Substantia nigra contains many dopamine producing neurons and the area is dark due to a pigment called melanin.

The Atkinson-Shiffrin Multi-store Model of Memory

Types of Long-term memory Procedural Memory Declarative Memory ‘Knowing how’ ‘Knowing that’ Actions, procedures, skills Events or facts Episodic Memory Semantic Memory Our declarative memory for personal experiences or specific events Our declarative memory for knowledge and facts

Effect of alcohol and sleep deprivation on the speed component of a concentration task Effect of alcohol and sleep deprivation on the accuracy component of a concentration task

The sleep-wake cycle is one example of a number of biological rhythms to which we are subjected. Others include cyclical/rhythmic changes in heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, respiration rate, hormone production and secretion, and blood sugar levels. Each biological rhythm is said to be controlled by a ‘biological clock’. The brain coordinates all these biological clocks which fall into two categories: circadian and ultradian rhythms.

Circadian rhythms are biological cycles of about 24 hours duration Circadian rhythms are biological cycles of about 24 hours duration. The sleep-wake cycle is the most studied circadian rhythm. It is controlled by a biological clock in the brain that responds to light or lack of it. Ultradian rhythms are biological cycles that occur with a greater frequency than once per 24 hours. A sleep cycle is an example of an ultradian rhythm. Typically, a sleep cycle lasts 90 minutes and we have several cycles of REM and NREM sleep of different stages within each 90 minutes and about four to seven cycles within each sleep episode.

Stress is a state of physiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individual as challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope.   Anxiety is a state of physiological arousal associated with feelings of apprehension, worry or uneasiness that something is wrong or something unpleasant is about to happen. It is normal to experience anxiety in certain situations.

A phobia is characterised by excessive, irrational, or unreasonable fear of a particular object or situation. Fear is a rational response when confronted by certain things or situations. However, a fear response by someone with a phobia is typically out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the object or situation. There is also a compelling desire to avoid the object or situation. Sometimes, even the thought of the feared stimulus is enough to cause a phobic reaction. Having a phobia causes significant anxiety and distress, and interferes with everyday functioning. It is therefore considered a diagnosable mental disorder.

• the relative influences of contributing factors to the development of specific phobia with reference to: BIOLOGICAL gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) dysfunction, the role of stress response and long-term potentiation PSYCHOLOGICAL behavioural models involving precipitation by classical conditioning and perpetuation by operant conditioning, cognitive bias including memory bias and catastrophic thinking SOCIAL specific environmental triggers and stigma around seeking treatment