1. An accelerated revision resource
B6 revision
Brain and Mind
An accelerated revision resource
A.Blackford

2. You also need to do plenty of past papers to get exam practice.
WARNING
This PowerPoint is not a substitute for active revision using notes, the workbook and revision guide.
You also need to do plenty of past papers to get exam practice.
Good luck!
REVISION IS IMPORTANT

3. Behaviour All living things respond to stimuli from the environment.
These responses are all examples of behaviour (e.g. eating, shivering, scratching, move out of the light)
These simple reflexes are important because they help animals
find food and shelter
Escape from predators
Avoid harmful environments

4. Simple Reflexes in Humans
These are often survival reflexes
The gag reflex when something touches the back of our throat
The pupil reflex in the eye to bright light
Newborn baby reflexes are an important indicator of good health
Step, gasp, startle, grasp, sucking, rooting and swimming
SIDS could possible happen because these simple reflexes have not matured

5. The Nervous System
This is made up of the central nervous system (brain and spine) and the peripheral nervous system which links the CNS to the rest of the body.
The CNS coordinates the body responses
Brain
Peripheral nerves
Spinal cord

6. Coordinating a Response
2 RECEPTOR
Pain receptors stimulated, sensory nerves take signals to CNS
1 STIMULUS
Pin sticks into skin
Motor neurone
Sensory neurone
3 CNS Coordinates the response. Sometimes the brain often the spinal cord for reflexes
4 EFFECTOR Signals from the motor neurone makes the muscles contract

7. Neuron Structure Nerves are bundles of many neurons (nerve cells)
Nerve impulses move from the cell along the axon of motor nerves
The myelin sheath is made up of ‘fatty cells’ that insulate the axon and help the signal to move faster down it.
A motor nerve

8. Receptors and Effectors
Receptors monitor the external and internal environment
Receptors can be single cells (pain receptors in the skin) or grouped in a sense organ (eye, ear)
Effectors are either muscles (to contract) or glands (sweat, hormones, enzymes)

9. Conscious Control of Reflexes
Normally if we pick up a hot plate we would drop it straight away (reflex)
If it would be dangerous to do this our brain can override the reflex so that we put it down slowly
Not all reflexes can be overridden e.g. pupil response to bright light
Note the connection to the brain to modify this reflex

10. Connecting Nerves Nerve impulses can travel at 400m/s in the axon
2 Chemical released from the nerve
1 Nerve impulse arrives down the axon of a sensory nerve
3 Chemical diffuses across the synapse (gap)
5 Transmitter chemical reabsorbed by the sensory nerve
4 A new nerve impulse is generated in the motor nerve
Nerve impulses can travel at 400m/s in the axon
The speed across the synapse is 15 m/s

11. Drugs and the Synapse Chemical Effect Serotonin (natural)
Feel good chemical produced by the brain. Lack of it can cause depression
Serotonin (natural)
Antidepressant. Allow serotonin to build up in the brain by blocking its uptake at the synapse
Prozac (medical)
MDMA. Works in a similar way to prozac. May cause depression and anxiety and memory loss
Ecstasy (illegal drug)
Stops messages passing across the synapse. Paralysis and death!
Curare(Medical/hunting)

12. All the ’LOBES’ are part of the cerebral hemisphere
The Brain
All the ’LOBES’ are part of the cerebral hemisphere

13. Cerebral Hemispheres
This is a map of the part of the cerebral hemispheres that are to do with the senses
The proportion of the body parts gives some idea of the area of cortex given over to that part.
The cerebral cortex makes us what we are. Our ‘mind’ and consciousness is here.
Cerebral cortex in humans is thin but a large surface area (because it is folded)

14. This is ‘classic’ conditioning first done by Ivan Pavlov in 1904 .
Learned Behaviour
This is ‘classic’ conditioning first done by Ivan Pavlov in

15. Conditioning Aids Survival
Conditioned reflexes are usually examples of simple learning
Examples include birds avoiding brightly coloured (bitter) insects after trying one
Goldfish swimming to the surface for food when we go to the front of the bowl

16. Human Learning
Learning takes place when new connections are made between neurones
A Neurone 1 fires impulses close together. Link between 1 and 2 strengthened
B Neurone 2 fires impulses more frequently. Link between 2 and 3 strengthened
Neuron 1
Neuron 2
Neuron 3
C Eventually there are strong links between all three neurones. A memory has been stored

17. Learning to Learn
Repetition helps build up the links between neurones (so PRACTICE and REVISE)
Visualising can help create links
Language is best learned before age 8
Children who don’t learn any language when young may NEVER learn (as shown by FERAL children). These children may also have underdeveloped brains

18. Remember Me! 1 Short term Memory 30 seconds or so
7 letters or numbers about the max
‘Chunk’ information for easier recall later (divide lists into groups of 3)
Alzheimer’s disease causes short term memory loss
Sensory memory can store sound and visual information for a short time (e.g. sparkler writing)

19. Remember Me! 2 Long term memory
Held in a different part of the brain to short term memory
Rehearsal, repetition or need will transfer information from short term to long term memory

20. Multi-store Memory Model
Environmental
stimulus
This model works both ways, so that information can be retrieved as well as stored
Rehearsal (e.g. revision)
Sensory
memory
Processing
Information not attended to is lost
Short term
memory
Processing
Information either passed on to long term memory or lost
Long term
memory

21. Improving Memory
Apply what psychologists have discovered to our own learning
REPTITION. If you have not remembered something you have read, read it several times
REHEARSAL. Read sections that are short enough to keep in your short term memory. Make notes from memory to help move the information into long term memory
ACTIVE MEMORY. Highlighter pens, mind maps and so on. These all help put information into long term memory for future use (getting information into long term memory is also better when associated with colour sound or smell)

22. GOOD LUCK IN THE EXAM