Biopsychology Exam Questions With Correct
Answers
Briefly outline how excitation and inhibition are involved in synaptic transmission (4) - answer•
Neurotransmitters can be excitatory or inhibitory (most can be both but GABA is purely
inhibitory).
• If the neurotransmitter is excitatory th...
Briefly outline how excitation and inhibition are involved in synaptic transmission (4) - answer✔•
Neurotransmitters can be excitatory or inhibitory (most can be both but GABA is purely
inhibitory).
• If the neurotransmitter is excitatory then the post synaptic neuron is more likely to fire an
impulse.
• If the neurotransmitter is inhibitory then the post synaptic neuron is less likely to fire an
impulse.
• The excitatory and inhibitory influences are summed, if the net effect on the post synaptic
neuron is inhibitory, the neuron will be less likely to 'fire' and if the net effect is excitatory,
the neuron will be more likely to fire.
Briefly explain one function of the endocrine system (2) - answer✔• To secrete the hormones which are
required to regulate many bodily functions.
• To provide a chemical system of communication via the blood stream.
The electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) both involve recording the
electrical activity of the brain.
Outline one difference between the EEG and ERPs - answer✔EEG is a recording of general brain activity
usually linked to states such as sleep and arousal, whilst ERPs are elicited by specific
stimuli presented to the participant.
Sam is a police officer. She has just started working the night shift and after a week, she finds that she
has difficulty sleeping during the day and is becoming
tense and irritable. Sam is also worried that she is less alert during the night shift itself.
Using your knowledge of endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers, explain Sam's experiences.
- answer✔endogenous pacemakers - internal biological rhythms
• plausible task for patient - verbal or visuospatial response, eg drawing, matching etc.
Briefly evaluate research using split brain patients to investigate hemispheric lateralisation of function. -
answer✔• the disconnection between the hemispheres was greater in some patients than others
• some patients had experienced drug therapy for much longer than others
• the comparison groups were not considered to be valid as they were often people
with no history of epileptic seizures
• the data were artificially produced as in real life a severed corpus callosum can be
compensated for by the unrestricted use of two eyes
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