Biological psychology You will need your notebook and a pen when going through this handout so you can make notes and answer questions. You will also need the handouts given to you.

Watch the clip nEYg Answer these questions: What does this suggest about behaviour? How does this link to the Biological approach?

The Jim Twins Watch the video Answer these questions: How does this support the biological approach? What do you think this suggests about the role of nature vs nurture?

Study Read the information on twin and family studies from the pack Answer the following 1.What is a meta analysis? 2.What would a perfect concordance rate be? 3.Identify the IV and DV for the meta-analysis 4.Outline two findings from the research 5.Explain how twin studies show that behaviour might be genetic (use examples from the meta analysis)

Answers 1.A meta- analysis combines the findings of independent studies 2.A perfect concordance rate would be 100% 3.IV- Environment that the child is raised in DV- concordance rate of intelligence 4. The same person tested twice had a similar concordance rate to identical twins reared together. Biological siblings reared together had a lower concordance rate (47) than identical twins reared apart (72) 5. Even though identical twins were reared apart they still had a higher concordance rate for intelligence than non identical twins and siblings reared together Findings suggest there is a genetic component to intelligence but even when the same person was tested twice there was not a 100% concordance rate suggesting other factors might be involved.

Exam question Have a go at answering this question Rita and Holly are identical twins who were separated at birth. When they finally met each other at the age of 35, they were surprised at how different their personalities were. Rita is much more social and out-going than Holly. Use your knowledge of genotypes and phenotypes to explain this difference in their personalities (4 marks)

Mark scheme Holly and Rita have identical genotype as they are MZ twins. They have the predisposition to develop the same personalities as each other unless another factor(s) intervenes. For them to have developed different personalities over time, this must have been influenced by being in different environments. Their phenotypes – personalities achieved – are different, presumably because Rita was encouraged to be sociable and lively and Holly was not.

What you need to know 1. Biological Structures Division of Nervous system Function of Endocrine system Fight or Flight The Role of adrenalin 2. Neurotransmitters Structure and function of sensory relay and motor neurons Process of synaptic transmission (neurotransmitters)

The Brain: facts The average adult brain weighs about 3 pounds ( grams) Like snowflakes, no two human brains are exactly alike, although they do have common structures and configurations. The brain is made up of many different structures. the cerebrum (top part of the brain) is divided in two hemispheres (hemisphere means ‘half a circle’ in latin) The left hemisphere and the right hemisphere There are 4 lobes (frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital) each with their own function.

The left hemisphere in most people, is dominant for language, speech, writing, mathematics, and logical reasoning. The right hemisphere is dominant for music, spatial awareness, art, intuitive thought, and imagination. A bridge-shaped band of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum (which means ‘body of hardness’ in Latin) connects the two hemispheres. There are millions of nerve fibers in the adult human corpus callosum that send messages back and forth between the hemispheres. The nerve fibers in the corpus callosum allow the hemispheres to communicate with each other. Since the two hemispheres have different and complementary functions, it is important for them to communicate for optimal mental performance.

The cortex is divided into four different lobes Occipital lobe is primarily to do with the function of vision and is often referred to as the visual cortex. Temporal lobe is primarily to do with the function of hearing and is often referred to as the auditory cortex. Parietal lobe processes sensations from the skin and different muscles throughout the body. Frontal lobe is concerned with higher thought processes such as reasoning and abstract thinking.

The Brain can affect Behaviour Phineas Gage: hard to evidence that the brain plays a part in behaviour without case studies of individuals who have suffered a brain injury. Phineas Gage suffered an accident where a large rod was blasted through his skull and brain. He survived this ordeal but it was reported that his behaviour changed after the event. He became anti- social and ill-mannered. His friends said “Gage was no longer Gage.”

Handout - Activity 1 Complete Activity 1 on the worksheet

Central Nervous system: Brain and spinal cord Peripheral nervous system: Transmits information to and from the central nervous system Nervous system Provides the biological basis of psychological experience All our thoughts, movements, sensations and emotions are controlled by the nervous system.

Central nervous system Concerned with all life functions and psychological processes Consists of the brain and the spinal cord Pivotal in transferring messages to and from their environment. Centre at which all the physiology of the individual is controlled The Central Nervous System (CNS) is made up of the brain and the spinal cord. The vertebrae of the spine encase and protect the soft neural tissue of the spinal cord, just like the skull protects the brain. Biological psychologists look to the brain for behaviour as most actions and reactions are generated from the CNS

Peripheral nervous system Transmits information to and from the central nervous system The motor and sensory nerves running throughout the body make up the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). The PNS sends message to and from the CNS. The CNS controls the body by sending messages that flow through the motor nerves to control muscles. Sensory nerves relay messages about touch, pressure, temperature, pain, sound, vision, smell, and taste to the CNS. Thus, motor nerve messages travel from the CNS out to the muscles in the body and sensory nerve messages travel from nerve endings in the body back in to the CNS.

Divisions of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) Two major divisions: – somatic nervous system – autonomic nervous system

Somatic nervous system Interacts with the external environment Conducts sensory signals to the CNS from external sensory receptors, e.g. from: – eyes – ears – touch receptors in the skin – sensory receptors in joints and skeletal muscles It conducts motor signals from the CNS to skeletal muscles

Autonomic nervous system Participates in the regulation of the body’s internal environment. Conducts signals from sensory receptors in internal organs, e.g. – liver – Stomach to the CNS

Handout - Activity 2 Using two different coloured pens, draw and label on the diagram the motor and sensory pathways of the peripheral nervous system.

Activity 3 The Endocrine System Read the photocopied from the Green haired girl book Make notes on the Endocrine system Complete the handout questions Handout - Activity 3: Endocrine system

The nervous system The peripheral nervous system The central nervous system Spinal cord Receives and transmits information to and from the brain Brain Maintains life, involved in higher functions and psychological processes Somatic nervous system Transmits information to and from senses and to and from central nervous system Autonomic nervous system Transmits information to and from internal organs to sustain life processes Sympathetic nervous system Generally increases bodily activities Parasympathetic nervous system Generally maintains or decreases bodily activities Handout: Activity 4

Inside the Brain - Neurons

Neuron (nerve cell) These neurons carry signals electrically along their axon and chemically across a synapse. A synapse is a gap between two neurons. Neurons never touch so to communicate they send chemicals across the synapse and these are picked up by the other neuron.

Activity: create a neuron Hold out your arm and spread your fingers. Your hand represents the "cell body" (also called the "soma”) Your fingers represent "dendrites" bringing information to the cell body. Your arm represents the "axon" taking information away from the cell body. Your jumper/shirt represents the myelin sheath that that facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses

Handout - Activity 5 Label the diagram and state what each part of the neuron does.

Answers Synapses: Send electrical impulses to neighbouring neurons. Myelin sheaths: Cover the axon and work like insulation to help keep electrical signals inside the cell, which allows them to move more quickly. Axon: Transfers electrical impulse signals from the cell body to the synapse. Soma: The cell body which contains most of the cell’s organelles Nucleus: Contains the cell’s DNA Dendrites: Receive electrical impulses from neighbouring neurons.

The Firing of a neuron and Synapse Neuron sending the chemical signal Chemicals being released into the synapse Neuron picking up the chemical signal

Watch the video Complete activity 6 Label the synaptic transmission diagram kb7n0 kb7n0

Quiz: test yourself on the following questions

Another name for a “ nerve cell. ”

neuron

The part of the neuron that brings information to the cell body.

a dendrite

The part of the neuron that takes information away from the cell body.

axon

The junction between two neurons.

synapse

The explosion of electrical activity sent down an axon when a neuron sends information.

action potential

The weight of the adult human brain.

3 pounds or 1.4 kilograms

The two main divisions of the nervous system.

central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

Area of the brain responsible for thought, language and planning.

cerebral cortex

Connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

corpus callosum

Name of the man who survived after an iron rod went through the frontal lobe of his brain in 1848.

Phineas Gage