biology Paper 1 Overview

Comprehensive study notes covering key concepts in cellular biology, human digestion, respiration, photosynthesis, and the circulatory system. This resource includes detailed explanations of cell structures, enzyme functions, nutrient absorption, and the impact of environmental factors on biological processes. Ideal for students preparing for Biology Paper 1 exams.

1115,478391
English Literature

An Inspector Calls: Character Insights

Explore in-depth analysis and key quotes for characters in J.B. Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls'. This resource covers Gerald Croft, Inspector Goole, Sheila Birling, Mrs. Birling, Eric Birling, and Eva Smith, focusing on themes of class, gender roles, and social responsibility. Ideal for students aiming for Grade 8 and above.

1125,783916

Students love us, and so will you.

4.6/5App Store
4.7/5Google Play
Stefan SiOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Samantha KlichAndroid user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

AnnaiOS user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.