A LEVEL AQA PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 2
LATEST
What is the nervous system? - Correct Answer-A specialised network of cells in the
human body and is our primary communication system.
What are the two main functions of the nervous system? - Correct Answer-To collect,
process and respond to information in the environment
To coordinate the working of different organs and cells
What is the CNS? What is it made up of? - Correct Answer-Central Nervous System.
Passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS.
Made up of the brain and the spinal cord.
What is the spinal cord responsible for? - Correct Answer-reflex actions
What is the PNS? - Correct Answer-Peripheral Nervous System.
Transmits messages via neurons, to and from the central nervous system.
What two subsystems is the PNS divided into? - Correct Answer-Somatic nervous system
and the autonomic nervous system.
What is the somatic nervous system? - Correct Answer-It is the part of the PNS that is
responsible for carrying sensory and motor information to and from the spinal cord.
What is the autonomic nervous system? - Correct Answer-It governs vital functions in the
body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses.
What two subsystems is the ANS divides into? - Correct Answer-Sympathetic nervous
system and the parasympathetic system.
What is the endocrine system? - Correct Answer-It instructs glands to release hormones
directly into the bloodstream.
Outline how the fight or flight response works. - Correct Answer--Stressor is perceived,
hypothalamus triggers activity in the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous
system.
-ANS changes from its normal resting state to the physiologically aroused, sympathetic
state.
,-Adrenaline is released from the adrenal gland into the bloodstream.
-Adrenaline triggers physiologically changes in the body which creates the physiological
arousal necessary changes for the fight or flight response.
-Threat passes, then the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to its resting
state. Reverses the actions of the sympathetic system as they are antagonistic.
What are motor neurons? - Correct Answer-These connect the CNS to effectors such as
muscles and glands. They have short dendrites and long axons.
What are sensory neurons? - Correct Answer-These carry messages from the PNS to the
CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons.
What are relay neurons? - Correct Answer-These connect the sensory neurons to the
motor or other relay neurons. They have short dendrites and short axons.
How are signals transmitted within neurons? - Correct Answer-Electrically.
How are signals between neurons transmitted? - Correct Answer-Chemically by synaptic
transmission.
What are neurotransmitters? - Correct Answer-Chemicals that diffuse across the synapse
to the next neuron in the chain.
What is action potential? When does it occur? - Correct Answer-Action potential is an
explosion of electrical activity. It occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon,
away from the body.
What does excitation mean? - Correct Answer-When a neurotransmitter, such as
adrenaline, increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron. This increases the
likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse.
What does inhibition mean? - Correct Answer-When a neurotransmitter, such as
serotonin, makes the charge of the postsynaptic neuron more negative. This decreases
the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse.
What is the process of synaptic transmission? - Correct Answer--Nerve impulse travels
down an axon.
-Nerve impulse reaches synaptic terminal.
-This triggers the release of neurotransmitters.
-The neurotransmitters are fired into the synaptic gap.
,-Neurotransmitters bind with receptors on the dendrite of the adjacent neuron.
-If successfully transmitted, the neurotransmitter is taken up by the post-synaptic neuron.
-The message will continue.
What is Broca's area responsible for? - Correct Answer-Responsible for converting
thought into speech- speech production.
What can happen if the Broca's area is damaged? - Correct Answer-Broca's aphasia-
difficulty producing fluent speech, speech is slow and effortful. Speech has missing words
leading to poor grammar.
What is Wernicke's area responsible for? - Correct Answer-Language comprehension.
What happens if the Wernicke's area is damaged? - Correct Answer-Wernicke's aphasia-
Difficulty understanding speech or written language, speech sounds fluent but lacks
meaning/nonsense words.
What is the motor cortex responsible for? - Correct Answer-voluntary motor movements
What may happen if the motor cortex is damaged? - Correct Answer-Loss of muscle
function. After severe trauma, paralysis is possible.
This occurs on the opposite side of the body to the damage to contralaterality.
What is the somatosensory cortex responsible for? - Correct Answer-Responsible for
receiving sense impressions from around the body.
What may happen if the somatosensory cortex is damaged? - Correct Answer-Loss of
sensation, ignoring areas of the body, loss of ability in recognising objects by their feel.
Effects are on opposite side to damage.
What is the auditory cortex responsible for? - Correct Answer-Receives and processes
sound information from ears.
What may happen if the auditory cortex is damaged? - Correct Answer-cortical deafness.
Patient is unable to hear, but there is no damage to the structure of the ear.
What is the visual cortex responsible for? - Correct Answer-Receives information from
the contralateral visual field.
, What may happen if the visual cortex is damaged? - Correct Answer-Leads to partial or
complete loss of vision called cortical blindness. Damage to one cortex can lead to loss
of vision in the opposite visual field.
Define lateralisation. - Correct Answer-The dominance of one hemisphere of the brain for
particular physical and psychological functions.
Define homeostasis - Correct Answer-The process by which the body maintains a
constant physiological state.
What is the cerebral cortex? - Correct Answer-The outer layer of both hemispheres- more
developed in humans.
What are the four lobes of each hemisphere? - Correct Answer-frontal, parietal, occipital,
temporal
What is the brain scan evidence evaluation point of localisation of function? - Correct
Answer-STRENGTH
Peterson: Wernicke's area active in listening;Broca's active in reading=diff. functions
- highly objective methods=scientific
What is the neurosurgical evidence evaluative point of localisation of function? - Correct
Answer-STRENGTH
- remove parts of brain to control behaviour
Dougherty: 44 OCD patients/cingulotomy/32 weeks=1/3 success
- localisation of mental disorder behaviours
What is the case study evidence evaluative point of localisation of function? - Correct
Answer-STRENGTH
Phineas Gage: pole through face/frontal lobe destroyed/personality change (calm to rude)
- frontal lobe may control mood=support localisation
What is Lashley's research evaluative point of localisation of function? - Correct Answer-
LIMITATION
- highly cognitive functions follow holistic theory
- remove rat cortex areas=no area more important in learning
- learning too complex to be localised
What is the plasticity evaluative point of localisation of function? - Correct Answer-- brain
damaged=rest of brain compensates for action
LATEST
What is the nervous system? - Correct Answer-A specialised network of cells in the
human body and is our primary communication system.
What are the two main functions of the nervous system? - Correct Answer-To collect,
process and respond to information in the environment
To coordinate the working of different organs and cells
What is the CNS? What is it made up of? - Correct Answer-Central Nervous System.
Passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS.
Made up of the brain and the spinal cord.
What is the spinal cord responsible for? - Correct Answer-reflex actions
What is the PNS? - Correct Answer-Peripheral Nervous System.
Transmits messages via neurons, to and from the central nervous system.
What two subsystems is the PNS divided into? - Correct Answer-Somatic nervous system
and the autonomic nervous system.
What is the somatic nervous system? - Correct Answer-It is the part of the PNS that is
responsible for carrying sensory and motor information to and from the spinal cord.
What is the autonomic nervous system? - Correct Answer-It governs vital functions in the
body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses.
What two subsystems is the ANS divides into? - Correct Answer-Sympathetic nervous
system and the parasympathetic system.
What is the endocrine system? - Correct Answer-It instructs glands to release hormones
directly into the bloodstream.
Outline how the fight or flight response works. - Correct Answer--Stressor is perceived,
hypothalamus triggers activity in the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous
system.
-ANS changes from its normal resting state to the physiologically aroused, sympathetic
state.
,-Adrenaline is released from the adrenal gland into the bloodstream.
-Adrenaline triggers physiologically changes in the body which creates the physiological
arousal necessary changes for the fight or flight response.
-Threat passes, then the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to its resting
state. Reverses the actions of the sympathetic system as they are antagonistic.
What are motor neurons? - Correct Answer-These connect the CNS to effectors such as
muscles and glands. They have short dendrites and long axons.
What are sensory neurons? - Correct Answer-These carry messages from the PNS to the
CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons.
What are relay neurons? - Correct Answer-These connect the sensory neurons to the
motor or other relay neurons. They have short dendrites and short axons.
How are signals transmitted within neurons? - Correct Answer-Electrically.
How are signals between neurons transmitted? - Correct Answer-Chemically by synaptic
transmission.
What are neurotransmitters? - Correct Answer-Chemicals that diffuse across the synapse
to the next neuron in the chain.
What is action potential? When does it occur? - Correct Answer-Action potential is an
explosion of electrical activity. It occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon,
away from the body.
What does excitation mean? - Correct Answer-When a neurotransmitter, such as
adrenaline, increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron. This increases the
likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse.
What does inhibition mean? - Correct Answer-When a neurotransmitter, such as
serotonin, makes the charge of the postsynaptic neuron more negative. This decreases
the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse.
What is the process of synaptic transmission? - Correct Answer--Nerve impulse travels
down an axon.
-Nerve impulse reaches synaptic terminal.
-This triggers the release of neurotransmitters.
-The neurotransmitters are fired into the synaptic gap.
,-Neurotransmitters bind with receptors on the dendrite of the adjacent neuron.
-If successfully transmitted, the neurotransmitter is taken up by the post-synaptic neuron.
-The message will continue.
What is Broca's area responsible for? - Correct Answer-Responsible for converting
thought into speech- speech production.
What can happen if the Broca's area is damaged? - Correct Answer-Broca's aphasia-
difficulty producing fluent speech, speech is slow and effortful. Speech has missing words
leading to poor grammar.
What is Wernicke's area responsible for? - Correct Answer-Language comprehension.
What happens if the Wernicke's area is damaged? - Correct Answer-Wernicke's aphasia-
Difficulty understanding speech or written language, speech sounds fluent but lacks
meaning/nonsense words.
What is the motor cortex responsible for? - Correct Answer-voluntary motor movements
What may happen if the motor cortex is damaged? - Correct Answer-Loss of muscle
function. After severe trauma, paralysis is possible.
This occurs on the opposite side of the body to the damage to contralaterality.
What is the somatosensory cortex responsible for? - Correct Answer-Responsible for
receiving sense impressions from around the body.
What may happen if the somatosensory cortex is damaged? - Correct Answer-Loss of
sensation, ignoring areas of the body, loss of ability in recognising objects by their feel.
Effects are on opposite side to damage.
What is the auditory cortex responsible for? - Correct Answer-Receives and processes
sound information from ears.
What may happen if the auditory cortex is damaged? - Correct Answer-cortical deafness.
Patient is unable to hear, but there is no damage to the structure of the ear.
What is the visual cortex responsible for? - Correct Answer-Receives information from
the contralateral visual field.
, What may happen if the visual cortex is damaged? - Correct Answer-Leads to partial or
complete loss of vision called cortical blindness. Damage to one cortex can lead to loss
of vision in the opposite visual field.
Define lateralisation. - Correct Answer-The dominance of one hemisphere of the brain for
particular physical and psychological functions.
Define homeostasis - Correct Answer-The process by which the body maintains a
constant physiological state.
What is the cerebral cortex? - Correct Answer-The outer layer of both hemispheres- more
developed in humans.
What are the four lobes of each hemisphere? - Correct Answer-frontal, parietal, occipital,
temporal
What is the brain scan evidence evaluation point of localisation of function? - Correct
Answer-STRENGTH
Peterson: Wernicke's area active in listening;Broca's active in reading=diff. functions
- highly objective methods=scientific
What is the neurosurgical evidence evaluative point of localisation of function? - Correct
Answer-STRENGTH
- remove parts of brain to control behaviour
Dougherty: 44 OCD patients/cingulotomy/32 weeks=1/3 success
- localisation of mental disorder behaviours
What is the case study evidence evaluative point of localisation of function? - Correct
Answer-STRENGTH
Phineas Gage: pole through face/frontal lobe destroyed/personality change (calm to rude)
- frontal lobe may control mood=support localisation
What is Lashley's research evaluative point of localisation of function? - Correct Answer-
LIMITATION
- highly cognitive functions follow holistic theory
- remove rat cortex areas=no area more important in learning
- learning too complex to be localised
What is the plasticity evaluative point of localisation of function? - Correct Answer-- brain
damaged=rest of brain compensates for action
