L1 - Optical Illusions
What is the definition of Psychology?
What is a stimulus?
A change in the environment, using one of the five senses (see, hear, smell, touch and taste)
How many neurons are in the brain? (Within 5 billion)
86 billion
What are neurodegenerative disorders?
A disease that involves the progressivle loss of neurons in the central nervous system.
What are the four lobes of the brain?
Frontal, Parietal, Occipital and Temporal
What are the five sense organs?
Eyes, Nose, Skin, Tongue and Ears
What is the definition of gustation (taste perception)?
Provide an example of how the five senses work together to create a coherent experience of the world.
Sitting at a restaurant about to eat a meal.
Sight - Vibrant colours of the food. This sets expectations that the food will taste good.
Smell - The smell of different flavours can enhance your appetite.
Hearing - Hear cooking in the kitchen or people eating their food. Reinforce the idea food is hot and fresh.
Taste - Taste buds can detect the five basic flavours (sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami).
Touch - Texture of the food. Temperature and mouthfeel will enhance the experience.
These all work together to help the brain build a complete, coherent understanding of the moment.
What does perception mean?
This relates to how the brain makes sense of sensory information.
What is a response?
Voluntary or involuntary (reflex) action that is taken because of the stimulus
What is the synapse?
The gap between neurons where all communication occurs.
What is the annual fundraising event in June?
Big Freeze at the G
What does the brainstem control?
Controls most basic functions. Including breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, alertness, sleep, body temperature etc
What are sensory receptors?
Specialised cells that detect stimuli within the environment. They are specific to each sensory organ
What is the difference between papillae and taste buds?
Papillae - small bumps on the tongue surface that contain taste buds. Can be seen with the human eye
Taste buds - clusters of chemoreceptors, require a microscope to be seen
What are some biological and psychological factors that contribute to people tasting flavours differently?
Biological factors - age, genetics, number of taste buds
Psychological - culture, expectations and emotions
What is the definition of behaviour?
The actions of an individual that can be directly observed
What is a reflex?
An involuntary action which is coordinated by the spinal cord instead of the brain to protect the body.
What are neurons?
Specialised nerve cells that send and receive information all throughout the nervous system.
What does neuro refer to and what does degenerative refer to?
Neuro = Nervous system
Degenerative = Loss of structure/function
What does the cerebellum control?
Mainly contrils motor functions. Including balance, posture and movement.
What is the definition of sensory perception?
Is the brain's way of receiving, processing and interpreting sensory information from the environment.
What are the five basic tastes and what is their main purpose?
Sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami
Initially they had an evolutionary purpose to help us survive. They also provide information about the nutritional content and potential toxicity of food.
Explain how the body detects and responds to a harmful stimulus, using the example of touching a hot pan in your response.
Thermoreceptors detect the extreme heat. This acts as a sensory input which triggers a signal which is sent via sensory neurons to the spinal cord. Instead of waiting for the brain to process the information, the spinal cord initiates a reflex, which uses motor neurons to activate the muscles in the hand and move it away from the hot pan.
What is the definition of mental process?
Internal procedures within the brain that relate to personal thoughts and feelings, these cannot be directly observed.
Why is responding to the environment important?
Helps us to survive by avoiding danger and communicating with others.
What are the three types of neurons called and what is their main function?
Sensory neurons - collects and sends sensory information to the CNS
Interneurons - connects sensory and motor neurons
Motor neurons - takes messages from the CNS and carries them to muscles
What was the challenge called that involved people dumping ice over their heads and what was it to raise money for?
Ice bucket challenge. It was to raise money for MND.
What are the two hemispheres called and what do they control?
The left hemisphere and the right hemisphere
Left hemisphere - controls the right side of the body
Right hemisphere - controls the left side of the body
Whar are the four types of sensory receptors?
Chemoreceptors, Mechanoreceptors, Thermoreceptors and Photoreceptors
What are three senses (apart from taste) that have an impact on flavour? Explain what each sense involves in relation to taste.
Sight - appearance of food and drink, can make food more appetising or less appealing.
Touch - texture and mouthfeel. Example, if you expect something to be soft and you bite into something crunchy, you may not want to eat anymore.
Smell - aroma plays a major role for flavour. Some of what we taste can be detected by chemoreceptors in the nose.
Explain how ALS affects the structure and function of the nervous system.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects motor neurons (specialised cells that control voluntary muscle movements). The brain progressively loses the ability to initiate and regulate movement, as more neurons become affected.
Explain one reason why optical illusions occur?
There are many reasons optical illusions can occur.
- The brain can make assumptions based on past experiences
- The brain can fill in missing information automatically
- The brain can also use shortcuts to process information quickly
What are the two major nervous systems called and what structures do they contain? Bonus points if you can state the function.
Central Nervous System - Brain and the spinal cord. Function is to control the body, including processing information and coordination responses.
Peripheral Nervous System - Nerves. Function is to allow communication between the CNS, senses and organs.
Dendrites, Soma (cell body), Nucleus, Axon, Myelin Sheath, Axon terminals
Explain what is meant by the term ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).
It is a type of Motor Neuron Disease that specifically targets motor neurons in control of voluntary muscle movements. This causes the brain to lose its ability to send signals to voluntary muscles.
How would you define 'the brain'? Reference the function and the different areas.
What are the four types of sensory receptors and what stimuli do they detect?
Mechanoreceptor - detects mechanical stimuli
Thermoreceptor - detects temperature change
Chemoreceptor - detects chemicals
Photoreceptor - detects light
What are the four stages involved in taste perception?
Reception, transduction, transmission and interpretation
How is a chemical signal sent through a neuron? Inlcude dendrites, soma, axon, myelin sheath, axon terminals and synapse in your response.
1. Dendrites receive the signal.
2. Soma processes the signal and initiates an electrical impulse.
3. Axon transmits the electrical impulse.
4. Myelin Sheath speeds up the signal.
5. Axon terminals release neurotransmitters.
6. Synapse transfers the signal to the next neuron or cell.