AQA A Level Psychology
Biopsychology May 2024 Exam
Questions and Answers
What components make up the Central Nervous system -
Answer>> The brain and spinal cord
The peripheral nervous system has two divisions, what are they?
- Answer>> Autonomic nervous system and Somatic Nervous
system
Which division of the Peripheral Nervous System contains the
sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions? - Answer>>
Autonomic
What is the somatic nervous systems role? - Answer>> To
communicate with sense organs and voluntary muscles
Which part of the central nervous system is in control of reflexes?
- Answer>> Spinal cord
Cerebrum - Answer>> The largest section of the brain which is
divided into four sections. The frontal, parietal, occipital and
temporal lobe.
What joins each hemisphere of the brain? - Answer>> The
corpus callosum
What is the role of the cerebellum? - Answer>> Controls motor
skills, movement, balance and coordination
,The dienecephalon is divided into which two important brain
structures? - Answer>> The thalamus and the hypothalamus
What is the function of the thalamus? - Answer>> Acts as a
relay station for nerve impulses coming from the senses and
sends them to the appropriate part of the brain
The hypothalamus - Answer>> Regulates body temperature,
hunger and thirst. Links the endocrine and nervous system
together. Controls the release of hormones from the pituitary
gland
Brain stem (medulla oblongata) - Answer>> Regulates
autonomic functions including breathing and heartbeat.
The sympathetic nervous system - Answer>> Helps our body to
respond to emergencies, fight or flight response.
Uses noradrenaline to increase heart rate.
The parasympathetic nervous system - Answer>> Restores the
body back to equilibrium.
Relaxes an individual by reducing heart rate and lowering blood
pressure.
Conserves energy.
Each neurone contains: - Answer>> The cell body (soma), a
nucleus, dendrites, an axon, a myelin sheath made of Schwann
cells, nodes of ranvier and a synaptic terminal
What are the 3 types of neurone? - Answer>> Sensory
,Motor
Relay
What is the function of a sensory neurone? - Answer>> Carry
nerve impulses from sensory receptors to the central nervous
system.
What is the function of a motor neurone? - Answer>> They lie
within the central nervous system but project their axons outside.
They ten to bring about a response in the effector cell, e.g.
muscle.
What is the function of a relay neurone? - Answer>> Allow
sensory and motor neurones to communicate with one another.
They are located in the Brain and Spinal cord.
Stages of Synaptic transmission - Answer>> 1. Nerve impulse
reaches the end of an axon.
2. This triggers the release of calcium ions into the presynaptic
bulb
3. The release of calcium ions causes vesicles containing
neurotransmitters to move and fuse with the presynaptic
membrane.
4. The neurotransmitters are then released into the synaptic cleft
by exocytosis.
5. The neurotransmitter then binds to the post synaptic membrane
and provides an excitatory response.
Excitatory responses - Answer>> Increase the likeihood that an
excitatory signal is sent which is called an Excitatory post synaptic
signal.
, Neurotransmitters which cause this include: Acetylcholine and
noradrenaline.
Inhibitory responses - Answer>> Decrease the likelihood that a
neurone will fire, they are usually responsible for calming the body
and the mind.
Neurotransmitters which cause this include: GABA and serotonin.
Examples of glands in the body - Answer>> 1. Pituitary
2. pineal
3. Pancreas
4. Adrenal
5. Thyroid.
What happens to the body during the fight or flight response? -
Answer>> Pupil dilation
Increased heart rate
Skin becomes pale
Digestive system slows down
Blood is diverted to muscles
Where in the brain is the motor cortex? - Answer>> At the back
of the frontal lobe in both hemispheres
What is the function of the motor cortex? - Answer>> Controls
voluntary movements on the opposite side of the body
What happens if the motor cortex is damaged? - Answer>>
Loss of control over skeletal muscles
Where in the brain is the somatosensory cortex? - Answer>> At
the front of the parietal lobe in both hemispheres.
Biopsychology May 2024 Exam
Questions and Answers
What components make up the Central Nervous system -
Answer>> The brain and spinal cord
The peripheral nervous system has two divisions, what are they?
- Answer>> Autonomic nervous system and Somatic Nervous
system
Which division of the Peripheral Nervous System contains the
sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions? - Answer>>
Autonomic
What is the somatic nervous systems role? - Answer>> To
communicate with sense organs and voluntary muscles
Which part of the central nervous system is in control of reflexes?
- Answer>> Spinal cord
Cerebrum - Answer>> The largest section of the brain which is
divided into four sections. The frontal, parietal, occipital and
temporal lobe.
What joins each hemisphere of the brain? - Answer>> The
corpus callosum
What is the role of the cerebellum? - Answer>> Controls motor
skills, movement, balance and coordination
,The dienecephalon is divided into which two important brain
structures? - Answer>> The thalamus and the hypothalamus
What is the function of the thalamus? - Answer>> Acts as a
relay station for nerve impulses coming from the senses and
sends them to the appropriate part of the brain
The hypothalamus - Answer>> Regulates body temperature,
hunger and thirst. Links the endocrine and nervous system
together. Controls the release of hormones from the pituitary
gland
Brain stem (medulla oblongata) - Answer>> Regulates
autonomic functions including breathing and heartbeat.
The sympathetic nervous system - Answer>> Helps our body to
respond to emergencies, fight or flight response.
Uses noradrenaline to increase heart rate.
The parasympathetic nervous system - Answer>> Restores the
body back to equilibrium.
Relaxes an individual by reducing heart rate and lowering blood
pressure.
Conserves energy.
Each neurone contains: - Answer>> The cell body (soma), a
nucleus, dendrites, an axon, a myelin sheath made of Schwann
cells, nodes of ranvier and a synaptic terminal
What are the 3 types of neurone? - Answer>> Sensory
,Motor
Relay
What is the function of a sensory neurone? - Answer>> Carry
nerve impulses from sensory receptors to the central nervous
system.
What is the function of a motor neurone? - Answer>> They lie
within the central nervous system but project their axons outside.
They ten to bring about a response in the effector cell, e.g.
muscle.
What is the function of a relay neurone? - Answer>> Allow
sensory and motor neurones to communicate with one another.
They are located in the Brain and Spinal cord.
Stages of Synaptic transmission - Answer>> 1. Nerve impulse
reaches the end of an axon.
2. This triggers the release of calcium ions into the presynaptic
bulb
3. The release of calcium ions causes vesicles containing
neurotransmitters to move and fuse with the presynaptic
membrane.
4. The neurotransmitters are then released into the synaptic cleft
by exocytosis.
5. The neurotransmitter then binds to the post synaptic membrane
and provides an excitatory response.
Excitatory responses - Answer>> Increase the likeihood that an
excitatory signal is sent which is called an Excitatory post synaptic
signal.
, Neurotransmitters which cause this include: Acetylcholine and
noradrenaline.
Inhibitory responses - Answer>> Decrease the likelihood that a
neurone will fire, they are usually responsible for calming the body
and the mind.
Neurotransmitters which cause this include: GABA and serotonin.
Examples of glands in the body - Answer>> 1. Pituitary
2. pineal
3. Pancreas
4. Adrenal
5. Thyroid.
What happens to the body during the fight or flight response? -
Answer>> Pupil dilation
Increased heart rate
Skin becomes pale
Digestive system slows down
Blood is diverted to muscles
Where in the brain is the motor cortex? - Answer>> At the back
of the frontal lobe in both hemispheres
What is the function of the motor cortex? - Answer>> Controls
voluntary movements on the opposite side of the body
What happens if the motor cortex is damaged? - Answer>>
Loss of control over skeletal muscles
Where in the brain is the somatosensory cortex? - Answer>> At
the front of the parietal lobe in both hemispheres.
