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VCE Psychology Unit 3 AOS1

Brain and Nervous System Stress/Arousal and Disease Polygraph GAS
STUDY
PLAY
Brain
a complex nerve tissue structure which plays and improtant role in information processing, decision making and survival
Cerebal Cortex
coiled outer layer of the hemispheres, involved in information processing and activities.
Assocation Areas
involved in high order brain functions
Frontal Lobe
recieves and processes information from the other lobes of the brain to enable us to perform complex functions
Assocations Areas of the Frontal Lobe
involved in the cognitive processes of planning, seleting and carrying out behaviours
Primary Motor Cortex
located at the rear of the Frontal Lobe, controls voluntary movement through the control of skeletal muscles
Broca's Area
located in the Frontal Lobe of the left hemisphere, responsible for the control of muscles involved in the production of fluent speech
Broca's Aphasia
damage to the Broca's Area results in speech consisting of limited speech and very simple grammatical structure
Parietal Lobe
located behind the Frontal Lobe, recieves and processes sensory information from the skin and body
Association Areas of the Parietal Lobe
sensational experiences, visual attention and spatial reasoning
Primary Somatosensory Cortex
recieves and processes sensory information from skin senses and the body to enable sensational experiences
Occipital Lobe
located at the rear of the brain, recieves and processes visual information
Association Areas of the Occipital Lobe
further process visual information
Primary Visual Cortex
recieves and processes information from the visual fields
Temporal Lobe
located at the bottom of the brain, involved in hearing, but also plays and important role in memory formation.
Association Areas of the Temporal Lobe
memory formation, coupling auditory and visual stimuli
Primary Auditory Cortex
recieves and process sound from both ears
Wernicke's Area
located in the temporal lobe of the left hemisphere, invovled in comphrehending speech and interpreting the sound of human speech.
Wernicke's Aphasia
damage to the Wernicke's area results in disrupted speech (word salad) and difficulty understanding human speech
Cerebral Hemispheres
the two almost identical halfs of teh brain connected by the corpus callosum
Corpus Callosum
connents the two cerebral hemisheres, enabling the exchange of information and coordination of their activities
Right Hemisphere
NON VERBAL RESPONSES. fantasy and imagination, visualisation and spatial skills, recognition of faces and rhythm
Left Hemisphere
VERBAL RESPONSES. critical and analytical thinking, reading, maths and languagek logical and sequential problem solving.
Investigating Hemispheric Specilisation: Brain Damage
stroke, head injuries or for medical reasons had to have parts of the brain removed. Provides evidence on localisation of particular functions of each hemisphere. (spatial neglect)
Brain Damage: Spatial Neglect
only occurs when damage is to the right hemisphere of the parietal lobe. it seems as though the left side of the world no longer exists. its a problem with visual attention, not visual capabilities.
Investigating Hemispheric Specialisation: Split Brain
cutting the corpus callosum (usually in cases of epilepsy) provides evidence on specilised functions of each hemisphere (sperry's study)
Split Brain: Sperry's Study
images are flashed to the left visual fields (therefore the right hemisphere) and individual cannot name object, but can locate it. Images are flashed to the right visual fields (therefore the left hemisphere) and individual can name object.
Investigating Hemispheric Specilisation: Intact/Whole Brains
using healthy brains to confirm research done via other methods.
Intact/Whole Brains: WADA
individual is concious throughout the process. arms in the air, count to 10. sedative is inserted into artery on neck and anaesthetises one of the hemispheres. left artery=right arm drop. right artery=left arm drops. if anaesthetised lobe contrains language centre, the individual stops counting (usually when sedative is inserted into right artery.
Case Studies
indepth research into an the behaviours of an individual who has brain damage. usually used for rare conditions. AD:detailed and comphrehensive understanding of the individuals condition. DIS: difficult to summarise and generalise the findings.
Electrical Stimulation of the Brain (ESB)
Electrodes send electrical currents to the brain to stimulate only certain areas. AD: provides detail about which structure/area of the brain is active during an action. DIS: very invasive, can only be used on people who have had or are having brain surgery.
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
detects, amplifies and records elecrtical activity in the brain. AD: less invasive than ESB. DIS: only produces overall info of function, not detailed about what specific areas or structures are active.
Computerised (axial) Tomography (CT/CAT)
a neuroimaging technique where xrays are used to create a cross sectional image of the brain by taken many different xrays from different angles. AD: helps detect physical changes. DIS: can only be conducted by a radiologist, only shows structure.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
a neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic fields to vibrate atoms in the brain and produce an image. AD: clearer images than CT. DIS: cannot be used on people who have internal magnetic devices, eg pacemaker.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
a neuroimaging technique that produces a computer generated image three dimension image of the brain by injecting a radioactive substance into the brain. AD: identifies function of specific areas of the brain that are active during tasks. DIS: injection of radioactive substance means that PET scans must be kept short.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
a neuroimaging technique that produces an image of a functioning brain by detecting changes in oxygen levels and blood flow through the brain, while the individual completes a task. AD: can take numerous photographs in rapid succession, showing real time functioning. DIS: in the results, the functioning of the brain may not of a direct result of the task being completed. it is also very expensive.
Ethical Principles: Integrity
the research must potentially bring value to humankind. therefore cannot be conducted for personal gain or unfound purposes.
Ethical Principles: Beneficence
risks must be low and benefits high.
Ethical Principles: Respect for Persons
participants saftey is most important. their beleifs, values and moral must be respected.
Ethical Principles: Justice
must be a representative sample, and participants should not be chosen if they are vulnerable or easily persuaded.
Nervous System
recieves information, processes information and coordinates a response
Central Nervous System
recieves and processes information from sensory systems and other parts of the body and then activates a response
CNS: Brain
recieves sensory information and directs actions within the body
CNS: Spinal Cord
Connects the brain and the PNS, carries sensory neurons to the brain from PNS and carries motor neurons from the brain to the PNS
Peripheral Nervous System
consists of all parts of the NS other than the brain and the spinal cord. carries sensory information to the spinal cord, carries motor info to the appropriate body parts.
PNS: Somatic Nervous System
controls all voluntary movements, carries sensory info from receptor sites on the skin to the CNS and carries motor info from the PNS to activate the desired actions
PNS: Autonomic Nervous System
controls involuntary movements. controls and regulates the functioning of all internal organs
Sensory (Afferent) Neurons
carries sensory info from internal and external stimuli up the ascending tracts of the spinal cord to the brain for processing
Motor (Efferent) Neurons
carries motor info down the decending tracts of the spinal cord to relvant parts of the body
Interneurons
transmits ino ithin the CNS and provides links between sensory an motor neurons. recieves, organises and intergrates info, (unmyelinated)
Sympathetic Nervous System
responsible for arousing the body to action when under threat or experiencing extreme emotion
Parasympathetic Nervous System
responsible for restoring the body to its normal level of functioning after a threat or extreme emotion has passed.
Fight or Flight Response
an automatic response to a percived threat that prepares the body to confront (fight) the threat or run away from it (flight)
Polygraph
a device that simultaneously detects and records physiological responses (respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, galvantic skin resposne) in a person. used in lie detection.
Polygraph: Respiration
measued by rubber tubes around the stomach/chest. tubes fil with air when the individal breathes, and then alters the polygraph.
Polygraph: Galvantic Skin Response
measures electric conductivitiy of the skin through electrodes taped to the fingers. skin pores open up when the symp NS is activated
Polygraph: Blood Pressure
measured by a cuff wrapped around the upper arm. the magnitude of sound indicates blood pressure level
Polygraph: Heart Rate
measured by a cuff wrapped aorund the upper arm. the frequency of change of frequency
Polygraph: Control Questions
questions that are designed no to elict an emotional response. aims to establish a baseline/normal measurements which are used to compare to later measurements. EG. is you address 123 Psych St?
Polygraph: Emotional Control Questions
questions that are desgined to elicit a slight emotional response. difficult to answer just yes or no, provides info on ahow a person reacts to being moderately aroused. EG. have you ever watched porography material
Polygraph: Critical or Relevant Questions
questions tht are designed to elicit a strong emotional response. measures from this ar compared to the results from the control and emotional control questions to determine the variance in physiological responses.
Limitations of the Polygraph
not all people have the same physiologicl resposnes to stress questions. thre is no unqiue lie response. medication can slow teh activity of the nervous system. you can alter your physiological activity through yoga and brething.relaxation technqiues.
Stress
a state of physical or mental tension that occures when an individual is confronted with a percieved threat or challenge that forces them to respond at a level that they dont beleive they have the ability or resources to cope with.
Stressor
event, object, person or situation that an individual percieves as threatening, regardless of the ctual threat posed.
Stress Reaction
the physiological, psychological and behavioural responses and indvidual has when confronted with a stressor
Prolonged Arousal
acute levels (extremely high) and prolonged (extended perods of time) can have pyschological and physiological effects.
Physiological Effects of Prolonged Arousal/Stress
headaches, heat disease/palpitations, dizziness, constipation, skin rashes
Psychological Effects of Prolonged Arousal/Stress
depression, change in sleeping/eating patterns, frustration, aggression.
Psychosomatic Illness
an illness where the symptoms are caused in part of entirely by psychological factors. it is not an imagined illness, it is real. it is due the effects of psychological factors. Headaches, Atshma, ulcers.
Intese/Prolonged Stress and Disease
where stress is both intense and prolonged, the likelihood of onset of disease/illness is increased
Psychoneuroimmunology
examines the relationship between pshychological factors, the nervous system and the immune system.
Immune System
recognise and eliminate harmful micro-organisms which enter the body and cancer cells which originate in the body.
White Blood Cells
Lmyphocytes: detect and destroy harmful cells Phagocytes: injest and eliminate the dead cells and other debris
General Adaptation Syndrome
the total mobilisation of an organisms resources and defence systems
Alarm Reaction
occurs when a person first becomes aware of the stressor
Alarm Reaction: Shock
the body goes into temporary shock. ability to deal with the stressor falls below the normal level of functioning. blood pressure and body temp drop.
Alarm Reaction: Counter Shock
the body rebounds from its initial shock. the sympathetic nervous system kicks in to prepare the body to deal with the stressor, adrenaline is released. increases heart rate
Resistance
only entered if the individual is unsuccessful in dealing with the stressor in the alarm reaction stage. body is at a high level of aroual and is more able to cope with the original stressor, but not able to cope with additional stressors. cortisol is released to heal any damage to the immune system.
Exhaustion
only entered if the individual is unsuccessfu in dealing the stressor in the resistance stage. the stressor has depleted the individuals energy sources, and they are no longer able to deal with the stressor. individual is vulnerable to disease and illness, fatigue and depression, eventually if the stressor does not subside and only in extreme cases, the organism will die.