Brain and Neuropsychology | AQA GCSE Psychology (8182)
Brain and Neuropsychology
- 64 questions
- 4 subtopics
- Paper 2
- Paper 2
Brain and Neuropsychology is examined in Paper 2, Social context and behaviour.
It covers the nervous system, fight or flight and the James-Lange theory, neurons, synaptic transmission and Hebb's theory, brain structure, localisation and Penfield's study and brain scanning, Tulving's gold memory study and brain damage.
Sample questions from Brain and Neuropsychology
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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The nervous system, fight or flight and the James-Lange theory
What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?
Show the answer
The sympathetic branch arouses the body and triggers the fight or flight response. The parasympathetic branch calms the body and returns it to a resting state. -
The nervous system, fight or flight and the James-Lange theory
Why can the fight or flight response be unhelpful in modern life?
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The response evolved to deal with physical threats such as predators. Modern stressors such as traffic or deadlines rarely need fighting or running, and repeated arousal can harm health. -
Neurons, synaptic transmission and Hebb's theory
What is a synapse?
Show the answer
A synapse is the junction between two neurons. The tiny gap between the neurons is called the synaptic cleft. -
Neurons, synaptic transmission and Hebb's theory
What would happen if the reuptake of a neurotransmitter were blocked?
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The neurotransmitter would stay in the synaptic cleft for longer. The postsynaptic neuron would keep being stimulated, so the neurotransmitter's effect would be stronger. -
Brain structure, localisation and Penfield's study
What is localisation of function?
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Localisation of function is the idea that particular areas of the brain carry out particular functions. -
Brain structure, localisation and Penfield's study
Describe the method of Penfield's study.
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Patients stayed awake under local anaesthetic while part of the skull was removed. The brain has no pain receptors, so the procedure did not hurt. Penfield stimulated points on the cortex with a mild electric current and recorded what patients reported. -
Brain scanning, Tulving's gold memory study and brain damage
Why might a researcher choose an fMRI scan rather than a PET scan?
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An fMRI scan involves no radioactive substance, so it is safer and can be repeated. An fMRI scan also gives sharper images of where activity is happening. -
Brain scanning, Tulving's gold memory study and brain damage
Give one weakness of Tulving's 'gold' memory study.
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The sample was only six people, and Tulving took part knowing the aim. Episodic and semantic memories overlap, so the two conditions were hard to keep separate.
The 4 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| The nervous system, fight or flight and the James-Lange theory | The central and peripheral, somatic and autonomic nervous systems, the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, the fight or flight response and the James-Lange theory of emotion. | 16 |
| Neurons, synaptic transmission and Hebb's theory | Sensory, relay and motor neurons, synaptic transmission and reuptake, excitation and inhibition, and Hebb's theory of learning and neuronal growth. | 16 |
| Brain structure, localisation and Penfield's study | The four lobes and the cerebellum, localisation of function, the motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory and language areas, and Penfield's study of the interpretive cortex. | 16 |
| Brain scanning, Tulving's gold memory study and brain damage | Cognitive neuroscience, CT, PET and fMRI scans, Tulving's gold memory study, and the effects of a stroke or injury on motor abilities and behaviour. | 16 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
AQA GCSE Psychology Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 619 questions with their answers.