Biopsychology
• The divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral (somatic and autonomic).
• The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons. The process of synaptic
transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition.
• The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones.
• The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline.
• Localisation of function in the brain and hemispheric lateralisation: motor, somatosensory, visual,
auditory and language centres; Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, split brain research. Plasticity and
functional recovery of the brain after trauma.
• Ways of studying the brain: scanning techniques, including functional magnetic resonance imaging
(fMRI); electroencephalogram (EEGs) and event-related potentials (ERPs); post-mortem
examinations.
• Biological rhythms: circadian, infradian and ultradian and the difference between these rhythms. The
effect of endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers on the sleep/wake cycle.
,Divisions of the nervous system and differences between each part Up to 6 – description/differences
between each part / one sentence on each part
The nervous system has many subdivisions.
NS – central nervous system AND peripheral nervous system
CNS – brain (higher order functions, decision making and personality) and spinal cord (involved in reflex
arcs)
PNS – somatic (voluntary responses, motor and sensory pathways) and autonomic nervous system
(internal functions – automatic responses, motor pathways)
ANS – further subdivided – sympathetic nervous system (involved in the fight or flight response) and
parasympathetic nervous system (restore the body, rest and digest)
Structure and function of neurons (can be 6 marks)
Sensory neurons carry information about the internal
and external environment to the brain. It consists of
the receptor cell, myelin sheath, axon and cell body.
Relay neurons carry messages from one part of the
CNS to another. It consists of the dendrite, cell body,
axon and pre-synaptic terminal.
Motor neurons carry messages away from the CNS to
the rest of the body. It consists of the dendrite, cell
body, myelin sheath, axon and neurofibril node.
The process of synaptic transmission
This is the process of neurons communicating, of a message travelling from one neuron to another.
An electrical impulse travels down the presynaptic neuron and triggers the release of neurotransmitters
from vesicles. They are released from the cell to the synaptic gap. They then diffuse across the space and
bind to receptors on the post synaptic neuron.
At the post synaptic neuron a net total of the neurotransmitters is taken. If the sum total is excitatory the
post synaptic neuron is more likely to fire, if the sum effect is inhibitory the post synaptic neuron is less
likely to fire. Most neurotransmitters can be both, but noradrenaline is purely excitatory whereas GABA is
purely inhibitory.
, (AO1) The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones.
The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system. It is a network of glands across the body that
secrete chemical messages called hormones. These hormones travel to target organs in the blood.
Different hormones produce different effects.
Main gland: Pituitary gland (master gland);
Anterior pituitary releases ACTH à stimulates the adrenal cortex and the release of cortisol during the
stress response
Posterior pituitary releases oxytocin à responsible for uterus contractions during childbirth
Adrenal gland;
Adrenal cortex releases cortisol (stress hormone).
Adrenal medulla releases adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are the key hormones in the fight or flight
response.
(AO3) Research – calming AN/Dabbs et al.
The hormone oxytocin released by the pituitary gland is associated with feelings of bonding between
couples and between infants and caregivers. Research has shown that increasing oxytocin levels artificially
helped to reduce negative thoughts towards food and body.
Therefore, oxytocin has been proved to has a calming effect on patients with anorexia nervosa, reducing
their focus on negative images of food and bodies. This allows patients to slowly mend their relationship
with food and regain and healthier and more positive lifestyle in general. As anorexia is a debilitating
condition that is difficult to treat, this is considered to be great progress into treatments for anorexia.
Dabb’s research found high levels of testosterone in those who had been convicted of DV àevidence for
the responsibility of hormones in human behaviour.
Cause-effect (Is it possible that the changes in the Reductionism and discussion of other factors in
endocrine system are a reflection of the behaviour explaining behaviour
and not always the cause?)
However, hormone levels may also be explained as
a result of the behaviour, not the cause. If a person Levels of explanations in psych range from low
acts violently, this may increase their testosterone levels (extreme reductionism) to mid levels to high
levels. levels (holism).
It might also be that the convicts’ testosterone
levels increased due to being in an all-men prison
setting and the hostile environment around them. Claiming the endocrine system can explain
behaviour is taking an extreme reductionist
The acts of violence can also be linked to other approach, working at a low level of explanation.
genetic and environmental factors, such as Good --> parsimony / answers / cause – effect/
personality, childhood, etc rather than an science / treatments. Limitations – MISS?
underlying biological factor.
Link to mental wellbeing
• The divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral (somatic and autonomic).
• The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons. The process of synaptic
transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition.
• The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones.
• The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline.
• Localisation of function in the brain and hemispheric lateralisation: motor, somatosensory, visual,
auditory and language centres; Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, split brain research. Plasticity and
functional recovery of the brain after trauma.
• Ways of studying the brain: scanning techniques, including functional magnetic resonance imaging
(fMRI); electroencephalogram (EEGs) and event-related potentials (ERPs); post-mortem
examinations.
• Biological rhythms: circadian, infradian and ultradian and the difference between these rhythms. The
effect of endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers on the sleep/wake cycle.
,Divisions of the nervous system and differences between each part Up to 6 – description/differences
between each part / one sentence on each part
The nervous system has many subdivisions.
NS – central nervous system AND peripheral nervous system
CNS – brain (higher order functions, decision making and personality) and spinal cord (involved in reflex
arcs)
PNS – somatic (voluntary responses, motor and sensory pathways) and autonomic nervous system
(internal functions – automatic responses, motor pathways)
ANS – further subdivided – sympathetic nervous system (involved in the fight or flight response) and
parasympathetic nervous system (restore the body, rest and digest)
Structure and function of neurons (can be 6 marks)
Sensory neurons carry information about the internal
and external environment to the brain. It consists of
the receptor cell, myelin sheath, axon and cell body.
Relay neurons carry messages from one part of the
CNS to another. It consists of the dendrite, cell body,
axon and pre-synaptic terminal.
Motor neurons carry messages away from the CNS to
the rest of the body. It consists of the dendrite, cell
body, myelin sheath, axon and neurofibril node.
The process of synaptic transmission
This is the process of neurons communicating, of a message travelling from one neuron to another.
An electrical impulse travels down the presynaptic neuron and triggers the release of neurotransmitters
from vesicles. They are released from the cell to the synaptic gap. They then diffuse across the space and
bind to receptors on the post synaptic neuron.
At the post synaptic neuron a net total of the neurotransmitters is taken. If the sum total is excitatory the
post synaptic neuron is more likely to fire, if the sum effect is inhibitory the post synaptic neuron is less
likely to fire. Most neurotransmitters can be both, but noradrenaline is purely excitatory whereas GABA is
purely inhibitory.
, (AO1) The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones.
The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system. It is a network of glands across the body that
secrete chemical messages called hormones. These hormones travel to target organs in the blood.
Different hormones produce different effects.
Main gland: Pituitary gland (master gland);
Anterior pituitary releases ACTH à stimulates the adrenal cortex and the release of cortisol during the
stress response
Posterior pituitary releases oxytocin à responsible for uterus contractions during childbirth
Adrenal gland;
Adrenal cortex releases cortisol (stress hormone).
Adrenal medulla releases adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are the key hormones in the fight or flight
response.
(AO3) Research – calming AN/Dabbs et al.
The hormone oxytocin released by the pituitary gland is associated with feelings of bonding between
couples and between infants and caregivers. Research has shown that increasing oxytocin levels artificially
helped to reduce negative thoughts towards food and body.
Therefore, oxytocin has been proved to has a calming effect on patients with anorexia nervosa, reducing
their focus on negative images of food and bodies. This allows patients to slowly mend their relationship
with food and regain and healthier and more positive lifestyle in general. As anorexia is a debilitating
condition that is difficult to treat, this is considered to be great progress into treatments for anorexia.
Dabb’s research found high levels of testosterone in those who had been convicted of DV àevidence for
the responsibility of hormones in human behaviour.
Cause-effect (Is it possible that the changes in the Reductionism and discussion of other factors in
endocrine system are a reflection of the behaviour explaining behaviour
and not always the cause?)
However, hormone levels may also be explained as
a result of the behaviour, not the cause. If a person Levels of explanations in psych range from low
acts violently, this may increase their testosterone levels (extreme reductionism) to mid levels to high
levels. levels (holism).
It might also be that the convicts’ testosterone
levels increased due to being in an all-men prison
setting and the hostile environment around them. Claiming the endocrine system can explain
behaviour is taking an extreme reductionist
The acts of violence can also be linked to other approach, working at a low level of explanation.
genetic and environmental factors, such as Good --> parsimony / answers / cause – effect/
personality, childhood, etc rather than an science / treatments. Limitations – MISS?
underlying biological factor.
Link to mental wellbeing
