Psychology UNIT 1 2017 – SAC PREP 1

SAC 1 – Visual Presentation – No access to resources

1.Split-brain studies. Figure 3.14 p107 and Figure 3.15 p108 TEXT

  • Severing of the corpus callosum
  • Disconnecting hemispheres – hemispheres function separately
  • Information presented to left visual field – goes to right hemisphere – can’t say what the object is – can point to the object with their left hand
  • Information presented to right visual field – goes to left hemisphere – can say what the object is – can point to the object with their right hand

2.Label the corpus callosum and describe its function. P 107 TEXT

  • Connects the two hemispheres – transfers messages between the two hemispheres – main communication pathway between the two hemispheres

3.The difference between structural and functional neuroimaging and examples of each. P 109 – 111 TEXT

  • Structural – images/scans of brain structure and anatomy
  • Functional – shows images of the brain when it’s at work/functioning

4.Have a clear understanding of the NERVOUS SYSTEM Figure 3.23 and Figure 3.24 p114 -115 TEXT

CNS (Central NS)PNS (peripheral NS)

Brain +Spinal cordsomatic NS+autonomic NS

sympathetic NS & Paraympathetic NS

5.Transmission of sensory and motor information. P115 TEXT

SENSORY + MOTOR PATHWAY

  • Sensory receptor (identifies whatever the stimulus is)
  • Sensory neuron carries information to CNS – brain
  • Information goes to somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobe
  • Information is passed to motor cortex
  • Motor cortex sends a message to the muscle effector cells via motor neurons
  • Muscle contracts

6.Main functions of the Central nervous system, Peripheral nervous system, Somatic nervous system, autonomic nervous system. p115-117 TEXT

  • CNS – receives and process information and co-ordinates a response
  • PNS – carries messages/ information to and from the CNS
  • SNS – carries sensory information to the CNS and motor information from the CNS to skeletal muscles (voluntary movement)
  • ANS – carries messages between the CNS and the internal organs and glands (OMG) (involuntary) – self-regulating

7.Main function of the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system p117 TEXT. Figure 3.26 p117 TEXT

  • Sympathetic – arouse the body when experiencing an extreme emotion (increase heart rate and breathing, increase sweat production, decrease salivation, dilate pupils)
  • Parasympathetic – calms or restores the body after an extreme emotion

8.Label the components of a neuron and know each component’s function. P 118 - 119 TEXT

Number / Structure name / Function
1 / Dendrite / Receives information from other neurons and transmits it to the soma
3 / Soma / Cell body receives and integrates information from the dendrites
4 / Nucleus / Contains the biochemical information (DNA) that maintains the neuron and keeps it functioning
5 / Axon / A single, tubelike, extension that transmits neural information away from the soma to other neurons or cells
6 / Myelin sheath / Fatty substance that coats and helps insulate the axon from the activity of other nearby axons
7 / Nodes of Ranvier / Small gaps in the myelin coating
9 / Axon terminals / The final destination of the action potential
10 / Terminal buttons / Stores and releases a chemical called neurotransmitter that is manufactured by the neuron and carries its message to other neurons or cells

9.Three different types of neurons. Name and describe p119-120 TEXT

Sensory – receives and carries sensory info to the CNS (can be found in PNS and CNS)

Motor – carries motor information to the OMG (organs, muscles and glands) (can be found in PNS and CNS)

Interneuron – relays information between sensory and motor neurons (can be found ONLY in the CNS)

10.Purpose of Glial cells p121 TEXT

Glial cells (sometimes called glia and neuroglia) provide insulation, nutrients and support for neuronal function, as well as aiding repair of neurons and eliminating waste materials.

11.Summary of the hindbrain, Midbrain and forebrain. P 123 – 127 TEXT

12.Hemispheric specialisation p130-131 TEXT

13.Label and describe the functions and features of the lobes. P 132 -136 TEXT

Frontal Lobe /Association areas

 Responsible for the executive function ie. Thinking, feeling, behaving

 Involved in the initiative, planning, judging & reasoning.

 Enabling higher cognitive functioning involving learning, memory, self-awareness and logical reasoning.

 It is also responsible for attention, personality, expressing emotions, temperament.

 Receive information from other lobes for complex mental functions, e.g. decision-making, planning, problem-solving

Parietal Lobe / Association areas

• Receive and process sensory information from the skin and body for perception of bodily sensations touch, temperature, pressure, pain and body movement (left receives and processes information from right side of body and vice versa)

Temporal Lobe/ Association areas

Primarily involved in auditory perception

 Also plays an important role in: memory, aspects of visual perception such as our ability to identify objects and recognise faces and our emotional responses to sensory information and memories.

Occipital Lobe/ Association areas

• Interact with the primary visual cortex in each occipital lobe to select, organise and integrate visual information;

Interacts with other lobes to integrate visual information with other information, like memory, language and sounds.

14.Spatial neglectp154 – p155 TEXT, figure 4.10 and 4.11 p155 TEXT

  • Neurological disorder – individuals are unable to notice anything on their left or right side
  • Rear area of the parietal damaged

15.Identify and explain the function of Broca’s and wernicke’s

Broca’s area

• Speech production (and comprehension)

 Located left frontal lobe (95% of population)

 Major function: controls the muscles required for speech (located next to PMC). Responsible for the production of clear fluent (articulate) speech.

Wernicke’s area

• Comprehension of speech/language (and production)

 Left temporal lobe (95% of population)

 Locates words from memory to express a particular meaning.

 Interpretation of written word.

NB. Students will need coloured pencils and/or highlighters to complete this SAC.