Nervous System
What are the two main branches of the Peripheral Nervous System and how are they different?
Autonomic and Somatic NS
Autonomic is usually unconscious/involuntary
Somatic is usually conscious/voluntary
Identify both a psychological and physiological model of stress.
Psychological - Lazarus and Folkman Transactional Model of Stress and Coping
Physiological - Selye's General Adaption Syndrome
What is the 3 phase process of Classical Conditioning?
Before conditioning, During conditioning, After conditioning
What is the definition of memory?
The process of encoding, storing and retrieving information that has been previously encountered.
Define Hypothesis.
A testable prediction of the relationship between the IV and DV.
Compare neurotransmitters and neuromodulators and provide an example of each.
Both are neurochemicals that transmit neural information within the nervous system and can trigger or inhibit response.
Neurotransmitters - affect only one or two postsynaptic neurons, rapid communication - Glutamate (ex), GABA (inh).
Neuromodulators - affect multiple postsynaptic neurons, can influence large areas of brain tissue, slower - Dopamine (ex/inh), Serotonin (inh)
Explain the difference between internal and external stressors with examples.
Internal - originate from within eg. low self esteem, rumination, negative attitude
External - originate from outside of the individual eg. exams, meeting your new boss, being robbed
Operant conditioning is a ______________ approach to learning. The three-phase learning process involves _____________, ________________ and ______________________.
behaviourist - proposes learning occurs by interacting with the external environment
antecedent, behaviour and consequence
Define the 3 stores in the Atkinson Shiffrin model - providing capacity and duration.
Sensory - briefly stores raw information detected by the senses, 0.2-4 secs duration, relatively unlimited capacity
Short Term - temporary store that is consciously being attended to and actively manipulated, 18-30 secs duration, 7+/- 2 items
Long Term - a store of memory, relatively permanent, potentially unlimited
Dominic is a researcher who hypothesised that listening to music while studying would divide student’s attention and therefore result in poorer academic performance than those who did not listen to music. What is the DV?
The measure of student academic performance
Describe the process of neural transmission using the correct terminology.
- presynaptic neuron, axon terminals/terminal buttons, neurotransmitter, synaptic gap, dendrite/receptor site, postsynaptic neuron
- both an electrical and chemical process
Draw and label the GAS graph.
S.C.A.R.E
SCA. Alarm reaction (shock countershock), R. resistance and E. exhaustion
Need the line for normal levels of resistance, correct curve, the vertical axis is resistance levels to stress - low to high, horizontal axis is time
Provide 2 similarities and 3 differences between classical and operant conditioning.
Similarities - both behaviourist approaches, both 3 phase processes of learning, both require several trials in order for learning
Differences - OC voluntary CC involuntary, OC active CC passive, OC requires consequence CC no kind of consequence
List and explain the brain structures involved in the process of memory.
Basal Ganglia - encoding and storing procedural and CC,
Neocortex - stores explicit ,
Cerebellum - encodes and stores implicit procedural ,
Amygdala - encoding emotional element,
Hippocampus - encoding explicit
What is longitudinal study?
A type of study that is conducted over an extended period of time, wherein the same participants are followed up periodically throughout the length of the study
Define plasticity and explain the role of synaptic plasticity in learning and memory?
Plasticity - changes between neurons - sprouting, rerouting, pruning
Learning and memory - LTP (uses sprouting) and LTD (uses pruning)
What is the role of cortisol in chronic stress?
Chronic stress - stress lasting several months or longer eg. VCE, causing long-term biological response
Cortisol - increasing blood sugar levels, improving metabolism, energising the body, reducing inflammation BUT high cortisol in the bloodstream can suppress the immune system
With reference to the 5 stages of observational learning, explain how Ryan could successfully learn how to play a new computer game by watching his best friend Stan.
Attention - actively watch/focus on Stan as he plays
Retention - form mental representation of how he plays
Reproduction -have physical and mental capabilities eg. motor skills
Motivation - desire to learn game
Reinforcement - receiving praise will make it more likely Ryan will play game again correctly
MUST REFER TO SCENARIO SPECIFICALLY
How does Alzheimer's disease affect the brain? In which brain structure does it begin?
Lesions = amyloid plaques - protein beta-amyloid between neurons + neurofibrillary tangles - protein tangles within neurons
Causes cortical shrinkage, atrophy
Begins in the hippocampus.
__________ was not given by Little Albert’s mother, as she did not know the nature or details of the experiment.
Informed Consent
Explain the GBA and how it can impact psychological processes and behaviour.
Enteric nervous system (a subdivision of autonomic NS). ENS network of nerves in the gut connected to CNS via the vagus nerve, a bidirectional connection between the gut and brain, the gut can impact the brain and the brain can impact the gut
We need healthy gut microbiota - good bacteria needed for lower stress (physiological/psychological)
Betty recently moved house and was unable to continue playing tennis with her local club. They joined a new club close to their new home but missed the old players and found it difficult to make friends with her new team mates. In terms of Lazarus and Folkman's primary appraisal stage, explain how Betty evaluated this stress.
Primary Appraisal - Stressful evaluation - harm loss (ie. loss of friends as damage that has already occurred). Must use Betty's name and refer to the scenario
Outline the 8 ways of Aboriginal Learning Framework. How is the process of learning for Australia's First Nations embedded in relationships?
8 ways: story sharing, learning maps, non-verbal, symbols/images, land links, non-linear, deconstruct/reconstruct community links
2. Relationships between concepts, relationships between learner and teacher, relationships between individuals, families, and communities, relationships between all of the above, and Country
Identify and describe mnemonics used by written cultures to assist memory. Identify and describe mnemonics used by oral cultures, such as Aboriginal peoples' use of songlines.
Written traditions - acronyms (first letters pronounceable word), acrostics (first letters create a phrase), method of loci (mental images linked to locations).
Oral cultures - sung narratives (stories - singing, harmony, rhythm), songlines (multimodal performances through Country, physical paths)
What is validity?
The extent to which the investigation measures what it intends to measure